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Think deleting a file and emptying the Recycle Bin means it's permanently gone?
Not necessarily.
Depending on your storage device, file system and what has happened since deletion, parts of your deleted files might still exist on the drive.
There's a completely free, open-source tool called PhotoRec that can search storage devices for recoverable file contents.
It can recover supported file types even when the original file system is damaged.
We're talking about:
- Deleted photos
- Lost documents
- Videos
- ZIP archives
- Audio files
- Files from formatted USB drives
- Data from damaged memory cards
No subscription, recovery credits or expensive forensic software required.
Let's see what can actually be recovered.
THE SOFTWARE — PHOTORECPhotoRec comes from the developers of TestDisk, a well-established open-source data recovery toolkit.
It uses a technique called file carving.
Rather than relying entirely on filenames and folder records, PhotoRec searches storage data for recognised file signatures.
This can help recover data even when directory information is missing.
OFFICIAL LINKSOfficial Website:
https://www.cgsecurity.org/
Download TestDisk & PhotoRec:
https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download
PhotoRec Tutorial:
https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec_Step_By_Step
Official Documentation:
https://www.cgsecurity.org/testdisk_doc/photorec.html
Source Code:
https://git.cgsecurity.org/cgit/testdisk/
STEP 1 — UNDERSTAND WHAT DELETION DOESOn many file systems, deleting a file marks its storage space as available.
The original data may remain until something overwrites it.
Example:
Code:
A recovery tool can sometimes detect that remaining data.
However, modern SSDs often use TRIM, which can make deleted data permanently unrecoverable.
Recovery is much less predictable on SSDs than on traditional hard drives.
STEP 2 — STOP USING THE DRIVEIf you've accidentally deleted something important, stop writing data to that drive.
Don't:
- Download more files onto it.
- Install recovery software onto it.
- Save recovered files back onto it.
- Format it again.
- Run unnecessary disk repair operations.
New writes can overwrite the deleted data you're trying to recover.
For valuable files or physically failing drives, professional recovery or imaging the drive before analysis may be safer.
STEP 3 — DOWNLOAD PHOTORECOpen:
https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download
Download the official Windows version.
Extract the archive onto a different drive from the one you're recovering.
Inside the extracted directory, you'll find executables including:
Code:
PhotoRec is the console-based recovery utility.
QPhotoRec provides a graphical interface.
For this tutorial, we'll use QPhotoRec because it's easier for beginners.
STEP 4 — PREPARE A SAFE PRACTICE DRIVEBefore experimenting on your main computer, use a spare USB drive containing only test files.
Create a few harmless files, such as:
Code:
Copy them onto the USB drive.
Delete the files and empty the Recycle Bin if necessary.
Avoid formatting the device.
Important: This practice USB must not contain anything valuable. A recovery experiment can produce incomplete or unexpected results.
STEP 5 — OPEN QPHOTORECFind:
Code:
Right-click the executable and choose:
Run as administrator
Windows may ask for permission.
Once open, QPhotoRec displays available storage devices.
Choose your practice USB drive using its capacity and device information.
Double-check the drive selection.
Never assume that a drive number will remain the same after reconnecting hardware.
STEP 6 — CHOOSE THE PARTITIONSelect the partition containing your deleted practice files.
On a typical Windows USB drive, the file system may be:
Code:
For these file systems, select the option corresponding to FAT/NTFS/HFS+/ReiserFS or Other, depending on the interface version.
Do not select the ext2/ext3/ext4 option for a normal Windows-formatted drive.
STEP 7 — CHOOSE WHICH FILES TO RECOVERQPhotoRec supports filtering by file format.
Click:
File Formats
Select only the file types you want to recover.
For example:
Code:
This can reduce unnecessary output.
PhotoRec supports hundreds of file families, but it doesn't recognise every possible format.
After making your selections, confirm the settings.
STEP 8 — SELECT THE RECOVERY AREAPhotoRec allows you to scan:
Free
Search unallocated space for deleted data.
Whole
Search the entire selected partition.
For a simple deleted-file exercise on a healthy supported file system, start with Free.
If the file system is corrupted or reformatted, Whole may be more appropriate.
These options do not guarantee successful recovery.
STEP 9 — CHOOSE A DIFFERENT DESTINATION DRIVEThis is one of the most important steps.
If you're recovering files from:
Code:
Save recovered data to a separate physical drive, for example:
Code:
Do not save recovered data to the same USB drive.
Otherwise, you risk overwriting other recoverable files.
Ensure the destination has enough free space.
STEP 10 — START THE RECOVERY SCANClick:
Search
PhotoRec begins scanning the selected storage area.
