Recently there is a discussion in forum
about data
recovery. I am quite surprised to know that
many people don’t think that data
recovery software works. In my experience,
it does work and it saved my @$! many times after accidentally deleting
important files or after formatting a hard drive and forgot to
backup some files. There was only once, I
wrongly formatted my external hard drive and somehow I wasn’t able to get back
all my files. I have 7 external hard drives, all same casing and no label. I
guess the reason I wasn’t able to get back my files is because I might have
copied some files to the hard drive.
When recovering data from accidental deletion, there are some rules to
follow.
1. Stop using the hard drive you want to recover as main hard drive
(Windows has disk and registry activity in background.
Don’t believe? Run RegMon, FileMon and DiskMon)
2. Do not install the data
recovery software on the hard drive that you want to recover.
3. Do not save
the recovered files on the hard drive that you’re recovering.
Do take note that these are my top 10 picks for FREE data recovery software.
Number 1 does not mean it is better than number 5.
1.
Recuva
- From the
maker of the popular CCleaner. Recuva (pronounced “recover”) is
a freeware Windows utility to restore files
that have been accidentally deleted from your computer. This includes files
emptied from the Recycle bin as well as images and other files that have been
deleted by user error from digital camera memory cards or MP3 players. It will
even bring back files that have been deleted by bugs, crashes and viruses! Setup is only 646 KB in size and
it’s portable.
[ Download Recuva
]
2. PC INSPECTOR File Recovery
- PC
INSPECTOR File Recovery is a data recovery program that supports the FAT
12/16/32 and NTFS file systems. Finds partitions
automatically, even if the boot sector or FAT has been erased or damaged.
Recovers files with the original time and date stamp. Supports the saving of
recovered files on network drives. Recovers files, even when a header entry is
no longer available. Setup file is 5.83 MB in size.
[ Download PC INSPECTOR
File Recovery ]
3. Panda Recovery
- Pandora
Recovery actually recovers files permanently removed from Recycle Bin, files
originally deleted using Shift + Delete keys bypassing Recycle Bin and files
deleted from DOS prompt. Pandora Recovery allows you to find and recover
recoverable deleted files from NTFS-formatted volumes, regardless of their type
- you can recover pictures, songs, movies or documents. Setup file is 2.12 MB in
size.
[ Download Panda
Recovery ]
4. TOKIWA DataRecovery
-
DataRecovery is freeware and written by TOKIWA to undelete
accidentally deleted files even from recycle bin. It supports FAT12, FAT16,
FAT32 and NTFS undeletion. Even in both NTFS compressed files and EFS encrypted
files. Zip file is only 198 KB in size, no installation required and it’s
portable.
[ Download TOKIWA
DataRecovery ]
5. SoftPerfect File Recovery
-
SoftPerfect File Recovery is a free and useful tool to restore accidentally
deleted files from hard and floppy disks, USB flash drives, CF and SD cards and other
storage media. It supports the popular file systems such as FAT12, FAT16, FAT32,
NTFS and NTFS5 with compression and encryption. If your important files
disappeared and you can’t find them in the recycle bin, try this software
product and get the files back to life. Easy to use, no installation is
required. Program is only 247 KB in size.
[ Download
SoftPerfect File Recovery ]
6. Undelete Plus
- Undelete Plus is a
quick and effective way to restore accidentally deleted files. It can also
recover files that have been emptied from the Recycle Bin, permanantly deleted
files within Windows using the Shift + Delete, and files that have been deleted
from within a Command Prompt. Undelete Plus works under Win
95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista operating systems. The program supports all
Windows file systems for hard and floppy drives including FAT12/16/32,NTFS/NTFS5
and image recovery from CompactFlash, SmartMedia, MultiMedia and Secure Digital cards. Program is only 583
KB in size and requires no installation. Portable.
[ Download Undelete
Plus ]
7. FreeUndelete
- FreeUndelete is data
recovery program for deleted files. In case of accidental deletion of files on a
NTFS (used by default in Windows XP, 2000 and NT), FAT32 or FAT16 file systems
FreeUndelete is the utility to help. Setup file is 866 KB in size.
[
Download
FreeUndelete ]
8. ADRC Data Recovery Software Tools
- ADRC Data
Recovery Software Tools contains a collection of DIY data recovery tools that
supports a wide variety of drives and file systems. The software incorporates
extremely simple GUI with novice users in mind. The software zooms in to do only
critical recovery functions with minimum complexity so one could recover the
data easily. It gives you full control to undelete files, disk image back up,
restore a backup image, copy files from hard disk with bad sectors, disk
cloning, backup, edit and restore your boot parameters. No installation
required, portable and program is only 132 KB in size.
[ Download
ADRC Data Recovery Software Tools ]
9. Glary Undelete
- Glary Undelete is a
free and easy-to-use yet powerful file undelete solution for FAT and NTFS file
systems. It will bring back files emptied from the Recycle Bin, in a DOS window,
from Windows Explorer with the SHIFT key held down. It will even recover files
that have been deleted by bugs, crashes and viruses! Glary Undelete works under
Win 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista operating systems. The program supports all
Windows file systems for hard and floppy drives including FAT12/16/32,NTFS/NTFS5
and image recovery from CompactFlash, SmartMedia, MultiMedia and Secure Digital
cards. Setup is 1.17 MB in size.
[ Download Glary Undelete
]
10. Avira UnErase Personal
- Avira
UnErase recovers data that have been deleted from the hard drive – either
accidentally or as a result of a virus infection, an uninstaller or
defective software. The danger of important data being lost forever is averted
with Avira UnErase. Setup file is 402 KB in size.
