# Free program to reverse an accidental (quick) format?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-program-to-reverse-an-accidental-quick-format/720604>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 22, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-program-to-reverse-an-accidental-quick-format/720604 "2015-05-22T18:46:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-program-to-reverse-an-accidental-quick-format/720604/1 "2015-05-22T18:46:08Z")

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I had two drives – a system drive, and a storage drive whereon I kept everything that really matters to me. It had been so long since I had trouble with my PC that I forgot they were two partitions on one drive.

So, I had problems re-installing the OS, and finally I figured a quick format of the system drive would smooth out the installation problems. Whoops.

So now I have the OS on a different, separate drive. I’ve got the former drive hooked up as a slave and I haven’t messed with it at all. Is there a free program that can restore the MFT for me?

I will need to leave for work soon, so I may not answer right away, but I really appreciate any help with this.

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**Author:** ![Ornery\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/da6949/32.png) [@Ornery\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ornery_Bob)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-program-to-reverse-an-accidental-quick-format/720604/2 "2015-05-22T22:03:50Z")

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I would look at this as a lost file recovery issue, not some sort of “reversal.” There are lots of freeware file recovery applications and they will look at the drive you point them to and let you know what files they can see and recover.

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**Author:** ![pdunderhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4bbf92/32.png) [@pdunderhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pdunderhill)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-program-to-reverse-an-accidental-quick-format/720604/3 "2015-05-22T22:08:53Z")

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Not sure if the MFT is recoverable but Recuva [Recuva - Free Download](https://www.piriform.com/recuva/download)  
should recover your individual files. Be warned on a large HDD this may take some time!  
Best of luck,  
Peter.

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**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2015, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-program-to-reverse-an-accidental-quick-format/720604/4 "2015-05-23T03:41:00Z")

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Thanks, guys. I believe I’m familiar with Recuva; well, off to a long and arduous evening of hand-picking!