As it discovers supported file contents, it writes recovered files to your chosen destination.
You may see directories resembling:
Code:
The number of recovered files depends on the device and how much recoverable data remains.
A large result count doesn't guarantee that every file is complete or usable.
STEP 11 — INSPECT THE RECOVERED FILESOnce the scan finishes, open the recovery directory.
PhotoRec often assigns generated filenames, for example:
Code:
It usually cannot reconstruct the original filenames or directory hierarchy.
Some recovered files may also be:
- Incomplete
- Corrupted
- Duplicated
- Old thumbnails
- Previously deleted data you no longer recognise
Inspect recovered files carefully.
Scan unexpected executable files with your security software before opening them.
BONUS — USE TESTDISK TO PRESERVE FILENAMESPhotoRec isn't always the best first choice.
If the file system is intact, TestDisk may be able to recover deleted files along with their original names.
This can be especially useful for supported FAT, NTFS and ext2 file systems.
Official documentation:
https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk
PhotoRec is more useful when file system metadata is missing or damaged.
BONUS #2 — MICROSOFT'S OWN RECOVERY SOFTWAREWindows also has a free command-line recovery utility called Windows File Recovery.
Official documentation:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/wind...e-recovery
Install it from the Microsoft Store.
For example, to attempt recovery of PDF files from
Code:
onto a different physical drive
Code:
, run:
Code:
Windows File Recovery searches the selected source and creates a recovery folder on the destination.
For recently deleted files on a healthy NTFS file system, Microsoft recommends trying Regular mode first.
For older deletions, damaged file systems or FAT/exFAT devices, Extensive mode may be appropriate.
BONUS #3 — WHY SSDS ARE DIFFERENTTraditional HDDs and modern SSDs behave differently.
Hard drives
Deleted contents may remain in sectors until overwritten.
SSDs
TRIM can tell the storage device that deleted blocks are no longer needed.
The SSD may then discard their contents internally.
Example:
Code:
This is why no recovery tool can promise to restore permanently deleted files from every SSD.
BONUS #4 — RECOVER DATA FROM A MEMORY CARDPhotoRec can also be useful with removable storage devices.
Examples include:
- Camera SD cards
- MicroSD cards
- USB flash drives
- External hard drives
If a device is failing physically, repeatedly scanning it may make the situation worse.
Consider a professional recovery service if the data is irreplaceable.
IMPORTANT — DOES THIS RECOVER EVERYTHING?No.
Recovery depends on:
- Whether deleted data has been overwritten
- SSD TRIM behaviour
- File system condition
- Encryption
- Storage hardware health
- File format
- Fragmentation
- Available recovery metadata
Some deleted data can never be recovered.
Even when PhotoRec identifies a file signature, the resulting file may be damaged.
IMPORTANT — PRIVACY IMPLICATIONSThe fact that deleted data may remain recoverable is also a privacy consideration.
Before selling or disposing of a computer, don't assume emptying the Recycle Bin has securely erased your personal data.
Use an appropriate secure-erase or device-reset procedure for the storage technology involved.
For encrypted devices, proper cryptographic erasure can also be effective when supported and correctly performed.
IS PHOTOREC STILL AVAILABLE IN 2026?Yes.
The official CGSecurity website continues to provide TestDisk and PhotoRec downloads, documentation and source code.
The tools are free and open-source.
Use the official download page rather than third-party recovery sites that may bundle unwanted software.
SOURCEShttps://www.cgsecurity.org/
https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download
https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec_Step_By_Step
https://www.cgsecurity.org/testdisk_doc/photorec.html
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/wind...e-recovery
PhotoRec demonstrates why deleting a file doesn't always mean its contents have disappeared.
It's useful for recovering accidentally deleted personal files, investigating damaged storage and understanding what data may remain on a device after deletion.
WANT MORE HIGH QUALITY SHIT FOR FREE?
CLICK HERE > (MY PROFILE)
Haven't made a account yet? register here (REF LINK)
Think deleting a file and emptying the Recycle Bin means it's permanently gone?
Not necessarily.
Depending on your storage device, file system and what has happened since deletion, parts of your deleted files might still exist on the drive.
There's a completely free, open-source tool called PhotoRec that can search storage devices for recoverable file contents.
It can recover supported file types even when the original file system is damaged.
We're talking about:
- Deleted photos
- Lost documents
- Videos
- ZIP archives
- Audio files
- Files from formatted USB drives
- Data from damaged memory cards
No subscription, recovery credits or expensive forensic software required.
Let's see what can actually be recovered.
