How to Recover Deleted Files Using Command Prompt or CMD  

How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 11/10/8/7 Using CMD

Updated on Nov 11, 2023 | by Jeremy

Quick Navigation:

If you've deleted files using the Delete key or sent them to the recycle bin, you can usually restore them by selecting them and clicking "Restore". However, if you've used the Shift + Delete keys or emptied the recycle bin, a simple click won't do the trick. In these cases, you'll need to use data recovery software or the Windows undelete Command to recover your deleted files. To do this in Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista, you can follow the instructions and download the Deep Data Recovery software to help you recover permanently deleted files. ownload the software first.Download the software first.

There is no cancel option or Ctrl + Z shortcut to recover deleted files after you using Shift+Delete or emptying the recycle bin. To recover the deleted fiels on Windows PC, you can try the following 3 ways. Choose the right way for youself.

Part 1. How to Recover Deleted Files Using Attrib Command from Recycle Bin

If you've accidentally deleted files and want to recover them, using the Command Prompt is a great option. Think about it - if you simply empty the recycle bin, you can't restore anything, and if your computer crashes or refuses to reboot, you're left with nothing. Fortunately, the Command Prompt allows you to restore deleted files from the recycle bin or recover shift deleted files, giving you a second chance to retrieve your lost data. To do this, follow the steps for undeleting files from Windows 10/8/7/XP using the Command Prompt.

After deleting files, a hidden folder named "Recycled" is created on the drive where Windows is installed, containing renamed files ($I[number]) and a mapping file "Info" storing the original file names and paths. The "D" in $I[number] represents the drive where the files were deleted from, with the number indicating the number of deleted files. For example, "Dc25.url" and "Dc26.Ink" suggest 25 and 26 files were deleted from drive D.

To recover deleted files, you can use the COPY command to copy them from a backup or temporary location to their original location. For example, if you want to recover all .DOC files, you can use the command "COPY *.DOC C:\Temp" to copy them to the C:\Temp folder, and then open the files to find the ones you wanted to recover.

Part 2. How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files Using CMD in Windows 11/10/8/7

When you delete a file from a connected device like a flash drive or USB drive, the file doesn't go to the recycle bin. To recover deleted files from a USB drive, you can use the Attrib command in the Command Prompt. This method allows you to recover files from the device, and the process is relatively straightforward.

Note: After completing the steps, your lost files will be saved back to your external hard drive/device in a newly created folder on the USB drive labeled with the letter "F". To make the recovered files reusable again, you'll need to change the file extensions back to their normal format. This process allows you to recover lost files from your USB drive and restore them to a usable state.

Part 3. Best Command Prompt Alternative to Recover Permanently Deleted Files

Recovering deleted files using the Command Prompt can be a bit complicated, requiring knowledge of basic command line languages. If you'd prefer a simpler approach, consider using a professional deleted file recovery tool like Deep Data Recovery instead.

Deep Data Recovery is a software designed for people to recover deleted files from various devices, including computers and external hard drives, such as SD cards, Flash drives, USB drives, phone internal memory, and more. With its user-friendly interface, individuals can easily recover deleted files in Windows operating systems, including Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows XP, and Windows Vista. The software guides users through a simple step-by-step process to recover their deleted files.

Your Safe & Effective File Recovery Software

How to use data recovery software to recover deleted files?

Step 1. Download and install undelete tool

Download the Deep data recovery software, double-click the .exe file to install on your computer, and run it immediately. It's compatible with Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista.

To retrieve deleted or lost files from an external hard drive, you'll need to connect the drive to your computer via a USB cable.

Step 2. Select File Types to Finding Files

The software scans for lost or deleted files, and you can select the specific file types you want to recover. The supported file types are listed in the main window, and you can uncheck the ones you don't want to recover. After selecting the file types, click "Next" to proceed with the scanning process.

Step 3. Select a Location to Scanning

The interface will list all hard disk, partitions, external devices, and lost partitions. To recover deleted data, select the location where the data was lost (e.g. Desktop, Libraries, or Documents) and click the "Scan" button.

Step 4. Preview and Recovering Deleted Files

The tool scans for deleted or lost files in just a few seconds, displaying all found files in the result window. From there, you can select files to preview them or click "Recover" to save them on your computer.

Deep Data Recovery's feature, "Deep Scan", is a more comprehensive scanning mode compared to the default "Quick Scan". It can find files that are lost or deleted, but with some file properties missing. This mode is available in the result window.

Download Deep Data Recovery now to recover deleted files without using Command Prompt.

Related Articles


Is this information helpful?     

What can we do to improve this information? (Optional)
Refresh Please enter the verification code!