	Computer's internal hard drives . Disks with files reside on them.
	USB storage devices like external hard drives or memory sticks
	SSD storage devices . File recovery from such devices has some peculiarities described in the SSD and NVME storage devices section.
	NVME storage devices. SSD storage devices connected to the computer through a special interface. They have the same file recovery peculiarities of SSD devices described in the SSD and NVME storage devices section.
	Disk image . A file that contains exact, byte by byte, copies of storage devices or disks. Files from such images can be recovered as if those images were real disks.
	CD/DVD discs or virtual disks.

• Check if the hardware of the storage device with lost photos and videos is in a good condition.

If the storage device has hardware problems, R‑Photo marks such a device with an exclamation mark and gives a S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring warning. Disk imaging is the best solution in this situation.

• Select the disk on the device where the lost photos and videos might reside.

Recovery of deleted photos and videos or lost photos and videos from a formatted disk with the same file system

These files most likely reside on an existing disk.

To see the photos and videos resided on the disk, right-click and select Show Files ( Quick Scan operation ). Depending on the disk size, the number of photos and videos, and your computer hardware, it may take a few seconds or more. When they are found, R‑Photo switches to the Files panel where found photos and videos are selected for recovery .

Recovery of lost photos and videos from a formatted disk with a different file system

These files most likely reside on an existing disk.

To see the files resided on the formatted disk, right-click and select Show Files ( Quick Scan operation ). Depending on the disk size, the number of files, and your computer hardware, it may take a few seconds or more. When R‑Photo switches to the Files panel, click the Deep scan button, wait for Deep Scan to finish, and select the previous partition where lost files resided. Then select files for recovery .

Recovery of lost photos and videos from a deleted disk

Deleted disks are usually found on the unallocated space.

Right-click the unallocated space on the storage device of the disk, select Scan for partitions, and wait for R‑Photo to finish scanning the device. Note that it may take a long time if the device is large. When the disk is found, right-click Show Files then select files for recovery .

Recovery of lost photos and videos from a damaged disk or a partition with an unsupported file system

Damaged disks or partitions with unsupported file system are usually found on the unrecognized space.

This recovery is very similar to the case of lost files from a deleted disk.

Right-click the unrecognized space on the storage device of the disk, select Scan, and wait for R‑Photo to finish scanning the device. Note that it may take a long time if the device is large. When the disk or a partition is found, right-click Show Files then select files for recovery .

If the files are to be recovered from a partition with an unsupported files system, R‑Photo will use only raw file search, and, therefore, will not recover file names and the original folder structure. See the Definitions help page for more details.

Disks,Unrecognized Space, and Unallocated Space Icons

Home > Quick Start Guide in 3 Steps > Step 1. Disk Selection

Step 1. Disk Selection

Home > Quick Start Guide in 3 Steps > Step 1. Disk Selection

	A logical disk with letter (E:). Deleted files or files from formatted disks might reside on such disks.
	Unallocated space on a storage devices. A storage space that does not belong to any disk. A deleted disk (partition) might be found here.
	Unrecognized space on a storage devices. A storage space that is supposed to belong to a disk or partition, but R‑Photo cannot detect any because of its damaged or unsupported file system. A damaged disk or a partition with an unsupported file system might be found here.