Recovering .ISO Files After Disk Formatting: A Practical Guide

Have files been deleted due to a user’s error or software error? Have you formatted a disk by accident and need to know how to recover the files? Read our .ISO file recovery guide for Windows, MacOS, Android and IOS in 2024.

Recovering .ISO Files After Disk Formatting: A Practical Guide

What is a .ISO file?

An ISO file is a common CD or DVD disc image format based on the ISO-9660 standard. It contains an exact duplicate of data from the original disc, which includes the data saved on the disc as well as the filesystem information, such as directory structures, file attributes, and boot code. ISO files are often used for making copies of CDs and DVDs.

What Are Common Causes of ".ISO" Files Lost or Failure?

There are several common causes of ".ISO" file loss or failure:

  1. Accidental deletion: Users may accidentally delete the ".ISO" file while attempting to clean up their computer or storage devices.
  2. Formatting or partitioning errors: If a storage device containing the ".ISO" file is formatted or partitioned incorrectly, it can result in the loss of the file.
  3. Hardware or software failure: Hardware failures such as a faulty hard drive or software failures like system crashes can lead to the loss of ".ISO" files.
  4. Virus or malware attacks: Malicious software can infect and corrupt ".ISO" files, making them inaccessible or causing data loss.
  5. Power outages or sudden system shutdowns: Unexpected power outages or system shutdowns while working with ".ISO" files can result in file corruption or loss.
  6. Incomplete or interrupted file transfer: If the ".ISO" file transfer process is interrupted or incomplete, it can lead to partial or corrupted files.
  7. File system errors: File system errors, such as file system corruption or bad sectors on a storage device, can cause ".ISO" file loss or failure.
  8. Overwriting or modification: Accidentally overwriting or modifying the ".ISO" file with incorrect data can render it useless or result in data loss.
  9. Unreliable third-party software: Using unreliable or incompatible software for creating, extracting, or manipulating ".ISO" files can lead to file corruption or loss.
  10. Human error: Human errors like improper handling of storage devices, accidental deletion, or incorrect file operations can also cause ".ISO" file loss or failure.

How to recover lost ".ISO" files?

Sometimes while working with a computer, laptop or other stationary or mobile devices, you may encounter various bugs, freezes, hardware or software failures, even in spite of regular updates and junk cleaning. As a result, an important ".ISO" file may be deleted.

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🧺 How to Recover Files and Folders After Sending Them to the Recycle Bin and Deleting? (Windows 11)

🧺 How to Recover Files and Folders After Sending Them to the Recycle Bin and Deleting? (Windows 11)

By no means should you think that the only way to recover a ".ISO" file is always to create it once more.

Use programs for recovering ".ISO" files if a file was lost after accidental or deliberate deleting, formatting the memory card or the internal storage, cleaning the storage device, after a virus attack or a system failure.

Programs to recover ".ISO" files

Looking for a way to get files back? In cases when files were deleted and they cannot be restored by using standard operating system tools, use Hetman Partition Recovery.

Partition Recovery™ 4.9
The tool recovers data from any devices, regardless of the cause of data loss.
Download

Follow the directions below:

  1. Download Hetman Partition Recovery, install and start the program.

  2. The program will automatically scan the computer and display all hard disks and removable drives connected to it, as well as physical and local disks.

    File Recovery Software
  3. Double-click on the disk from which you need to recover ".ISO" files, and select analysis type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Analysis Type
  4. When the scanning is over, you will be shown the files for recovery.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Files that Can be Restored
  5. To find a file you need, use the program’s interface to open the folder it was deleted from, or go to the folder "Content-Aware Analysis" and select the required file type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Deep Scan
  6. Select the files you have been looking for and click "Recovery".

    File Recovery Software - Files List for Recovery
  7. Choose one of the methods for saving the files and recover them.

    Saving recovered files in Hetman Partition Recovery

How to open file with ".ISO" extension?

Looking for how to open a stereo disc Image File image file file?

Programs that open ".ISO" files

Windows
File Viewer Plus File Viewer Plus
Microsoft File Explorer Microsoft File Explorer
Nero 2019 Nero 2019
Roxio Creator NXT Pro 7 Roxio Creator NXT Pro 7
Corel WinZip 23 Corel WinZip 23
ISO Master ISO Master
PowerISO PowerISO
Alcohol 120% Alcohol 120%
DT Soft DAEMON Tools DT Soft DAEMON Tools
NeoSmart Technologies EasyBCD NeoSmart Technologies EasyBCD
7-Zip 7-Zip
VideoLAN VLC media player VideoLAN VLC media player
WinRAR 5 WinRAR 5
Sysprogs WinCDEmu Sysprogs WinCDEmu
Mac
Apple Disk Utility Apple Disk Utility
Roxio Toast 18 Roxio Toast 18
Parallels Desktop 15 for Mac Parallels Desktop 15 for Mac
VMware Fusion 11 VMware Fusion 11
VideoLAN VLC media player VideoLAN VLC media player
Linux
Canonical Furius ISO Mount Canonical Furius ISO Mount
VideoLAN VLC media player VideoLAN VLC media player
ISO Master ISO Master
Brasero Brasero
K3b K3b
Android
RARLAB RAR RARLAB RAR

