Disk data recovery utility. File recovery software. In such traces, their recovery occurs.
Important information on a hard drive, flash drive or memory card of a mobile device can be unintentionally erased, although the price of information stored on a medium can be very high. Recovering data from a formatted disk is a rather expensive service. In any case, everyone can try to recover deleted data using a variety of programs. If such software does not bring you results, then only then you need to contact specialized services. You risk nothing by using such programs.
Recuva is the most popular free software
One of the most well-known applications that has gained wide popularity among users is the Recuva program. It is freely distributed on the Internet, and everyone can download it for free. Recuva is small in size and allows you to easily recover information from a memory card, flash drive or computer hard drive. Even a novice computer user can cope with this software: almost all recovery processes are automatic. A huge advantage of the Recuva product is that the user himself specifies which files need to be restored. That is, if you only need graphic images, Recuva will search and restore them.
Although the program quickly recovers deleted data, it has some drawbacks. For example, Recuva will only be able to help when the information has been deleted and the media itself is no longer used. If you notice the disappearance of data after writing several files, Recuva will not be able to recover them. In addition, the program cannot recover media after full formatting; Recuva will also fail if the computer reports that "the disk is not formatted."
UndeletePlus - a simple solution when you need to recover lost data
The simple UndeletePlus software is designed specifically to recover lost data, as the name suggests. You can recover deleted files from a hard drive, flash drive or memory card. The program wizard will allow even an inexperienced user to complete all the steps to recover important information. First, you need to choose exactly how the files were deleted: there was a deletion, formatting, damage to disk partitions. Next, it is indicated which files were lost (photos, texts, music, etc.)
This program is recommended only when the deletion just happened outside the trash (by pressing Ctrl + Del).
R-studio is one of the best programs for complete recovery of important data
Many users claim that R-studio is one of the most effective programs for working with remote information.
But it's important to note that it is paid. This software provides the ability to:
- recover information from flash drives, hard drives, floppy disks, DVDs;
- restore RAID arrays (including RAID 6);
- repair damage to computer hard drives;
- restoring partitions after reformatting;
- support for Linux, Mac OS and Windows partitions (NTFS FAT).
R-studio - a professional program that can recover information lost for various reasons (formatting, deleting, damaged disks). Messages from operating systems such as
"The disc is not formatted", etc. R-studio is not an obstacle, in contrast to the above programs. The program can be run from a flash drive or CD if the operating system itself does not start.
Data recovery on tablets, phones and smartphones running on Android OS
Sometimes you need to recover data not only on a laptop or computer, but also on modern gadgets: smartphones, phones and tablets running on Android.There are programs that allow you to recover files, photos, videos, etc. In my opinion, only two products deserve real attention:
- recover Lost Data with Android in Wondershare Dr. Fone;
- data recovery in 7-Data Android Recovery.
The first application allows you to work on all Android devices, and not only photos, videos or music, but also contacts and notes are subject to recovery. The interface and capabilities of the second application (7-Data Android Recovery) is very similar to the Recuva program for computers.
Data and file recovery from Recovery Software
Most paid or free programs offer all the functions at once: recovery after deletion, disk formatting, damaged boot sectors, etc. In contrast to such universal solutions, Recovery Software offers 7 programs at once, each of which is designed for a specific action.
- RS Partition Recovery - allows you to recover information after accidental formatting, changes in the disk structure. Supports all popular file systems.
- RS NTFS Recovery is an application similar to the previous program used for NTFS partitions. Allows you to recover data and partitions on computer hard drives, flash drives, memory cards with the NTFS file system.
- RS FAT Recovery is a program similar to the previous product, except that it is designed to recover erased information on media using the FAT system.
- RS Data Recovery is one of the most interesting packages for users. Combines RS Photo Recovery and RS File Recovery. The developer claims that it is this package that will save in any case in case of data loss: any disks, flash drives, file recovery from compressed and encrypted partitions are supported.
- RS File Recovery is one of the components of the above-mentioned package, specially designed for recovering important information from damaged disks, recovering deleted information.
- RS Photo Recovery - when you need to recover just photos from a hard drive, flash drive or memory card, then this product is just for you. This program requires a minimum of user intervention. You don't need to deal with photo formats and other details - the program will do everything by itself.
