Lenovo ThinkCentre desktop systems are widely used in offices, businesses, and educational institutions for their reliability and performance. However, when files and folders disappear from a hard drive, it can indicate a corrupt Master File Table (MFT) or a malware attack, making critical data inaccessible.
This case study details how we successfully recovered lost files and folders from a Western Digital Blue HDD inside a Lenovo ThinkCentre, after the system suffered from MFT corruption or malware infection.
As Oxford Data Recovery, with 25 years of forensic data recovery experience, we used advanced file system reconstruction and malware-infected drive recovery techniques to restore lost data.
The Challenge: Files & Folders Disappeared from Lenovo ThinkCentre HDD
A client contacted us after noticing that important files and folders had vanished from their Lenovo ThinkCentre desktop. The reported issues included:
- Windows Explorer showed missing or empty folders.
- Some files were replaced with unreadable or gibberish filenames.
- Antivirus scans showed no threats, but the system had been running slow.
- The Western Digital Blue HDD appeared healthy but was behaving erratically.
Since continuing to use an affected drive can lead to further corruption or permanent data loss, an immediate professional recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the Western Digital Blue HDD arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full hardware and file system diagnostic. Our findings:
- Corrupt Master File Table (MFT) – The NTFS file system structure was partially unreadable, preventing file access.
- Possible malware infection – Some directory structures had been altered, potentially by a ransomware or file-hiding virus.
- No mechanical failure – The drive was still operational, meaning logical data recovery was possible.
Since MFT corruption and malware damage can overwrite critical file indexes, we prioritized forensic-level file system reconstruction.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging the Hard Drive to Prevent Further Data Loss
To preserve the original data, we:
- Created a sector-by-sector clone of the Western Digital Blue HDD.
- Used write-blocking technology to prevent further corruption.
2. Rebuilding the Master File Table (MFT)
Since the file index was damaged, we:
- Extracted the raw file system structure from undamaged portions of the disk.
- Manually rebuilt the MFT and repaired missing directory entries.
3. Scanning & Extracting Hidden or Deleted Files
Since some files may have been hidden or encrypted by malware, we:
- Used forensic malware recovery tools to locate altered files.
- Recovered lost and deleted files by scanning for intact data fragments.
4. Verifying & Restoring User Data
Once data extraction was complete, we:
- Checked all recovered files for integrity and usability.
- Ensured folders were restored in their correct locations.
- Transferred the fully recovered data to a secure external storage device.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our file system reconstruction and malware recovery techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the client’s lost files and folders, including:
✅ Business documents and spreadsheets
✅ Personal photos, videos, and archived emails
✅ Software files, application data, and system backups
The client was able to fully restore their Lenovo ThinkCentre system without losing any critical data.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful recoveries, we are the leading data recovery specialists in Oxford and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ MFT corruption & NTFS/FAT32 file system recovery
✔ Forensic malware and ransomware-affected drive recovery
✔ Deleted file retrieval and directory structure repair
✔ Secure & confidential data retrieval
If your files have disappeared, folders are missing, or your system is acting suspiciously, stop using the drive immediately and contact us for expert data recovery.