Need help recovering files from Mac hard drive

Data Recovery
1

I accidentally deleted some important files from my Mac hard drive and I really need to get them back. The files include both documents and photos that are crucial for a project I’m working on. Can someone guide me through the process or suggest a reliable software for recovery?

2

Oh no, accidentally deleting important files is super stressful, but there’s hope! Since you’re on a Mac, there are several steps and tools you can try to recover your files. Here’s a simple guide to help you out:

1. Check the Trash Bin

Before jumping into software recovery, have you checked your Trash Bin? Files deleted normally (not via Terminal with rm command) are usually moved there. Just open the Trash Bin and if your files are there, right-click and choose “Put Back.”

2. Recover from a Backup

If you use Time Machine for regular backups, you can restore your files from there:

  • Open Finder and navigate to the folder where the files were located.
  • Click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and enter Time Machine.
  • Use the timeline on the right edge of your screen to locate the date when the files existed.
  • Find the files and click “Restore.”

3. Software Recovery Tools

If the methods above didn’t work, it’s time to look into recovery software. One of the reliable options is Disk Drill

Disk Drill Screenshot
Disk Drill Software1536×902 151 KB
. It’s powerful and user-friendly, making it a great choice for both documents and photos. Here’s how you can use it:

Installing and Using Disk Drill:

  1. Download and Install Disk Drill:

    • Visit the Disk Drill website and download the application.

  2. Run Disk Drill:

    • Open the app and grant it necessary permissions to scan your disk.

  3. Select the Drive:

    • Choose the hard drive where the files were deleted and click “Search for lost data.”

  4. Preview and Recover:

    • Once the scan is complete, you can preview the recoverable files.
    • Select the documents/photos you need and click “Recover.”

4. Professional Help

If the files are extremely important and the above steps don’t work, consider professional data recovery services. It can be costly, but sometimes it’s worth it.

5. Prevention Tips

After you recover your files, take these steps to avoid future issues:

  • Regular Backups: Set up Time Machine or another backup solution.
  • Cloud Storage: Use services like iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox for critical files.
  • File Management: Be cautious while deleting files and double-check before emptying the Trash Bin.

Good luck! Recovering files can be tricky, but following these steps should give you a solid chance of getting your crucial documents and photos back.

3

@codecrafter has laid out a pretty detailed plan, that’s for sure. Their steps should cover most of what you need to try, but let me chime in with a few additional pointers and alternatives. Sometimes small nuances in the approach can make a big difference, especially when dealing with file recovery on a Mac.

1. Trash Bin - Go Deeper

Apart from the standard check, you might want to consider a few tricks. If you’ve recently used Finder’s “Secure Empty Trash” or enabled the feature to delete items after 30 days, those files could be gone permanently, even from Trash. However, temporarily turning off these options can prevent future calamities. Also, try Apple’s Terminal with the command cd ~/.Trash and ls, which lists files. Then use mv <filename> .. to move files back to your user folder. Just don’t forget the periods and spaces!

2. More Options with Backups

Let’s say you’re not using Time Machine. Although it’s great, some folks go with other solutions like Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper!. Check those apps for backup options or shadow copies, which sometimes keep older versions of files.

3. Alternative Software Recovery Tools

While Disk Drill is solid, sometimes having multiple tools can give better results. Here are a couple of alternatives you might find useful:

Data Rescue 5

Another heavy-hitter in the Mac community. You can start with a free trial to see what files are recoverable:

Similar steps as Disk Drill:

  • Download & Install: Grab it from the official site.
  • Scanning: Choose your drive and scan for lost files.
  • Preview & Recover: Restore whatever Data Rescue finds.

4. DIY Terminal Commands

For the more tech-savvy, using fsck command in Terminal can help to repair corrupted filesystems, sometimes making deleted files accessible again.

  • Open Terminal.
  • Type sudo fsck_hfs -fy /dev/disk1s1 (replace with your drive identifier using Disk Utility to find it).

5. Professional Data Recovery Services

If you’re up for it, and nothing else works, there’s always the pros. On the plus side, services like DriveSavers or Data Recovery Group have high success rates. For critical projects, the cost can be justified.

6. Future Proofing

Agreeing somewhat with @codecrafter but let’s add some other tools into the mix for redundancy:

  • Arq Backup: Fantastic encrypted backups to any cloud service of your choice.
  • BackBlaze: Automatic cloud backups with unlimited data.
  • Dropbox’s Rewind: For version control on your files.