- RS File Repair - many have come across files or photos that won't open. For example, half of the photo looks gray, looks like incomprehensible multi-colored blocks, or does not open at all. This application will be able to solve such problems and recover graphic or other files of different formats.
After a free download, you will be able to see the results of file recovery (without the option to save), and then decide to purchase one of the applications. Having received the registered version, all the functionality of the program will become available to you.
Power Data Recovery - professional recovery of any data
Like the previous software package, the program Power Data Recovery allows you to completely recover lost information from any media (CD, DVD, Flash-cards, hard drives), including after their damage. The program will help to recover damaged partitions on hard drives: various formats USB, SATA, SCSI, IDE are supported.
The program allows you to perform the recovery of lost information absolutely safely on the created disk image, where any changes will not harm the system. In addition, Power Data Recovery allows you to search for lost files by type, find lost disk sectors, etc.
For the convenience of users, the program offers a preview of the files, which displays the original names of the files themselves.
Stellar Phoenix - software for recovering 185 file types
Wonderful program Stellar phoenix provides the ability to search and recover nearly two hundred different types of files (no RAID recovery option). For Stellar Phoenix, it doesn't matter where the data recovery will be from: computer hard disk, flash drive, memory card, CD or DVD. With the help of Stellar Phoenix, you can always create an image of the recovered disk, which will make the process of finding deleted or damaged files convenient and safe. All files found are classified by type, which makes the search very convenient. Preview speeds up the search for damaged files with the desired information.
Although the program is in English, the entire interface is intuitive. Recovering lost information is carried out using a wizard that offers only three options to choose from: recovering a hard drive (hard disk), recovering CDs, recovering lost photos. After choosing one of the items, you just need to wait until the program will find and restore the files. Even a novice computer user can easily master the program.
Recovering important data on a non-working computer with Data Rescue PC
File recovery is possible even on a non-working computer that does not start the operating system.
This procedure is possible thanks to the Data Rescue PC application. The program runs from the LiveCD and allows you to do the following:
- find and recover various types of files;
- to work with damaged disks that are not installed in the system;
- completely restore information after deletion;
- rAID recovery (by performing the installation of individual components).
Recover any data with Seagate File Recovery for Windows
While many different applications have emerged to recover lost information, many continue to use Seagate File Recovery.
It was developed by the hard drive manufacturer Seagate, and at first was used only for owners of these drives. But practice has shown that the program does an excellent job of recovering important lost data with other storage media (not necessarily Seagate). Even after formatting a disk or flash drive, deleting information from media, the program continues to see files with the ability to restore them. In addition, this program conducts file recovery so that the system can read them. Very often, other applications recover photos or other information, but the computer is unable to read them. If other programs do not result in the system reading the recovered photos, it is best to perform image recovery using Seagate File Recovery for Windows - the photo will be guaranteed to open. The only thing that can happen is a partial opening of the photo: part of the image will be visible.
Another program 7 Data Recovery Suite
Many users cannot find a suitable data recovery software for a long time. One of these obstacles is the lack of the Russian language. 7 Data Recovery Suite application is fully Russified and has a user-friendly interface.
Any computer user who is more or less versed in applications can recover important information using the 7 Data Recovery Suite program. Although you will have to pay a premium to use 7 Data Recovery Suite, you can always download it for free for informational purposes. Each user who has downloaded the product is entitled to a free trial recovery of information within 1 gigabyte! Very good for getting to know the product's capabilities. This volume allows you to recover more than three thousand photos! 7 Data Recovery Suite makes it possible to recover deleted files that were not placed in the trash, return information lost due to improper formatting or damage to the disk. Experienced users, who often use 7 Data Recovery Suite for various tasks, claim that in the majority of cases, the program does an excellent job of recovering any data. In addition to downloading this version of the program, on the official website you can find and download the beta version of the program, which is designed for mobile devices running on Android OS.
Recovering files from a hard drive is a question that worries many personal computer owners.
This is both the loss of valuable information and the time required for its successful recovery.
Specialized services take a lot of money for this, but if the medium is working properly, it makes sense to try to recover the data yourself.
