Deleted files usually aren't gone — just marked as free space until something overwrites them. On a hard drive, deleted and even formatted files are often recoverable if you stop using the drive right away. On an SSD, TRIM may have already erased them. For minor deletions on a healthy drive with a backup elsewhere, DIY software is fine; for critical, single-copy, or physical-drive cases, a lab is safer.
How file deletion actually works
When you delete a file (or empty the recycle bin, or format a drive), the data usually isn't erased. The system simply marks that space as "available" and removes the pointer to the file. The actual data stays on the drive until new data is written over it. That's why deleted files are recoverable — and why the more you use the drive after deleting, the more likely those files get overwritten.
Stop using the drive immediately
Don't save files, install software, or even browse heavily on the affected drive. If it's your system drive and you can, shut the computer down and recover the drive separately. New data overwrites the deleted files you want back.
DIY software: when it's enough, and when to stop
Reasonable to DIY: a healthy hard drive, a recent simple deletion, and the files aren't your only copy — reputable recovery software often works. Stop and call us if:
- The files are irreplaceable or business-critical (one DIY mistake can overwrite them).
- The drive is physically failing (clicking, not detected) — running software makes it worse.
- It's a formatted, corrupt or RAID/NAS volume needing reconstruction.
- DIY software found nothing or partial results.
See DIY vs professional recovery for the full breakdown.
SSDs & TRIM: why deletion is different
On a modern SSD, deleting a file usually triggers a TRIM command that tells the drive to physically erase those blocks — often within seconds. Once TRIM has run, that data is generally not recoverable, even for a lab. This is the honest limit: deleted-file recovery is far more reliable on hard drives than on healthy, TRIM-enabled SSDs. (SSDs that failed are a different story — see SSD recovery.)
What's recoverable
| Scenario | Typical outcome |
|---|---|
| Deleted from a hard drive, drive unused since | High |
| Emptied recycle bin (HDD) | High |
| Formatted / RAW hard drive | High |
| Deleted from USB / SD card (unused since) | High |
| Overwritten (drive heavily used after) | Reduced |
| Deleted on a healthy TRIM SSD | Low |
How we recover deleted files
At a free diagnosis we assess the drive and what's recoverable. We image the drive first (protecting it), scan for deleted and orphaned files, rebuild the file system where needed, and extract your data — then give you a verification list. Under you only pay if we succeed. We recover from hard drives, USB drives, memory cards, RAID and NAS.
How much does deleted-file recovery cost?
Deleted-file (logical) recovery is indicatively $180–$650 (SGD) for a single drive, more for RAID/NAS or physically failing drives. Your free diagnosis confirms the exact fixed price. Full detail on our cost guide.