Additional Information

  • File type: Disc Image File

  • File extension: .ISO

  • Developer: Невідомо

  • Category: Disk Image Files

  • Format: Binary

  • HEX: 00

  • ASCII: ISOF

  • File types that use the extension .ISO:

    • Disc Image File

    • Arbortext IsoDraw Document

    • PlayStation 2 ROM File

    • Wii Game ROM File

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  • Hetman Software: Data Recovery
    Hetman Software: Data Recovery 18.12.2019 14:11 #
    Leave a comment if you have any questions about Recovering lost .ISO files after deleting, cleaning or formatting!
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Vladimir Artiukh

Author: Vladimir Artiukh, Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: Oleg Afonin, Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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Questions and answers

  • What is an ISO recovery and how does it work?

    An ISO recovery refers to the process of recovering data or files from an ISO image. An ISO image is an archive file that contains an exact replica of the contents of an optical disc such as a CD, DVD, or Blu-ray disc. It includes the file system, boot sector, and all the files and folders present on the original disc.

    To perform an ISO recovery, you typically need specialized software that can mount the ISO image as a virtual disc drive. This allows you to access the files and folders stored within the ISO image as if they were present on a physical disc. Once the ISO image is mounted, you can extract the desired files or copy them to another location on your computer.

    ISO recovery is often used when a physical disc is damaged, lost, or not accessible. By creating an ISO image of the disc and then recovering the data from that image, you can retrieve important files or restore the contents of the disc. This process is commonly employed for data backup, system recovery, or software installation purposes.

  • What are the common reasons for needing to recover data from an ISO file?

    There are several common reasons for needing to recover data from an ISO file:

    1. Corrupted or damaged ISO file: If the ISO file becomes corrupted or damaged due to various reasons like incomplete downloads, errors during file transfer, or hardware/software issues, data recovery may be required.
    2. Accidental deletion: Sometimes, ISO files containing important data can be accidentally deleted. In such cases, data recovery becomes necessary to retrieve the lost files.
    3. Lost or inaccessible files: If files within an ISO file become lost or inaccessible due to file system errors, software crashes, or formatting issues, data recovery may be needed to recover those files.
    4. Virus or malware attacks: ISO files can be infected by viruses or malware, leading to data loss or corruption. Recovering the data from a clean backup or using data recovery tools becomes necessary in such situations.
    5. System crashes or failures: System crashes, power outages, or hardware failures can result in data loss from ISO files. Recovery may be required to retrieve the lost or damaged files.
    6. Accidental formatting or partition deletion: If the partition containing the ISO file is accidentally formatted or deleted, data recovery may be necessary to recover the files stored within the ISO.
    7. File system errors: File system errors like file table corruption, bad sectors, or improper shutdowns can cause data loss from ISO files. Recovery tools can help in retrieving the lost data.

    It is important to note that data recovery from an ISO file may not always be possible, especially if the data is severely damaged or overwritten. Regular backups and caution while handling ISO files can help prevent data loss and the need for recovery.

  • What are some effective methods or software tools for performing ISO recovery?

    There are several effective methods and software tools available for performing ISO recovery. Some of them are:

    1. IsoBuster: IsoBuster is a popular software tool for recovering data from damaged or corrupted ISO files. It can extract files and folders from the ISO image and recover them to a specified location.
    2. PowerISO: PowerISO is a powerful ISO recovery tool that can repair damaged ISO files and extract the contents to a desired location. It supports various ISO formats and can also create, edit, and burn ISO files.
    3. MagicISO: MagicISO is another software tool that can recover data from corrupted or damaged ISO files. It allows you to extract files and folders from the ISO image and save them to a specified location.
    4. WinRAR: WinRAR is primarily a file compression and extraction tool, but it can also be used to recover data from ISO files. It can repair damaged or corrupted ISO files and extract the contents to a desired location.
    5. 7-Zip: 7-Zip is a free and open-source file archiver that can also recover data from damaged ISO files. It can extract files and folders from the ISO image and save them to a specified location.
    6. AnyToISO: AnyToISO is a software tool specifically designed for converting various disk image formats to ISO files. It can also recover data from damaged ISO files and extract the contents to a desired location.

    It's important to note that the effectiveness of these methods and tools may vary depending on the severity and nature of the ISO file corruption or damage. It's recommended to try multiple tools and methods to increase the chances of successful ISO recovery.

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