Reasons for loss of information
If the storage medium is intact, the main reason may be:
- errors that occurred in the partition table or file system devices. Most often this happens due to improper shutdown of a personal computer, failures, malfunctions in the operation of hardware and software;
- the harmful effects of viruses, as well as user errors, often lead to data loss or corruption. With such failures, information usually remains on disk, but data about its location is lost. This is reflected in the loss of several partitions on the disk, displaying the partition as unformatted;
- inaccurate records of file systems can also lead to partial or complete loss of individual files and directories.
The main causes of malfunctions that lead to loss of information
Or maybe files, important data were accidentally deleted, or the partition in which they were located was formatted. Information recovery is carried out using certain software in manual or automatic mode.
When using the appropriate programs, all information that exists on the media is scanned. Based on the information found, a "map" of fragments of recoverable data is created. It contains information: which file belongs to which sector, names, sizes and other parameters of the scanned system elements. The selected data is then transferred to another drive.
What to do if data is lost?
If nothing was written to the sectors from which the information was deleted, then the data was not physically destroyed, but information about their location was distorted or lost. First of all, it is necessary to determine exactly where the sectors that store the necessary information are located, and also to reproduce it in the correct sequence.
If information, such as formatting and installing a new operating system, was written to the disk from which the files were deleted, there is a high probability of physical destruction of the data. In these cases, the feasibility of successful data recovery depends on the ratio of lost and recorded data. For example, if you delete 2 gigabytes of databases and write in their place 100 gigabytes of music and movies, the probability of successful recovery tends to zero.
Data recovery mechanism using programs
- scanning the media;
- based on the scan results, a map of the location of information fragments is compiled, based on the detected service records, and a directory tree is built;
- the map contains data about which file belongs to which cluster, the name, sizes and other parameters of the file system elements;
- if the information received is not enough, then certain extrapolation methods are used;
- the folders and files that need to be restored are selected in accordance with the compiled map and transferred to another medium.
This article will consider a variety of programs, both paid and free, analyze their strengths and weaknesses, so that the reader can quickly choose the most suitable software for his request.
5 best data recovery software
Recuva
Recuva is one of the most common programs for recovering lost data or formatted disks. The high demand for this program can be explained by a simple and intuitive interface. Recuva does not require any experience or special knowledge in the field of data recovery, it is very convenient and easy to use. You can download it from here
The program scans in detail the selected hard disk (supported as various hard drives and flash drives). Information can be recovered even if the drive has suffered any physical damage or has been formatted using a standard system command.
It is recommended to perform recovery using the program without changing the standard settings, unless, of course, you are an expert in the field of data recovery. This utility has a simple interface and will provide effective information recovery, even if the user does not have the necessary knowledge.
The program will prompt you to select the type of file to be restored. When searching for a specific file (music, picture, document), it is worth specifying the category to save time required for the recovery operation. But, if you do not know the file type or want to find data from different categories, select "Other" and the program will search for all deleted information.
Choosing WHAT we will look for
Next, you need to select the location where this file was located before deletion. You can select not only a separate folder, but also more extensive areas, for example: "My documents" or "On a memory card" and the program will check the selected area for the presence of the necessary data. If the exact location is unknown (the file was deleted with the help of special programs or simply disappeared), you should leave "Unknown exactly" as the default, so that the utility will scan the entire surface of the media.
We choose WHERE we will look for
A window will appear ready to perform the restore operation. An in-depth analysis is recommended: it takes more time, but its efficiency will be many times higher.
It is worth waiting for a while while the program searches for files. If you did not choose deep analysis, then the operation will take very little time.
Choosing information for recovery
A window will open in which the found deleted data will be indicated. From this list, select the information that needs to be restored, after which the program will ask you to select a folder to restore.
It is important to choose the right folder where our files will be restored, because this will affect the efficiency of their recovery. Recovery should be carried out to a different drive, not the one from which the recovery is performed. Especially when it comes to returning a large number of files. You can connect an additional hard drive or USB flash drive to return data to them. The space should be slightly larger than the size of the files being recovered.
The recovery procedure does not take much time and depends on the number and size of files.