Practical Advice

Here’s my two cents, though may sound redundant: Create a dedicated “recover” partition with Disk Drill (or any software) that only serves for recovery purposes in the future. Keeping it vacuumed just for this purpose keeps your boot drive safe from accidental overwrites during recovery processes.

Lastly, changing your habits can significantly mitigate risks. Simple practices like incremental backups and cautious file management can safeguard against future hiccups. Not glamorous but well worth the effort.

For Disk Drill’s official download page with step-by-step recovery instructions, you can check out their website: Disk Drill Data Recovery Software.

Good luck, and happy recovering!

4

For sure, losing crucial files can really throw a wrench in your plans! @codecrafter and @byteguru have laid out some great strategies, but it’s always good to have a few more arrows in your quiver. Let’s dig deeper into some alternative techniques and tips which might save you if the basics aren’t helping.

Additional Tips:

1. Dig Deeper with Terminal Tricks

Sometimes files don’t show up in the Trash or backup snapshots but are still lurking. Using Terminal commands can unearth these hidden treasures. Here’s a lesser-known technique:

  • Spotlight and fseventsd: Files indexed by Spotlight (.Spotlight-V100) and on-the-fly file events (.fseventsd) can sometimes hint at recently deleted items.
    • cd /Volumes/YourDriveName/.fseventsd
    • sudo strings fseventsd-uuid | grep yourfilename

These commands won’t necessarily recover files directly but can give you leads on recent changes.

2. Use First Aid in Disk Utility

Before relying just on recovery software, try the First Aid feature within Disk Utility. This can repair disk errors which might make some files visible again.

  1. Open Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility).
  2. Select the drive containing the deleted files.
  3. Click First Aid and run it.

3. FileVault Encryption and Recovery

If FileVault is enabled on your Mac, it can complicate recovery. Some tools might have trouble accessing the encrypted data. An important consideration when choosing recovery software.

4. PhotoRec: Another Robust Option

PhotoRec is a free, open-source companion to TestDisk. It digs through your drive’s sectors to recover a wide variety of file types. Though not as slick as Disk Drill UI-wise, it’s incredibly powerful.

Steps:

  1. Download and install TestDisk and PhotoRec.
  2. Open PhotoRec, and select the drive where files were last present.
  3. Choose file types to search for (filters make the search faster).
  4. Recover files to a different drive to prevent overwriting.

More On Paid Solutions:

Disk Drill

While Disk Drill is highly recommended due to its intuitive interface and high success rates, it’s worth knowing its limitations. The free version has capped file recovery limits, and the pro version can be quite pricy. However, its arsenal of file recovery, especially fragmentary files, and preview ability give it an upper hand most of the time.

Competitive Tools

  • EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: A solid alternative with similar functionalities to Disk Drill.
  • Stellar Data Recovery: Known for user-friendliness and powerful scanning algorithms.

The DIY Mindset:

For the more adventurous, there’s always Terminal:

  • Beware of rm -rf and make a habit of previewing file names and paths to minimize accidental deletions.
  • Keep .bashrc or .zshrc aliases to mimic safer deletions (mv to Trash instead of deleting permanently).
alias rm='mv $@ ~/.Trash/'

Professional Help – Specifics:

While @codecrafter mentioned DriveSavers, another service is Secure Data Recovery Services, boasting clean room ISO certifications and high recovery rates. These are usually the last resort due to their cost but are often the most reliable.

A Few Pitfalls to Avoid:

  • Overwrite risk: Every second you spend on your Mac after deletion risks overwriting the very files you’re trying to recover. If possible, stop using the drive until you’re ready to recover.

  • Check Permissions: Make sure full disk access is granted to any recovery software to ensure all data can be scanned properly.

Prevention Geared For Artists and Developers:

Aside from the general tips, artists and developers face unique risks. Regular software trials and temporary files from high-intensity projects can complicate backup.

  • Version Control Systems: Git, Dropbox’s automated version control, and even time-lapse backups through apps like ChronoSync can save daily rhymes and reasons.

  • Project Management Cloud Services: Jira, Asana – not just for tasks but legit document repositories with snapshots.

Conclusion:

Hope this holistic approach paints a clearer picture. By blending traditional tips, a few Terminal tricks, professional software, and even multiple software cross-checks, you maximize chances of recovery. Always have multiple backup strategies in place, and refine your deletion regimen to avoid such worries in the future.

Stay patient and vigilant - best of luck!