How to Recover .PHY Files from External Flash Drives: Simple 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 .PHY file recovery guide for Windows, MacOS, Android and IOS in 2025.

How to Recover .PHY Files from External Flash Drives: Simple Guide
Data Recovery Tool

What is a .PHY file?

3D model file created by 3ds Max, a software package used for modeling and animation; defines how a 3D skin looks when matching a biped skeleton's movements; allows the biped's physique to capture motion properties such as bone rigidness, muscle bulging, and tendon stretching.

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

There are several common causes of ".PHY" files lost or failure, including:

  1. Accidental deletion: Users may accidentally delete ".PHY" files while organizing or cleaning up their computer's storage.
  2. Software or hardware issues: Issues with the computer's operating system, software, or hardware components can lead to file corruption or loss. This can include system crashes, software conflicts, or hardware failures.
  3. Virus or malware infections: Malicious software can infect and corrupt files, including ".PHY" files. Some viruses may also delete or encrypt files, making them inaccessible.
  4. Power outages or sudden system shutdowns: If a computer experiences a sudden power outage or shutdown, it can cause data loss or corruption, including ".PHY" files.
  5. File system errors: Errors in the file system, such as disk errors or bad sectors on the storage device, can lead to file loss or corruption.
  6. Formatting or partitioning errors: Incorrectly formatting or partitioning a storage device can result in the loss of all data, including ".PHY" files.
  7. Human error: Users may accidentally overwrite or modify ".PHY" files, leading to their loss or corruption.
  8. Physical damage to storage devices: Physical damage to hard drives, SSDs, or other storage devices can result in the loss of all data, including ".PHY" files.

It is important to regularly back up important files, including ".PHY" files, to minimize the risk of permanent loss or failure.

How to recover lost ".PHY" 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 ".PHY" 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 ".PHY" file is always to create it once more.

Use programs for recovering ".PHY" 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 ".PHY" 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™ 5.0
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 ".PHY" 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 ".PHY" extension?

Looking for how to open a stereo 3ds Max Physique File image file file?

Programs that open ".PHY" files

Windows
Autodesk 3ds Max 2020 Autodesk 3ds Max 2020

Additional Information

  • File type: 3ds Max Physique File

  • File extension: .PHY

  • Developer: Autodesk

  • Category: 3D Image Files

  • Format: N/A

  • File types that use the extension .PHY:

    • 3ds Max Physique File

    • PhyMod Physical Modeling Data

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Comments (1)

  • Hetman Software: Data Recovery
    Hetman Software: Data Recovery 18.12.2019 16:34 #
    Leave a comment if you have any questions about Recovering lost .PHY 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 a .PHY backup file and what does it contain?

    A .PHY backup file is a type of backup file that contains physical data from a storage device or disk. It is typically created using disk imaging software or backup utilities.

    The .PHY backup file contains a bit-by-bit copy of the entire storage device, including the file system, operating system, and all data stored on the disk. This means that it captures not only the individual files but also the partition structure, boot sector, and other low-level information.

    Due to its comprehensive nature, a .PHY backup file allows for complete system restoration in case of data loss, system failure, or other disasters. It can be used to restore the entire system to a previous state, including the operating system, applications, and all files and folders.

    However, it's worth noting that .PHY backup files can be large in size, as they capture all data on the storage device. Therefore, it may require significant storage space and time to create and restore such backups.

  • How can I create a .PHY backup file for my computer system?

    To create a .PHY backup file for your computer system, you can follow these steps:

    1. Open the command prompt: Press the Windows key, type "cmd," and select "Command Prompt" from the search results.
    2. Navigate to the directory where you want to store the backup file: Use the "cd" command followed by the path to the desired directory. For example, if you want to create the backup file on your desktop, you can type: `cd C:UsersYourUsernameDesktop`
    3. Run the Windows Backup Utility: In the command prompt, type `wbadmin start backup -backupTarget: -include:` and press Enter. Replace `` with the path where you want to store the backup file, and `` with the drive letter of the drive you want to back up. For example, if you want to back up drive C, you can type: `wbadmin start backup -backupTarget:D:Backup -include:C:`
    4. Wait for the backup process to complete: The time required for the backup process depends on the size of the drive and the speed of your computer.
    5. Verify the backup file: Once the backup process is finished, navigate to the specified backup location and ensure that the .PHY backup file has been created.

    Note: .PHY files are typically generated by the Windows Backup Utility (wbadmin) and are used for system recovery purposes. Ensure that you have sufficient storage space in the backup location to accommodate the backup file.

  • How can I restore a .PHY backup file to recover my data in case of system failure?

    To restore a .PHY backup file and recover your data in case of system failure, you can follow these steps:

    1. Ensure that you have a backup of the .PHY file. If not, locate and copy the .PHY backup file to a safe location.
    2. Install the software that created the .PHY backup file. This could be a specific backup software or a database management system that supports .PHY files.
    3. Open the software and navigate to the restore or recovery option. This may be located in the settings, tools, or file menu.
    4. Select the .PHY backup file you want to restore. Browse to the location where you stored the backup file and choose it.
    5. Choose the destination for the restored data. This could be a specific folder, database, or location within the software.
    6. Start the restore process. Depending on the software, you may need to confirm settings, select specific files or databases to restore, or provide additional information.
    7. Wait for the restore process to complete. This may take some time depending on the size of the backup file and the amount of data being restored.
    8. Verify the restored data. Once the restore process is finished, check the software or database to ensure that your data has been successfully recovered.

    Note: The specific steps may vary depending on the software you are using and the type of data being restored. It is always recommended to consult the software's documentation or seek assistance from the software provider for detailed instructions.
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