R-Studio
R-Studio is a convenient and functional program for recovering information from different drives that was deleted by mistake. With its help, you can scan various media and recover lost data not only from hard drives, but also from flash drives. You can download the utility from the website http://www.r-studio.com/ru/Data_Recovery_Download
Initially, you should decide on the choice of the version: demo or full. If you are not constantly engaged in data recovery, it is better to choose the demo version. A 20-day period is more than enough to restore all the information.
If you are not a pro, it is better to use the demo version
Besides recovery, the utility can also perform a prescan. This operation will speed up and improve the efficiency of the recovery procedure. It is worth noting that you can scan the device with third-party programs, and load a file with a report on the work done in R-Studio. The utility always performs a detailed sector scan. This may take some time, depending on the size of the partition being scanned.
We scan the selected section
After the end of the check, it will be possible to view all the files that she was able to find and then select those that can be restored. In order to restore a file, you need to right-click on it and select the "Restore" command.
R-Studio is convenient and multifunctional
If you do not know exactly what was deleted from the device, and you are going to recover all the lost files, in this case, right-click on the desired media and select "Recover all files".
At the end, just select the partition where to restore
At the end, you will need to select the folder where the retrieved information will be restored. Important! It is imperative to take into account that the folder should not be on the hard disk from which the information will be returned, because during the recovery of some files, others may be completely overwritten by them.
After selecting the folder, you need to wait while the program diagnoses the drive and recover the lost information.
Easy Recovery
Easy Recovery can be safely called a high-quality program for professionals, which an ordinary user can master. It gained popularity due to its excellent efficiency and, at the same time, ease of use in comparison with similar utilities. The advantage of this program is that it can also perform preliminary media diagnostics. Download the program
Click on "Disc Diagnostic" and select the required command. If the utility was downloaded in order to recover data, then we carry out a deep scan "SmartTests". In addition to scanning, the program will make diagnostics and determine if the hard disk has problems, for example, unreadable sectors or any other, in order to prevent troubles.
Diagnostics menu
After choosing a command, the type and number of media that are currently running on the device are determined. We choose which one we will work with, where to recover information.
For the most accurate and complete diagnostics, select "Run extended SMART test". Beforehand, you should be patient: the check will take a lot of time.
Be patient and choose scanning
To recover files, go to the "Data Recovery" section and select the mode that interests us. In this program, modes are selected depending on the specific situation.
For example, if you accidentally formatted your hard drive, select the "Format Recovery" category. Next, the file system of the drive and the partition that was formatted are selected.
If there is a need to recover deleted files, in this case, select the "Deleted Recovery" function - the disc selection menu opens and the formats of the files to be recovered are determined.
Recovering lost files
If the data disappeared as a result of a software failure or the reason for the loss is unknown, select the "Advanced Recovery" option. After scanning, the program will find information that was deleted in a certain period of time.
We select what we need to restore. Usually, the diagnostic and recovery procedure does not take much time. This will depend on the amount of data that needs to be returned.
PhotoRescue Pro
PhotoRescue Pro is a utility that helps you recover deleted photos or videos. Today's digital devices provide ample opportunities for recording, rewriting and optimizing media files. If you accidentally deleted the necessary files from your digital gadget - this utility will solve this problem.
With this program you can recover data from any type of flash drives, hard drives or mobile phones. It is possible to recover data even from damaged and formatted media.
Working with PhotoRescue Pro is very convenient and affordable. You can download it from here The program supports many languages, including Russian. After choosing the language, a window appears in which we press the Next button and the registration window appears. If you just want to restore a few photos, it makes no sense to register the program, but if you constantly work with the camera, and this problem occurs quite often, you should purchase the full version.
First, we select the drive from which we will return information. The utility works with several file systems at once, which is very beneficial. Click "Next".
Analyzing the content
After choosing the drive we need, press "Next", wait a couple of seconds - the utility will check the partition we have chosen. A list of folders is displayed, we need to select the one that interests us. If the location of the file is unknown, click on the checkmark at the very top to select all the data found. "Next"
Select the desired folder
We select the formats of the files we are interested in. In order not to be mistaken, it is better not to uncheck the boxes of individual formats, so that the utility finds the maximum information. Next, select the files you need. Click "Next".
