Lesson 6 – Data Recovery Basics

Even with a good backup strategy, files can still be accidentally deleted, corrupted, or lost due to hardware failure or malware. In this lesson, you'll discover the fundamentals of data recovery and learn what you should—and shouldn't—do when data goes missing.

You'll understand how deleted files can often be recovered, why acting quickly is essential, and what factors determine whether a recovery attempt is successful. We'll also introduce free recovery software and demonstrate how to recover deleted files safely without causing further data loss.

By the end of this lesson, you'll know how to respond to common data loss situations with confidence and increase your chances of recovering valuable files.

What you'll learn:

• What happens when a file is deleted

• Common causes of data loss

• Factors that affect successful file recovery

• Best practices before attempting data recovery

• How to use free data recovery software

Practical demonstration:

• Delete files from a Windows computer

• Empty the Recycle Bin

• Recover the deleted files using free recovery software

• Verify that the recovered files open correctly

• Discuss situations where recovery is no longer possible