@Sharky, This is an OT, completely, but I think that this needs to be addressed. Recuva and other file-recovery tools work, as you mentioned, by (for example) reading the “real” bytes saved in the HDD, and trying to relate them in some way to the remnants of the filesystem that originally pointed to those bytes.
Even when formatting the volume “erases” (not “really”, but it is accurate enough in this context) the filesystem “links” to the real data (the actual bytes), it is still true that most of the data is there in the surface of the HDD.
After reformatting (with a “quick” format), now you would have to somehow “understand” the bytes left there in that surface, and “user-friendly” tools try to do this for the user. This is NOT a simple task.
But now we would get to the step that “ruins” the chances. Installing anew the OS actually writes (most of) those bytes on the HDD surface. So no algorithm nor manual method can be used to recover those files. If you get to recover some file after this, it is almost a coincidence (not entirely, but, again, accurate enough in this context).
I could go on with more details, but the big picture is clear enough. Recuva (and others) are useful for other situations, not for the one presented in this topic. And certainly, those other potential situations, doesn’t include a file-recovery after you reinstall Windows (and once again, accurate enough in this context).
I’m not saying they are useless, and I don’t doubt you have successfully used them in the past. My point here is to avoid from some reader of this topic to think that, intentionally, the partition can be reformatted, the OS reinstalled, and that Recuva will recover most of their data of that same partition. The chances of that, as I said, are almost zero for all practical situations. These steps, (if they are intentional) near the word “suggest” would be only acceptable with a big NOT. I would say, don’t even think about it. Of course, unless you are just trying to learn, not to actually recover your system.
@rshbkk, please forgive me for this OT.