Both internal and external hard drives are important for keeping our files and data safe. Even though hard drives are usually indestructible, they can still have errors.
Some people lose their data because they accidentally delete or format their hard drive. I had the same problem a few weeks ago and it was really frustrating to lose important files.
That’s why I looked for and tried different methods to recover my files. Luckily, I found some reliable methods and put them together on this page. Below, I have listed some of the best ways to recover deleted files from a hard drive. Keep reading!

FYI: How to Connect Hard Drive to PC
The first thing we need to do before recovering data from a hard drive is learn how to connect it to our computer.
If you’re using an external hard drive or an internal hard drive from another PC, follow the steps below.
Connect External Hard Drive to PC
Before you connect your external drive to your PC, make sure that the drive doesn’t have any severe physical damage. Check if the ports are fine and clean. You should also check for cracks or dents.

Also, make sure to prepare the right connector for the drive. If everything is fine, check the steps below.
Step 1
Use a USB connector to connect the drive to your computer.
Step 2
Depending on your drive, you may need a USB 3.0, USB-C, or Thunderbolt cable to connect the drive to the computer.
Step 3
Open File Manager, then go to My PC and see if your hard drive appears on the screen. If not, try to reconnect the drive.
Connect Internal Hard Drive to PC
Remember the same thing we mentioned in the external hard drive part. Make sure that the drive is in a good physical state.
Where is the Hard Drive in a Computer?
Hard drives on your computer are usually found in the drive bay. It is in the lower section of the case and is connected to the motherboard.
You can either remove the current hard drive and replace it with the old one, or add it if there are still available ports.
You also need to prepare power cables, data cables, and screwdrivers. If the cables are ready and you are already located where the hard drive is stored, follow the steps below.
Step 1
Remove the tricky drive tray from the computer case and place the new hard drive.
Step 2
Grab the data and power cables and connect them to the hard drive.
Step 3
After that, slide the hard tray back to the computer case.
Step 4
Next, grab the cables on the other side of the case and plug them into the assigned port.
After connecting the hard drive to your computer, it’s now time to know the best ways to recover data from a hard drive. Keep in mind that all of these solutions work on both internal and external hard drives.
- You May Also Read: Things To Know Before You Remove Hard Drive From A Laptop
Method 1: Recover Deleted Files from a Hard Drive via the Recycle Bin
Whenever we delete files/data on our PC, they are automatically stored on the Recycle Bin. Each file will stay there for 30 days, and after that, they will be deleted from the computer system.
However, this method will only work for files deleted from an internal hard drive. You will not find the deleted data from your external hard drive in the bin.
Step 1
Click the trash can icon on the desktop to open Recycle Bin.
Step 2
Next, find and select the data you want to recover.

Step 3
After that, right-click on your mouse and select Restore. The files should be back in the original location after that.
- You May Also Read: A Guide On How To Recover Deleted Files From The Recycle Bin
Method 2: Recover Deleted Files from External/Internal Hard Drive via CMD Command
To recover files from an external or internal hard drive, you can use the CMD command. We will run a command that can recover deleted files from your hard drive using the Command Prompt feature on your computer.
Keep in mind that this method takes a while to finish. You may need to wait for hours just to recover your data. This feature is available on most Windows operating systems, so there should be no problem finding it.
Step 1
Click the search icon on the taskbar and type CMD. Once you see the command prompt, run it as administrator.

Step 2
Next, type in the following on the command box: chkdsk X: /f (replace X with the letter assigned to the target hard drive.) then hit Enter.
Step 3
After that, all you need to do is wait. When it’s done, all the deleted files and folders will be back in their original location.
- You May Also Read: (FIXED!) Let’s Do An External Hard Drive Repair
Method 3: Recover Deleted Files from Hard Drive via 4DDiG
If the first two recovery solutions didn’t work for you, don’t worry we still have one more method that can easily recover permanently deleted files from an external and internal hard drive.
Support Internal/External Hard Drives
4DDiG Data Rescue is one of the best data recovery tools in the market today. This amazing program can restore deleted files on any data storage space or device! You can conveniently get your files back with just one tool. How cool is that?
Works on Any Data Type and File Format
Plus, 4DDiG can restore all file types such as images, videos, documents, audio files, and more. It also supports all file formats like JPEG, MP4, MP3, FLAC, etc. There’s no need to use another data recovery tool or method, just to recover a specific file type, all you need is 4DDiG.
Protects File Quality
If you worry about losing data quality while recovering your files, relax. 4DDiG will protect every file during the scanning process to make sure it won’t lose its original quality. Rest assured that you can get the same quality back!
Easy to Operate
Apart from that, recovering data from a hard drive using 4DDiG is so easy. This tool has an easy-to-use interface that is perfect for all types of users. You can recover deleted files from a hard drive with just a couple of clicks!
So don’t settle for methods that may or may not work, get your accidentally deleted files back using 4DDiG Data Rescue.
Steps to Recover Data Hard Drive Using 4DDiG
To restore the important files deleted from your hard drive, follow the steps below.
Step 1
Hit the button below to download and install the data recovery tool on your computer. After that, launch the program.
Step 2
If you’re recovering from an internal hard drive, connect it properly to your computer. Next, see the main interface of the program and choose the target hard drive.
Step 3
Choose the data types you want to recover from the pop-out window, then click Scan Selected Data Types.

Step 4
When the scanning process is done, pick the data you want to retrieve. Next, click Restore, and wait for a few minutes. The files should be back to their original location after that.
- You May Also Read: An Easy Way To Unformat Computer Hard Drive On Windows
Conclusion
Restoring deleted files may seem impossible, but with the help of the three methods above, we can do it with no problem. But out of the three, we highly recommend that you use 4DDiG Data Rescue.
This amazing tool can recover any type of deleted data from your PC storage and hard drives. Get this amazing tool now to experience an easy and convenient data recovery process.