Can I retrieve data from a hard drive that I just did a quick format on?

Maybe, maybe not... with the right software and the right knowledge... done the right way... maybe. But any further wrong steps might render some or all of it beyond recovery...by you anyway. A professional could probibly get it...but I highly doubt your personal data is worth the very high cost.

Problem is... if you don't know what you are doing... odds are you will render it less recoverable. If you are asking this... its apparent you have neither.

I would remove the drive... to keep t safe for now. Put another drive in... get some recovery software... put some data over to another drive... do the same thing on it and practice on it until you are comfortable attempting it and getting the results you hope for before you try on the real drive.

This may be a little late, but I've had good luck with a free program called Recuva.

You may not get everything back, but something is better than nothing.

Good luck,
WallyH