Recuva's Deep Scan mode is a sector-by-sector analysis tool designed to locate file signatures on a storage device. It functions when standard scanning fails, typically after a drive has been formatted, files have been permanently deleted, or a file system has become corrupted. This method ignores the existing file table and searches for raw data patterns that match known file types.
Critical Preparatory Steps
Immediately cease all read/write operations on the drive in question. Continued use risks overwriting the very clusters containing your deleted data. For optimal results, physically remove the drive and connect it as a secondary disk to another system. Alternatively, create a full disk image using tools like DD (Linux) or HDDRawCopy (Windows) to perform the recovery on a clone, preserving the original media's state.
Executing the Deep Scan: A Detailed Walkthrough
File Type Selection: Specifying a file category (e.g., Pictures, Documents) filters the scan for those specific data signatures, streamlining the process. Selecting "All Files" initiates a broader search but will extend the total scan duration considerably.
Location Specification: Avoid the "I'm not sure" option if possible. Target a specific partition or physical drive. Scanning the entire computer includes non-essential system volumes, unnecessarily prolonging the operation without increasing the likelihood of finding user-deleted files on the main data drive.
Initiating Deep Scan Enable the "Deep Scan" option. This process will take a significant amount of time, often several hours for large-capacity drives (1TB+), as it meticulously reads every sector on the drive. The progress bar will indicate the current status.
Analyzing Results and Finalizing Recovery
Upon completion, Recuva presents a list of files with a color-coded status indicator:
Green: The file is likely intact and recoverable.
Yellow: The file is partially overwritten or damaged; recovery may be incomplete.
Red: The file sectors have been overwritten; recovery is not feasible.
Sort the results by the "State" column to prioritize files with the best recovery potential. Use the built-in file filter to locate specific items. Note that Deep Scan often cannot recover original filenames and folder structures; files are typically listed with generic names (e.g., file0001.jpg). User reports on platforms like Piriform's forums suggest that some recovered files, particularly fragmented ones, might require specialized tools for repair even after successful extraction.
Best Practices for Saving Recovered Data
Always choose a save destination on a different physical drive. Saving recovered files back to the source drive can overwrite other deleted data awaiting recovery, potentially corrupting the files you are trying to save. Verify the integrity of critical recovered files immediately before relying on them. Be aware that Deep Scan can uncover very old deleted data, but its success is never guaranteed and is highly dependent on drive usage after deletion.