Select the desired folder
When the format selection is complete, the scanning operation will begin. The verification time will depend on the amount of data and will take from several minutes to a couple of hours.
Scan duration depends on data size
The advantage of the program over its counterparts is the simultaneous check of the drive for the presence of unreadable sectors. Thanks to this, it is possible not only to recover lost information, but also to carry out diagnostics and troubleshooting.
It remains only to restore the data
After scanning is finished, a list of files opens. It is possible to search files by category (video, photo, audio) and formats, and not by sections and all kinds of folders.
The program shows how much data was found and what was deleted. Thanks to this, you will quickly find out which files were found and which were irrevocably lost.
GetDataBack
GetDataBack is one of the most efficient and most powerful. With its help, you can recover data in almost any situation. The developer divided the program into two subtypes: the first for the NTFS file system, and the second for FAT. Download it from here: https://www.runtime.org/data-recovery-software.htm
Recover all deleted files for effective results
Install this utility on an external hard drive. You cannot restore to the media from which the files will be restored, as the necessary information will be overwritten.
After opening the program, a menu of four items appears. For maximum efficiency, it is recommended to select the fourth item - "I want to recover deleted files" (I want to recover deleted data).
Selecting the required section
In the list of local drives that opens, which the utility finds during the scan of the hard drive, you need to find the section where the deleted files were located. The program provides many options in the field of data recovery, but if you just want to recover information from a drive and do not know where they were, it is worth choosing the "Physical drives" category.
A file systems window opens and you need to select the one that is supported by this version of the program (in our case, NTFS). Modern computers use different file systems at the same time, so we put a tick next to "Show recommended".
We select the file system of interest to us
After a detailed scan, the utility will open the folder explorer, which is simple and easy to understand. The contents of the selected folder will be displayed on the right; if the information has been deleted, after recovery GetDataBack will show the files in strikethrough font for easy classification. Each file is equipped with special markings, with which you can determine the type of information found.
Data recovery is easy and convenient
As a result, we select the data we need and start the recovery. When finished, the restored file will be available in the editor
Restoring files using this program in the FAT file system is carried out in a similar way.
Conclusion
In this article, in my opinion, the most popular and effective programs for recovering deleted data from a hard drive and various media were considered. For beginners, the popular, with a simple interface, Recuva is suitable; if you lose media files, you should choose PhotoRescue Pro, it can recover data from almost any modern gadgets; for constant work with the return of information, GetDataBack will be ideal - it has powerful functionality, is effective and at the same time has an ergonomic main menu.
If, for some reason, you were unable to recover your data, and the information is valuable, it makes sense to contact the specialists. They have more powerful software and can help where these utilities are powerless.
Description of top programs for recovering deleted computer data: Recuva, Hetman Partition Recovery, EaseUS Data Recovery, UndeletePlus, R-Studio, Ontrack EasyRecovery. Feature overview and video... Personal computers and laptops, smartphones and tablets, and other digital devices are now used by users to store important and personal data. And although the reliability of each of these devices today does not raise any doubts, the issue of data safety and security is still very important for the user.
Digital devices or storage devices can fail or be damaged for many reasons independent of the user or manufacturer, as a result of which data will be lost. There are no devices that would 100% guarantee the user the safety of data. But, in case of loss of important information as a result of system damage or accidental deletion, there is a chance to recover the lost files.
If a file is deleted, regardless of the reasons and method of deletion, the information is not permanently deleted from the media. It is simply marked as one that is deleted and is considered by the system as such (for the system, this option is much less resource-intensive than a complete deletion), until the information overwrites other files. This means that a deleted file can be restored until a certain amount of information has been saved to the disk, which can overwrite the necessary files.
You can recover a deleted or lost file using data recovery software:
Hetman Partition Recovery
R-Studio
Pros and Cons of R-Studio
- The program has a fairly wide range of functions for data recovery
- Can create a disk image for later data recovery
- High percentage of recoverable files
- Built-in HEX editor
- Simple enough and not intuitive enough interface
- The process of scanning a storage medium, recovering data, creating an image, etc. takes a long time - the program cannot be called fast
- Inability to preview documents, video files and listen to audio format files
Features of the program
The program itself is unlike any other data recovery tool. If you understand its interface, then over time you realize that it is very simple, but it will not be easy for an inexperienced user to intuitively understand the sequence of actions to recover their data.
