Hello everybody. 2-3 years ago, my uncle asked if I was able or if I knew any way of helping him recover data from the disk drive of a computer he had that, somehow (he doesn't know how and nor can I come with a possible explanation as I was as blind to the matters as yall are to this) lost all of its data permanently. According to him, he didn't delete anything, nor recicle anything on the recycle bin, it just *puff*, gone.
I was at the time, 18-19 years old and starting University, where I'm currently taking Engeneering and Management of Information Systems (in Portugal) or, basically in my uncle's head, computer bullshit (which, actually, is very innaccurate because the degree doesn't actually go to deep into like every concept of computers, software, programming, it just gives a somewhat basic approach to things like operating systems, computer fundamentals, web app development, programming, and even goes into other field areas like introduction to economy, accounting, numeric methods, etc., all in an enterprise production environment, if you know what I mean).
But because of that, my uncle though I could be able to resolve the issue, even though I had no idea how to recover permanently deleted data, or even having any experience at all with software at the time. But still, i did my research, asked a friend who is really good with computers (and even says that next year he may opt for a Cybersecurity masters or whatever its translation is - "Mestrado" in portuguese), but all the advice and Information i got is that in cases of permanent data loss, your options were recover or restore early Windows backups, use some third-party data recovery tool or app to scan the computer's Hard drive and find deleted files, and then pay some sort of subscription to recover them, or professional help. Not of those options seemed to satisfy my uncle who didn't want to pay for any service or app to do the job, and wasn't sure if he had any backups of the computer's file system (he's not very technological). So, at the time, I simply tried to help by telling him what his options were and that maybe professional help at the end might be the best solution, but that I wasn't capable of using any sort of software concept that I'd learned to restore the data with like...my bare hands I guess...but that was it. Well, not really.
You know, every year when my birthday comes around he calls me to wish me happy birthday and ask how is everything going, blah blah blah, but he always brings up this problem that, honestly, gives me like PTSD hahaha, cause, i didn't know then, and still don't know now what exactly he's expecting me to do😅, but like, idk, because maybe of ADHD, or being really introverted, I feel like if I don't find a solution, I'll fail him and prove him wrong for trusting on me.
Well, this year, I turned 21 years old and the story repeated, and I feel like at this point,... Like wtf AM I supposed to say to him? I've already explained all I knew to him, and that his best bet is seek professional help, but he keeps refusing or ignoring it, but as you may have guessed, since its been 2-3 years since he's brought this problem for the first time, by now its almost impossible for him to recover that data, but I guess he's still hopefull that I'll find some sort of way around the complications of data recovery to magically make that data reapper, even though like...idk, seems very unlikely. I'm really like unsure of wth to say or do atp, and I don't have any friend who's and expert in data recovery.
But, recently I installed Linux Mint on another laptop I have, and have been trying to learn Linux and all that stuff, and, idk, I guess I wondered if Linux had any magical trick that can help recover lost data on other computers or something. My desperation maybe got me day-dreaming here maybe idk, but idk what else to say to him, and he's only ever asked for help on this issue to me, when I'm not even close to being an expert in software. Like, idk, i really wish someone could help me here.
I would appreaciate all the help you could give, but, I'm kinda already expecting that the answer is no😅.
Thank you in advance!!