I deleted video files that I absolutely need, and I emptied my recycling bin.
Is there any way of recovering them without having to purchase software?

Also, how can I make more room on my computer? I bought the WD Sync extra hard drive, but I'm not entirely sure how to use it. I basically need to make more room on the computer so that I can add more video files so that I can finish editing a project. But my PC is PACKED.

Thank you in advance!

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Originally Posted by Silverpetals

Is there any way of recovering them without having to purchase software?

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Software is by far the easiest, most quick, and cheapest. Some free data recovery software:

• TestDisk and PhotoRec
• Undelete Plus
• Free Undelete Utility

Other more unpleasant options:
1. Send your hard disk to a professional data recovery company. Major $$$.
2. Find a freeware hex editor that will work with raw disks, learn the technical details of your file system, locate all the bits of the deleted files, and then manually edit the disk to recreate file system entries to point to all the deleted files' bits. Hours of highly technical work.

Also, be aware that the more you use the computer, the less likely it is you will be able to recover the files intact as the disk clusters formally occupied by the files will increasingly be reused for new files.

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Originally Posted by Silverpetals

I bought the WD Sync extra hard drive, but I'm not entirely sure how to use it.

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The sync software allows synchronization between files on your internal hard drive and files on the external WD drive when either changes. Given your intended application, I think you're more likely to want to free up space on the internal drive by moving video files on the internal drive to the external drive for archival storage using your operating system's built-in file management utility.

If these video files are truly important long term, it would be prudent to invest in either a mirrored or RAID 5 disk array for storage. Both your internal and external drive are single devices that can fail at anytime resulting in the loss of your video files.

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Originally Posted by Silverpetals

But my PC is PACKED

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You can either delete unused software/data or increase storage capacity by purchasing a larger internal drive and migrating everything on the old drive to it. You may also have a third option depending on the operating system you are running of "compressing" the internal disk so that more data will fit on it. I do not recommend this option even if it is available to you as it is a recipe for eventual data loss without a formal backup plan in place.