THE SOFTWARE — PHOTORECPhotoRec comes from the developers of TestDisk, a well-established open-source data recovery toolkit.
It uses a technique called file carving.
Rather than relying entirely on filenames and folder records, PhotoRec searches storage data for recognised file signatures.
This can help recover data even when directory information is missing.
OFFICIAL LINKSOfficial Website:
https://www.cgsecurity.org/
Download TestDisk & PhotoRec:
https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download
PhotoRec Tutorial:
https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec_Step_By_Step
Official Documentation:
https://www.cgsecurity.org/testdisk_doc/photorec.html
Source Code:
https://git.cgsecurity.org/cgit/testdisk/
STEP 1 — UNDERSTAND WHAT DELETION DOESOn many file systems, deleting a file marks its storage space as available.
The original data may remain until something overwrites it.
Example:
Code:
Code:
BEFORE DELETION [ PHOTO.JPG ][ DOCUMENT.PDF ][ VIDEO.MP4 ] AFTER DELETION [ FREE SPACE ][ DOCUMENT.PDF ][ VIDEO.MP4 ] | v OLD PHOTO DATA MAY STILL EXISTA recovery tool can sometimes detect that remaining data.
However, modern SSDs often use TRIM, which can make deleted data permanently unrecoverable.
Recovery is much less predictable on SSDs than on traditional hard drives.
STEP 2 — STOP USING THE DRIVEIf you've accidentally deleted something important, stop writing data to that drive.
Don't:
- Download more files onto it.
- Install recovery software onto it.
- Save recovered files back onto it.
- Format it again.
- Run unnecessary disk repair operations.
New writes can overwrite the deleted data you're trying to recover.
For valuable files or physically failing drives, professional recovery or imaging the drive before analysis may be safer.
STEP 3 — DOWNLOAD PHOTORECOpen:
https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download
Download the official Windows version.
Extract the archive onto a different drive from the one you're recovering.
Inside the extracted directory, you'll find executables including:
Code:
Code:
testdisk_win.exe photorec_win.exe qphotorec_win.exePhotoRec is the console-based recovery utility.
QPhotoRec provides a graphical interface.
For this tutorial, we'll use QPhotoRec because it's easier for beginners.
STEP 4 — PREPARE A SAFE PRACTICE DRIVEBefore experimenting on your main computer, use a spare USB drive containing only test files.
Create a few harmless files, such as:
Code:
Code:
practice-photo.jpg practice-notes.txt practice-document.pdfCopy them onto the USB drive.
Delete the files and empty the Recycle Bin if necessary.
Avoid formatting the device.
Important: This practice USB must not contain anything valuable. A recovery experiment can produce incomplete or unexpected results.
STEP 5 — OPEN QPHOTORECFind:
Code:
Code:
qphotorec_win.exeRight-click the executable and choose:
Run as administrator
Windows may ask for permission.
Once open, QPhotoRec displays available storage devices.
Choose your practice USB drive using its capacity and device information.
Double-check the drive selection.
Never assume that a drive number will remain the same after reconnecting hardware.
STEP 6 — CHOOSE THE PARTITIONSelect the partition containing your deleted practice files.
On a typical Windows USB drive, the file system may be:
Code:
Code:
NTFS FAT32 exFATFor these file systems, select the option corresponding to FAT/NTFS/HFS+/ReiserFS or Other, depending on the interface version.
Do not select the ext2/ext3/ext4 option for a normal Windows-formatted drive.
STEP 7 — CHOOSE WHICH FILES TO RECOVERQPhotoRec supports filtering by file format.
Click:
File Formats
Select only the file types you want to recover.
For example:
Code:
Code:
JPG / JPEG PNG PDF ZIPThis can reduce unnecessary output.
PhotoRec supports hundreds of file families, but it doesn't recognise every possible format.
After making your selections, confirm the settings.
STEP 8 — SELECT THE RECOVERY AREAPhotoRec allows you to scan:
Free
Search unallocated space for deleted data.
Whole
Search the entire selected partition.
For a simple deleted-file exercise on a healthy supported file system, start with Free.
If the file system is corrupted or reformatted, Whole may be more appropriate.
These options do not guarantee successful recovery.
STEP 9 — CHOOSE A DIFFERENT DESTINATION DRIVEThis is one of the most important steps.
If you're recovering files from:
Code:
Code:
E:\ USB DRIVESave recovered data to a separate physical drive, for example:
Code:
Code:
D:\RecoveredFilesDo not save recovered data to the same USB drive.
Otherwise, you risk overwriting other recoverable files.
Ensure the destination has enough free space.