Our opinion
R-Studio gives the impression of a high-quality data recovery tool that specialists have worked on for a lot of time and effort. But looking at the interface, one gets the impression that, in pursuit of implementing as many functions of their program as possible, the developers forgot about its users, or the program was actually intended for advanced users or IT specialists who should not have many questions.
But no matter what, I was very pleased with the possibility of creating a disk image, as well as recovering data from it, and, in addition, the ability to recover deleted or lost disk partitions and data from them.
Storing information in digital form has many advantages, among which the most significant is the amount of data that can be recorded in the minimum unit of memory of a digital device. But this storage method has its drawbacks. If the storage device fails, the operating system crashes, or the user makes erroneous actions, the data may be lost. Fortunately, in most cases, unintentional deletion of files is not permanent, and with the right and timely approach, they can be restored.
Recovering deleted files is possible thanks to the very algorithm of writing information to the hard disk. New files are written not into empty sectors or cells, but over previously deleted ones, physically saved on the disk until they are completely overwritten. That is, when deleted, files are not immediately deleted. Instead, the system erases the first character of the file name and marks the space it occupies as free, leaving the file itself on disk. The exception is SSD drives with the TRIM function enabled, the cells of such media are completely cleared, so recovering accidentally deleted files becomes an almost impossible task.
So, is it possible to recover files deleted from a computer? Yes, quite, unless they have been overwritten with other data. For these purposes, it is best to use special programs, since Windows itself does not have any intelligible means. You can recover files using standard tools only if they have been moved to the Trash, and also if the system has enabled the shadow copy function and / or file history. First, let's look at an example of recovering files deleted from a hard drive without using third-party programs.
Recovering deleted files using Windows
In Windows 7 and 10, if you open the properties of any folder or file, you can see the "Previous Versions" tab, and in it - a list of backed up objects. Even if the files have been deleted past the Recycle Bin, just select the desired backup version and click the "Restore" or "Open" button.
But it's not that simple. The fact is that the "Previous Versions" tab will most likely be empty, at least in the properties of directories on the user drive. For copies to be created, protection must be enabled in the system properties for the corresponding partition, that is.
Note: You can return deleted files using the "Previous Versions" function only if they were located in folders, and not in the root of the disk.
It is highly desirable that the system also include the File History function, which provides periodic backups of the contents of user libraries and the desktop.
This primarily applies to Windows 8 and 8.1 systems, which do not have the Previous Versions tab in the object properties. It's hard to say for sure what prompted Microsoft developers to remove it from the eighth version, and then return it in the tenth, however, the shadow copy technology itself was intact.
How to recover files deleted from a computer by gaining direct access to shadow copies will be discussed below, but for now let's say a few words about the "File History". This option appeared in Windows 8 as an alternative to the Previous Versions feature, which was tied to the creation of system restore points. The File History function is independent, but in order to use it, an additional physical disk or flash drive or, alternatively, a network drive must be connected to the computer.
It is very easy to recover deleted data with its help. To do this, click on the "Restore personal files" link, select a folder or a file located in it in the window that opens, and click the button with a rounded arrow.
Now for recovering files from shadow copies in Windows 8 and 8.1. As already mentioned, the “Previous Versions” tab is missing in these versions of the system. So what if you need to restore a specific file, do you really need to roll back to a previous restore point? Not at all necessary.
Open a command prompt as administrator and run the command in it vssadmin list shadows.
As a result, you will get a list of all restore points. Pay attention to the "Original volume" parameter, it will indicate the letter of the drive from which you are going to recover data. Then, having determined the number of the backup (it is indicated at the end of the value of the "Shadow copy volume" parameter), run the following command:
mklink / d% SystemDrive% / shadow //? / GLOBALROOT / Device / HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy7 /
In this example, the restore point is number 7, your value will be different. As a result of executing the command, a symbolic link will appear in the root of the C drive shadow.
By clicking on it, you will find yourself exactly in the shadow copy!
