HT201250 Is there a possibility to recover erased files from an external hard drive that was reformatted by the Time Machine?

Is there a possibility to recover erased files from an external hard drive that was reformatted by the Time Machine?

Basics of File Recovery
Files in Trash
If you simply put files in the Trash you can restore them by opening the Trash (left-click on the Trash icon) and drag the files from the Trash to your Desktop or other desired location.  OS X also provides a short-cut to undo the last item moved to the Trash -press COMMAND-Z.
If you empty the Trash the files are gone. If a program does an immediate delete rather than moving files to the Trash, then the files are gone.  Recovery is possible but you must not allow any additional writes to the hard drive - shut it down. When files are deleted only the directory entries, not the files themselves, is modified. The space occupied by the files has been returned to the system as available for storage, but the files are still on the drive. Writing to the drive will then eventually overwrite the space once occupied by the deleted files in which case the files are lost permanently. Also if you save a file over an existing file of the same name, then the old file is overwritten and cannot be recovered.
General File Recovery
If you stop using the drive it's possible to recover deleted files that have not been overwritten by using recovery software such as Data Rescue II, File Salvage or TechTool Pro.  Each of the preceding come on bootable CDs to enable usage without risk of writing more data to the hard drive.  Two free alternatives are Disk Drill and TestDisk.  Look for them and demos at MacUpdate or CNET Downloads.
The longer the hard drive remains in use and data are written to it, the greater the risk your deleted files will be overwritten.
Also visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on Data Recovery.

Similar Messages

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    This may be of some help to you...
    http://pondini.org/TM/14.html
    From the FAQs Here...
    http://pondini.org

  • How do i recover data from an external hard drive that was accidentally deleted?  After I verified the drive, a message appeared that said my drive needed to be repaired.  When I tried to access the drive again, the 700 Gigs of music is gone!

    How do i recover data from an external hard drive that was accidentally deleted?  After I verified the drive, a message appeared that said my drive needed to be repaired.  When I tried to access the drive again, the 700 Gigs of music is gone!

    Stop using the drive immediately, un plug it.
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  • I have moved old Back Up files from my external hard drive to the trash and as the Trash previews the files, i.e. counts them (over 850,000 files) it then begins to delete but then stops. Is it possible to move the files out of the Trash file and then onl

    I have moved old Back Up files from my external hard drive to the trash and as the Trash previews the files, i.e. counts them (over 850,000 files) it then begins to delete but then stops. Is it possible to move the files out of the Trash file and then only delete a small amount at one time?

    See
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    Hold option (alt) while emptying the Trash.
    See also
    http://pondini.org/TM/E6.html
    Message was edited by: WZZZ

  • When I try to import .olm files from my external hard drive back up, where do they go? It says on different forums they go to the "on my computer" folder but they are not there

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  • How do I recover files from an internal hard drive that is no longer recognized?

    Hi there,
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    Try using a data recovery product such as the ones listed here. Don't erase the drive or write anything else to it until the files are recovered or you choose not to recover them.
    (117246)

  • How to recover files from an external hard drive

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  • My Lacie external hard drive will not back up on Time Machine. Says there's not enough space. This has happened with every single external I've purchased. Thought TM was supposed to delete old backups??

    My Lacie External backed up on Time Machine after the first back up but now says there's not enough room. I thought TM deleted old back ups to save new versions. What am I doing wrong. This happens to me constantly. Every single external hard drive I've purchased for the MacBook Pro (5 of them) has not worked either initially or at the second back up. It either isn't formatted properly so I have to go to Genius bar to help me set up for the first back up, or after the first back up, it says there's not enough space and I have to go back to Genius Bar. Is there a way I can fix this on my own?

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  • How do I recover files from an external Hard Drive?

    I have an external Hard Drive that has somehow lost communication with my Mac Mini. It won't mount. When I attempt to give it first aid it says first aid failed. This is what it says.
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    Message was edited by: dudebob

    Post over here -> < ahref="http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=758">Using Mac OS X Tiger
    since this has nothing to do with the iPod.
    Check out Disk Warrior and TechTools Pro.
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    My hard drive crashed. I got a new one and of course lost my itunes.  I had the recovered data put on an external hard drive.  How do I re import my data back into Itunes?

    Hello David,
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    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1589
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  • Recover data from external hard drive that was Windows format and connected on a Macbook Pro. Did I lose everything? What happened?

    Hi there this is my first question here!
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    If the Apple Store couldn't get files off of the drive, it is unlikely that you will be able to. If you have backups, those would be the best way to go. You could also try booting up the computer and holding down T to boot into Target Disk Mode. Plug the broken computer into another one with FireWire and see if it works to recover data from external hard drive. If you can see it, try booting up the broken computer while holding down Option. Choose Recovery HD from the menu, then choose to Reinstall OS X.
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    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4273

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    There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to fully boot. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
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    2. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, boot the non-working Mac in target disk mode by holding down the key combination command-T at the startup chime. Connect the two Macs with a FireWire or Thunderbolt cable. The internal drive of the machine running in target mode will mount as an external drive on the other machine. Copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
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    3. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.

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    You can try these.
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