How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 7 or 10 Without Any Software

Recovering permanently deleted files in Windows 7 or 10 without using any software can be quite challenging, as the files are typically removed from the Recycle Bin and may be overwritten. However, there are several methods you can try to recover your files. Let's explore these options in detail.

Methods for Recovering Permanently Deleted Files

1. Check Previous Versions in Windows 10

If you have System Restore enabled, you might be able to recover a previous version of the folder that contained the deleted files. Here’s how:

Right-click on the folder that contained the deleted files. Select Restore previous versions... A list of available previous versions will appear. Choose a version from before the files were deleted and click Restore version.

2. File History in Windows 10

If you have File History set up, you can restore deleted files. Here’s how:

Go to Control Panel System and Security File History. Click on Manage. Browse through the backup and select the files you want to restore. Click the green Restore files button to recover the files.

3. Restore from Backup

If you regularly back up your data using Windows Backup or any other method, you can restore your files from those backups. Here’s what you need to do:

Go to Control Panel System and Security Backup and Restore. Click on Open Backup and Restore. Follow the prompts to restore the files from your backup.

4. Check Cloud Storage

If you use cloud storage services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox, check their trash or deleted files section. Many services keep deleted files for a certain period.

5. Command Prompt (Advanced)

You can use the Command Prompt to check for deleted files in certain scenarios, but this is more complex and may not always work. Here’s how:

Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Type chkdsk X: /f and replace X with the drive letter where the files were located. After the check is complete, type attrib -h -r -s /s /d X: to attempt to recover files.

Important Notes

Act Quickly: The more you use the disk after deletion, the higher the chance that the data will be overwritten. No Guarantees: These methods are not guaranteed to work, especially if the files have been overwritten.

If these methods do not work, you may need to consider using specialized data recovery software or consulting a professional data recovery service.