Upgrading and Repairing Microsoft Windows (2nd Edition)

Recovering lost data can be as simple as opening the Windows Recycle Bin, or it might require spending hundreds of dollars on specialized data recovery software or services. In the worst-case scenario, you might even need to send your drive to a data recovery center. Several factors affect the degree of difficulty you might encounter in recovering your data, including

• How the data was deleted

• Which file system was used by the drive on which the data was stored

• Whether the drive uses magnetic, optical, magneto-optical, or flash memory to store data

• Which version of Windows or other OS you use

• Whether you already have data-protection software installed on your system

• Whether the drive has suffered physical damage to heads, platters, or circuit board