OP wrote above:
[[ I was skeptical to pay for a recovery software found a recovery software allows me to test with a demo, it recovered all my photos, but i do not preview them. The preview window displays unavailable. Is this mean my photos are gone? Is there someone have met the same problem and get the data back? Any suggestion will be highly appreciated. ]]
That's the way the data recovery applications work.
First, you download the software for free.
Then, you run it on the problem drive.
The software scans and scavenges the drive, and assembles a list of all the files that it believes to be "recoverable". Usually, the program will give you the ability to save one (and ONLY ONE) file, as proof that it will work.
NOW, you have to pay the registration, get a code number, and enter it into the application to "go further".
You have gotten to "step three" above, and it looks like the program you're using has a good shot at recovering the files.
The next thing to do is pay the registration -- then you "go further".
Oh.... in the future, you need TWO COPIES of all those photos. That means TWO drives, a primary storage drive, and at least one backup drive...
