Windows Data Recovery
Earlier DOS and Windows 3.1 file recovery options were limited to the old DOS Undelete command. This command-line tool helps to recover an undeleted file, but only if no new files were written immediately following the deletion. At the time of accidental file deletion, the the chances were very less.
Recycle it
With Windows 95, the Microsoft launched Recycle Bin. The Recycle Bin was designed to give users an easy way to recover deleted files. Files are not permanently deleted when the Recycle Bin is functioning, but they are stored in a temporary location from where a user can easily retrieve it.
The bin is actually a folder, called Recycled, located in the root directory of every partition in the system. Thus, the Recycle Bin stores files deleted from the C: drive in the folder C:\Recycled.
This happens with Windows 98/Me/XP.
Before moving the file to the Recycled folder, Windows renames it according to the format D<original drive letter of file><number>.<extension>. For example, it renames a text file that is the fifth file deleted from C: Dc5.txt. Windows records path information for each file stored in the recycled folder in a hidden file called Info2; this lets a file be restored to its original location if necessary.
Right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop and click Properties to configure it. In the Recycle Bin Properties dialog box, you can choose to configure each drive in your system independently, or you can simply use one Recycle Bin setting for all drives. Click the appropriate radio button to select one of these options. By default, the Use One Setting For All Drives option is selected.
If you want to turn off the Recycle Bin, click the Do Not Move Files To The Recycle Bin checkbox; this tells Windows to delete files immediately. Of course, choosing this option completely disables your ability to recover deleted files, so unless hard drive space is at an absolute premium, it is best to leave this alone.
By default, Windows chooses a maximum Recycle Bin size of 10% of a drive’s capacity. So, if you have a 200GB drive, the Recycle Bin reserves 20GB for deleted file storage. Depending on how often you delete files and how large these files are, this Recycle Bin storage amount may last quite awhile.
Third-Party Data Recovery Apps
The data recovery options in Windows beyond the Recycle Bin are fairly sparse. So, it is highly recommended to look for a third-party data recovery application. There are a number of third-party applications available that specialize in windows data recovery.
Protect Your Data
It is possible to recover data even if it isa severe loss. The frequent backup of data is the first line of defense against sudden data loss. Yes, you can reinstall your programs , but if there is no backup then data is gone forever unless it is backed up to storage media such as CDs etc..