Accidental formatting recovery

Accidental formatting usually occurs when a user tries to reinstall, upgrade or fix the computer by using the operating system disc.  It can also occur when one formats a data stick or camera memory.

These recoveries are usually very successful.  A format, accidental or otherwise, is a large deletion of the data on the media.  This is a simple explanation, but holds true for most cases.  As long as the media is in working condition most, if not all, of the data will be recovered.

There are exceptions.  One is a reinstall of the operating system after the format.  When one reinstalls the operating system after a format, the computer will start writing new data on the hard drive, overwriting the old data that would normally get recovered.  If a data recovery is attempted, the un-overwritten data should be recovered, but any data that was written due to the reinstall will not be recovered.

This goes for other media that was formatted.  For example one formats memory for a camera and then begins taking photos, the new photos will overwrite the formatted photos and a data recover will not recover the old photos.

Basically, if one accidentally formats media, DO NOT USE THE MEDIA.