How Can I Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 10 for WD Element Drive?

WD External and Portable SSD External SSD for Windows
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I have a WD Element external hard drive as my main backup device. There are tones of important files on the drive. Unfortunately, I accidentally deleted a bunch of files when cleaning up the drive for making more free space.

I checked the Trash bin on my Windows 10 PC and the deleted files are not there. Are these deleted files permanently gone? How can I recover permanently deleted files in Windows 10?

If you know how to do this, please kindly share us your experience.

Thanks

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After you delete something, it’s crucial not to add new files to your WD Elements drive. This can overwrite the deleted files, making recovery a nightmare. I learned this the hard way—after trying to recover permanently deleted files only to realize I’d overwritten them. Oops!

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Recovering permanently deleted files can be a bit of a tricky business, especially from en external drive. I’ve dealt with this kind of situation before. If you’ve accidentally deleted files, don’t wait around thinking, “Maybe I’ll find them later.”

The longer you wait, the higher the chance of those file sectors being overwritten by new data. Try to start recovering the deleted files in Windows 10 right away.

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As others have said, you need to stop writing/moving files or do anything else that may overwrite the files.

Then use a recovery software to scan, identify and recover the files you need. Here’s a list of recommended free ones. Some have limits on how much you can recover. Please read the limitations so you know what to expect.

I’ve used Recuva and EaseUS. You may need to use several of them depending on the number of files, file types and percent of recoverability.

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Below are three simple ways to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 10 for any drive:

  1. Check Backup: Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Check if there are backups available for your WD Element drive. Click on “Restore my files.” Follow the on-screen prompts to restore the deleted files from the backup.

  2. Use File History: Type “File History” in the Windows Search bar and open it. Navigate to the folder where the files were located. Use the arrows to browse through versions of the folder and restore the deleted files.

  3. Data recovery software: If no backup exists, you can use professional data recovery software to scan your WD Element drive for deleted files.

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When files are deleted from the Recycle Bin or using the Shift+Delete key combination, they are typically marked for permanent deletion. However, there are still ways to recover deleted files from Windows 10 using specialized software.

  • You can download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard from the official website.
  • Open the program and select the type of file you want to recover (e.g., Documents, Photos, Videos).
  • Select the drive or location where the files were originally stored.
  • Once the scan is complete, preview the files and recover the ones you need.
    As long as you can preview the lost file, then you can definitely recover it. You can try scanning first and then decide whether to recover it.
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To recover permanently deleted files from a WD Element drive on Windows 10, you can try both manual and software-based methods.

Manual Method: First, check the Recycle Bin to see if the files are still there. If they’re not, you can try using Windows’ built-in File History feature if it was previously enabled. Right-click the folder where the file was stored, select “Restore previous versions,” and choose a version before the files were deleted.

BLR Data Recovery Software: For a more thorough recovery, BLR Data Recovery Software is a reliable option. It scans the WD Element drive for recoverable files, even from formatted or damaged partitions. The software supports recovery from various file systems and ensures that deleted files are restored quickly and efficiently without requiring prior backups.

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Hi @nkctole
I can understand how frustrating it is to lose important files. The advice shared by @MelindaH here is excellent—avoiding any further use of the drive is crucial to prevent overwriting your data. To add to this, I recommend trying Stellar Data Recovery Free software. It’s straightforward to use and works well for external drives like your WD Elements. Just install it on your PC , run a scan, and see if your files are recoverable.