[ Download Avira
UnErase Personal ]
There you go, the top 10 free data recovery software. That should help you
get your data back. There are 2 more free data recovery program but it did not
made it in my top 10 data recovery software list. The reason is one of it is too
old and another one generated a lot of read error messages. If you’re
interested, you can check out Roadkil’s Undelete and
Restoration.
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45 Responses for "Top 10 FREE Data Recovery Software"
[...] bookmarks tagged accidental Top 10 FREE Data Recovery Software saved by 1 others runlikeachicken bookmarked on 01/24/08 | [...]
[...] hakqnhxcc scribbled an anecdote about Here’s a brief synopsis Recently there is a discussion in forum about data recovery. I am quite surprised to know that many people don’t think that data recovery software works. In my experience, it does work and it saved my @$! many times after accidentally … [...]
Thank you
another great post…
i share on google reader most of your blog post with my friends…
do you use google reader?
if yes can you put your shared item link?
Great list–one thing I like especially about PC Inspector File Recovery is that it can also copy files that are locked or “in use by another program” which can actually come in handy sometimes.
i like your posts …. you are great keep it up that way
I would say if you deleted a file or files on the hard drive that’s running the OS, you shouldn’t do a normal shutdown, just pull the plug, because when shutting down windows writes to the disk, agree Raymond?
how when i use recuva it never recover my movies or pics that has been deleted
Assasin -> Exactly i had the same situation
any solutions or better recov tools
I hope I’m never gonna have to use these programs
A worthwhile link to have, as there are still people out there deleting files accidentally. Even formatting a drive without thinking of backing up, or a drive becomes corrupt through lightning strike and power surge.
thank you!!! wish this can hilp alot on my dialy work…
Essential post! Thanks for the list. Might be useful when I accidentally shift+del stuff..
SpinRite (via GRC.com) is another great tool for when your MBR gets corrupted and it seems that all is lost. While not technically a “recovery tool” in the strictest sense, it certainly does the trick to help recover from a HD failure.
Good stuff! Thanks,
If i liked your software then i will everybody that please download from this site but don’t cheat us.Please give me the information about latest softwares.
It was a great post and resourceful too- you are great keep it up that way.
Petter Smith
http://www.hdrconline.com
hello,
good post . but most of them dont save the recovered files. it asks us to buy it .can u plz suggest a free software that recovers the files n saves them too.
thx in advance
great post. i liked it…
realy u r helping alot for every one, thanks very much
I recommend free recovery tools here:
http://www.new-utilities.net/ntfilerecovery.html
Does anyone have any idea which file-recovery software has the MOST built-in heuristic filetype algorithms for recovering files of specific types (such as .jpg, mp3, xls, etc..)??
hey nice stuff!thanks
Its really nice……………. U r helped me lot
Thanks
Hey..Twas really helpful restorin d data frm a formatted partition but all my folders r mixed up
just
d files..
There\’s DiskInternal Partition recovery software which restores all data as per d original folder paths..If u cld check dat as an addition..
Thanx a lot for this one though..I dnlded Pandora recovery
Thanks for for providing such a useful recourse for photo recovery. I also know a good photo recovery software. It provides recovery solution for both windows as well Macintosh operating system.
realy u r helping alot for every one, thanks very much
good data recovery sotwere. i liked it�
Hello. Nothing seems to work for me. Diskinternals do not work either
What has happened to me is the following: the memory card of my mobile (micro SD 1Gb) seems to have been corrupted when i connected it to my laptop. The format of the files has changed and they cant be read or copied. it also seems that many files have been mixed up with each other. I have asked several \’experts\’ but cannot suggest something more.
Does anybody have a suggestion? or an appropriate forum where i can refer to? I d like to have my data bac
THanks
great job dear i gain my data
GREAT JOB I GET MY DATA
thanks a lot! a very useful article for me! thanks
good post, thank you. i used Power Data Recovery to recover my pc. it is a read-only File Recovery Software and Data Recovery Software to recover all your data no matter the data is lost by accidental deletion, format, re-partition, system crash or virus attack.
you can try it:http://www.sharewarecheap.com/Power-Data-Recovery-Professional-License_software_643.html
Recovered a whole lost thumb drive.
Number 4 is the winner. I was looking at a pro $400 version that seemed to be the only option and the rest of the list failed but TOKIWA did it in seconds flat. Ironic how it is the smallest one too.
Go TOKIWA DataRecovery
Thanks a lot for your recovery software….I agree recuva best of the best for the recovery software. Bravo………
Let’s take to recuva….
i need software for datarecovery file & folder from harddisk which file & folder deleted from system
上位10位で人気の無料フリーソフト情報、大変参考になりました。
ぜひ今後のダウンロード選びに活用させいただきます。
Wonderful! thanks so much for this list, it saved my time and peace of mind, I used Undelete pluse it is amazing,
thanks again
Tu dechire je te remercie chef grace a ton aide je pourrais recuperer de la sic que j ai presque perdu
It’s a good post. But, there are many more better data recovery tools available out there.
Recuva worked great on the pictures my 10 year old deleted off an sd card.
Also tried pc inspector, but this found the files, but didn’t recover them properly (only half the picture recovered)
Great site - keep up good work
Hi Raymond,
Thanks for sharing. It\’s really informative cuz I\’ve got files lost by accident.
A++++
thanks raymond, thanks to your recovery tools!! I recovered all of my deleted files…. thanks a lot
Thank God i found your post..
huff..thanks a lot..!!
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