In today's digital age, data loss is a common issue that can affect any computer user. Whether it's accidental deletion of files, hardware or software failures, there are methods available to recover lost data. This article focuses on recovering deleted files in the Linux operating system. We'll introduce several tools and methods that can help you retrieve your lost data.

Prerequisites for Successful Recovery

Before initiating the recovery process, it's crucial to immediately stop using the disk where the deleted files were located. Any further writes to the disk may overwrite the deleted data, significantly reducing the chances of successful recovery.

File Recovery Using Command Line Tools

1. PhotoRec - This tool is part of the TestDisk package and is designed to recover lost partitions and/or files from memory cards, hard disks, etc. PhotoRec supports a wide range of file systems and file types.

   Installation: Most Linux distributions allow you to install PhotoRec using their package manager. For example, in Debian/Ubuntu, you can use the command sudo apt-get install testdisk.

   Usage: After installation, launch PhotoRec in the terminal using the command photorec. Follow the on-screen instructions to select the disk and partition from which you want to recover files, and specify the destination folder for the recovered files.

2. Extundelete - A tool specific to Ext3 and Ext4 file systems. It allows you to recover files that have been recently deleted.

   Installation: Similar to PhotoRec, you can install Extundelete from your distribution's repositories.

   Usage: After installation, use the extundelete command with options for the target disk and folder. For example, extundelete /dev/sda1 --restore-all will recover all deleted files on the /dev/sda1 partition.

Graphical Tools for File Recovery

If you prefer a graphical user interface over the command line, you can use several tools:

1. TestDisk - In addition to the command-line version, TestDisk also offers a simple graphical interface. With TestDisk, you can recover lost partitions and files on various disk types.

2. R-Linux - This is a free file recovery tool for ext2/ext3/ext4 file systems used in the Linux operating system. R-Linux provides a user-friendly interface and allows you to recover files lost due to formatting, deletion, disk failure, etc.

Data loss can be frustrating, but there are numerous tools and methods available to recover deleted files in Linux. The key to success is prompt action and preventing further writes to the disk from which you're trying to recover data. Whether you prefer working with the command line or a graphical interface, there are plenty of tools to help you retrieve lost data.