STEP 10 — START THE RECOVERY SCANClick:
Search
PhotoRec begins scanning the selected storage area.
As it discovers supported file contents, it writes recovered files to your chosen destination.
You may see directories resembling:
Code:
Code:
RecoveredFiles/ | +-- recup_dir.1/ | +-- recup_dir.2/ | +-- recup_dir.3/The number of recovered files depends on the device and how much recoverable data remains.
A large result count doesn't guarantee that every file is complete or usable.
STEP 11 — INSPECT THE RECOVERED FILESOnce the scan finishes, open the recovery directory.
PhotoRec often assigns generated filenames, for example:
Code:
Code:
f123456.jpg f234567.pdf f345678.zipIt usually cannot reconstruct the original filenames or directory hierarchy.
Some recovered files may also be:
- Incomplete
- Corrupted
- Duplicated
- Old thumbnails
- Previously deleted data you no longer recognise
Inspect recovered files carefully.
Scan unexpected executable files with your security software before opening them.
BONUS — USE TESTDISK TO PRESERVE FILENAMESPhotoRec isn't always the best first choice.
If the file system is intact, TestDisk may be able to recover deleted files along with their original names.
This can be especially useful for supported FAT, NTFS and ext2 file systems.
Official documentation:
https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk
PhotoRec is more useful when file system metadata is missing or damaged.
BONUS #2 — MICROSOFT'S OWN RECOVERY SOFTWAREWindows also has a free command-line recovery utility called Windows File Recovery.
Official documentation:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/wind...e-recovery
Install it from the Microsoft Store.
For example, to attempt recovery of PDF files from
Code:
Code:
E:onto a different physical drive
Code:
Code:
D:, run:
Code:
Code:
winfr E: D: /extensive /n *.pdfWindows File Recovery searches the selected source and creates a recovery folder on the destination.
For recently deleted files on a healthy NTFS file system, Microsoft recommends trying Regular mode first.
For older deletions, damaged file systems or FAT/exFAT devices, Extensive mode may be appropriate.
BONUS #3 — WHY SSDS ARE DIFFERENTTraditional HDDs and modern SSDs behave differently.
Hard drives
Deleted contents may remain in sectors until overwritten.
SSDs
TRIM can tell the storage device that deleted blocks are no longer needed.
The SSD may then discard their contents internally.
Example:
Code:
Code:
HDD DELETION | v DATA MAY REMAIN | v POSSIBLY RECOVERABLE SSD DELETION | v TRIM / GARBAGE COLLECTION | v DATA MAY BECOME UNRECOVERABLEThis is why no recovery tool can promise to restore permanently deleted files from every SSD.
BONUS #4 — RECOVER DATA FROM A MEMORY CARDPhotoRec can also be useful with removable storage devices.
Examples include:
- Camera SD cards
- MicroSD cards
- USB flash drives
- External hard drives
If a device is failing physically, repeatedly scanning it may make the situation worse.
Consider a professional recovery service if the data is irreplaceable.
IMPORTANT — DOES THIS RECOVER EVERYTHING?No.
Recovery depends on:
- Whether deleted data has been overwritten
- SSD TRIM behaviour
- File system condition
- Encryption
- Storage hardware health
- File format
- Fragmentation
- Available recovery metadata
Some deleted data can never be recovered.
Even when PhotoRec identifies a file signature, the resulting file may be damaged.
IMPORTANT — PRIVACY IMPLICATIONSThe fact that deleted data may remain recoverable is also a privacy consideration.
Before selling or disposing of a computer, don't assume emptying the Recycle Bin has securely erased your personal data.
Use an appropriate secure-erase or device-reset procedure for the storage technology involved.
For encrypted devices, proper cryptographic erasure can also be effective when supported and correctly performed.
IS PHOTOREC STILL AVAILABLE IN 2026?Yes.
The official CGSecurity website continues to provide TestDisk and PhotoRec downloads, documentation and source code.
The tools are free and open-source.
Use the official download page rather than third-party recovery sites that may bundle unwanted software.
SOURCEShttps://www.cgsecurity.org/
https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download
https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec_Step_By_Step
https://www.cgsecurity.org/testdisk_doc/photorec.html
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/wind...e-recovery
PhotoRec demonstrates why deleting a file doesn't always mean its contents have disappeared.
It's useful for recovering accidentally deleted personal files, investigating damaged storage and understanding what data may remain on a device after deletion.
WANT MORE HIGH QUALITY SHIT FOR FREE?
CLICK HERE > (MY PROFILE)
Haven't made a account yet? register here (REF LINK)
