Losing files is a very unpleasant situation. If you lose data, the file system you use is very important in determining how to recover it. This article will guide you through the process of recovering files from the FAT file system.

How Does the FAT File System Work?

The FATFAT file uses a partition table to store data on the hard The FAT The FAT file system is one of the most commonly used file systems on Windows computers. FAT 32, the version of FAuseill in use The FAT file describes how data is stored on a hard drive or media. Data on a storage device is stored in a cluster, which is the smallest amount of disk space that can be stored for each file. FThe FATfile system has the following differences:

  1. Boot Sector: The boot sector is the first part of the hard drive, also known as the spare part. It contains the bootloader code required by the operating system and is called the main bootloader file. MBR describes the structure of the hard disk.
  2. FAT Area: To protect the volume, two copies of the partition data are stored in the FAT area. The FAT table checks the duplicate files and decides to split the group.
  3. Data Area: The data area is where data and information are stored. The data area occupies most of the partition area.

Why are There Missing Files in the FAT32 File System?

Identifying the following causes can help you prevent this:

  1. Delete/format Partition: The most common cause of data loss in FAT32 or other file systems is accidentally formatting a disk or partition.
  2. File System Corruption: Data loss can also occur if the FAT32 file system partition is damaged.
  3. Virus Attack:. Viral interference can damage the file system and cause hard drive failure.
  4. Physical Harm: A power failure or sudden deletion may damage the file, file system, or slice table.

Additionally, it is important to note that FAT32 is no more susceptible to data loss than other file systems. Therefore, it is always wise to be prepared for situations that may result in file loss by backing up your FAT 32 drive.

How do I Solve Corrupted FAT32 Files? Manually

Apart from figuring out ways to recover data from SD cards with the FAT32 file system, sometimes users also experience FAT32 file system corruption. Don't worry; this section can help you troubleshoot file system problems.

Method 1: Use CHKDSK to Recover

The Windows CHKDSK command allows you to check and repair damaged files. If the FAT32 file system is not correct, the drive will appear as RAW, and you will need this command to recover the RAW SD card.

  • Connect the FAT file system to your computer.
  • Type "cmd" in the Windows search bar. Select "Run as administrator".
  • In the command window, type "chkdsk", then the FAT32 drive letter, string, and "/f" (for example, chkdsk h:/f, "h" being the pilot letter).
  • After entering and running this command, Windows will take a few seconds to verify that the FAT32 file system is correct.
  • If the system shows that the file system has been repaired, you have repaired the FAT32 file system and recovered the data.
  • If you want to convert RAW to FAT32, you need to format and create a new file.

Method 2: Perform a System Restore

System Restore is a Windows feature that allows you to restore your computer to an earlier version, so you can restore the file system to a previously saved time. 

Step 1: Type or enter create a restore point” into the Windows search box. Choose this application and run it.

Step 2: Click the System Restore button.

Step 3: In the System Restore dialog box, select the point created before the problem occurred and click Next.

Step 4: Click "Done". Your computer will restart and your system files and settings will be restored to the state they were in when you fixed the problem.

Tip: If you want to avoid the hassle of reinstalling newly installed apps, click "Scan affected apps" to find the apps you want to remove during the process and back up the necessary data.

Lost or Delete Data from FAT File System via Expert-Suggested Software

The SysTools Hard Disk Recovery Wizard promises good data recovery. You can perform a full scan without damaging the original files. 

It supports data recovery from Windows operating systems (NTFS, FAT32, FAT16 and extended FAT file systems) and Mac OS file systems (HFS+), so it is very easy to recover frequently deleted, deleted and formatted files from NTFS, FAT, HFS and HFS+ file formats.

Also read: How to Recover Deleted Files From External Hard Drive After Formatting?

Restore Lost Files from Hard Drive Listed Below, Just Follow the Steps:

  • Software main screen during download and installation.

Hard Drive data Recovery

  • Select a partition and click "Scan" or "Scan Format" as needed.

Select the Scanning Process

  • Preview completed data recovery items in the application panel.

view all data

  • Select "Keep All Data" or "Keep Deleted" to save the recovered data from your hard drive anywhere on the host.

save recovered data file

At the End

Although the FAT file format is now considered unusable compared to many modern files, data recovery is still very possible. However, data recovery is not always possible. Instead, make sure that you use a reliable backup plan so that you always have a backup of your important data.