Computers using Windows made prior to the implementation of Windows NT used the FAT file system. This file directory structure system is still in place today on many solid state digital storage devices such as USB flash drives or camera memory cards. This is one of the reasons that when a newer Windows based PC attempts to read a USB flash drive plugged into a USB port or a camera memory card very often Windows reports that media as being unformatted. Your operating system then offers to do so. Unfortunately your newer Windows based PC will reformat that digital storage media in the newer NTFS file directory format. This simple process of reformatting your digital media results in deletion of all files stored on that device.
Accidental file deletion of this nature is countered by using a robust file recovery tool to recover formatted data. The process required to perform formatted data recovery is no different than any other deleted file recovery task. Simply direct the file recovery tool to scan the affected drive and it will create for you a list of all recently deleted, which in this case means formatted, files. These can then be easily copied to a new safe location.
