I was attempting to create a Windows installation drive by transferring a Windows ISO to my external hard drive from one laptop to another. However, after this process, all the existing files and folders that were previously stored on the hard drive disappeared, and now only the Windows installation files are visible.
I suspect that while creating the Windows installer, the hard drive may have been formatted or turned into a bootable device, which possibly overwrote the file system or partition table. Unfortunately, I didn’t back up the data beforehand.
The drive is now showing only the Windows installation files, and I cannot see or access any of my original data.
Can anyone guide me on how to recover the lost data from this drive? Is it possible to recover files if the drive was formatted or if a bootable partition was created on it? Also, what are the best tools or methods recommended for this situation?
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Stop using the drive to prevent overwriting lost files. Try recovery software like Stellar, EaseUS, or Recuva to scan for missing data. Use TestDisk to check for lost partitions. If software doesn’t work, consider professional recovery services. Success depends on whether the data was overwritten.
Yes, it is possible to recover your lost data even if the drive was formatted or turned into a bootable device. Use BLR Data Recovery Tool, which can efficiently scan and restore lost files from formatted or overwritten drives. Avoid writing new data to the drive to increase recovery chances.