This method works equally well in Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10, but again you need to remember that it makes sense to resort to it if only the function of creating system restore points is enabled on the system.
File recovery using special programs
Above, we examined in detail how to recover files deleted from the Recycle Bin when it was emptied or lost for other reasons using the system itself. As shown above, all of these methods have significant limitations. To be able to recover data directly from a disk, and not from backups, you should use special programs, among which there are both paid and free.
R-Studio
R-Studio Is a powerful professional program for recovering deleted files from a wide variety of digital devices, from hard drives to CD / DVD disks and memory cards. The application supports all popular file systems, RAID arrays, can create images of physical disks and individual volumes. Despite the fact that R-Studio is aimed at power users, the data recovery procedure in it is not complicated.
After launching the program, select the target disk or partition in the left column and click the "Show disk contents" icon on the toolbar.
In this case, the list of deleted directories will be displayed on the left, and their contents marked with red crosses on the right.
Mark the checkboxes of the objects that you would like to restore and select the option "Restore marked" in the main menu. Next, in the window that opens, you will need to specify the folder to save the files, set additional recovery options, if necessary, and click "OK".
If files have been lost due to damage to the file system or formatting, it is advisable to scan the disk by selecting the corresponding option in the main menu.
Media pre-scanning allows for more holistic and in-depth analysis, which means an increased chance of recovering lost data.
Upon completion of the procedure, a new item "Found by signatures" will appear in the list of disks.
Select it with the mouse, click in the right column on the link "Files found from information about the typical features of their data structure", mark the necessary elements in the next window and restore them.
Ontrack EasyRecovery
Another professional commercial product that allows you to quickly and efficiently recover deleted files. Ontrack EasyRecovery has a convenient interface in the form of a step-by-step wizard, which greatly facilitates the work with the program. The application supports data recovery from hard, ZIP and CD / DVD disks, flash drives, memory cards, RAID arrays, as well as various devices with flash memory.
The recovery procedure in Ontrack EasyRecovery consists of several stages. At the first stage you will be asked to select the type of media, at the second you need to specify a specific disk or partition, at the third you will need to select an operation (in this example, this is recovery).
To do this, in the tree-like list, select the directory with the deleted files (it will be marked in green), right-click on it and select the "Save as" option from the menu.
You can also restore individual files by doing the same in the right column of the program window. If you switch to the "Previews" tab, you will be able to view thumbnails of the files being recovered, however, this view is available only for images.
Recuva
From free programs for recovering deleted files, we can recommend Recuva... This simple and at the same time effective tool allows you to recover any type of data from different digital media, supports viewing previews of images and hexadecimal code of files of different formats.
Recuva is very easy to use. After starting the program, select the volume in the drop-down list and click the "Analysis" button. The program will scan the media and list the deleted files.
Check the boxes you need, click the "Restore" button and specify the directory to save them.
You can also use the context menu by selecting the "Restore Selected" option in it.
The program has a simple search by file name and its format, you can view basic information - state, date of creation and modification, size and full path.
You need to know about it
So, we examined in detail what to do if you deleted the required file. Using third-party programs in this case has its advantages, since it allows you to restore files even if the partition is deleted and the file system is damaged, but there is something to remember about. If you accidentally delete or lose files, under no circumstances write any data to the partition in which they were located, as there is a risk of overwriting the sectors containing them.
For this reason, the recovery program should be installed on a "free" partition, different from the one from which you are going to recover. Ideally, you need to remove the hard drive, connect it to another computer and start scanning from it. It is also impossible to save recovered files to the same partition, in this case you risk losing them completely. That is, if you are recovering files from drive D, you should save them to drive C or a USB flash drive.
Now on the Internet it is easy to find suitable software for a wide variety of purposes. Therefore, it is not surprising that in recent years, many special applications and utilities have been created that allow you to quickly recover accidentally deleted files. Often, the algorithm of operation of this software is always different, so the success rate of returning objects also varies. Sometimes a user has to use several tools at once in order to successfully restore the data he needs. In today's article, we want to demonstrate the most common and effective tools to accomplish the task at hand.
I would like to start with the most famous thematic software called Recuva. You may know the developers of this application by. The main functionality of Recuva is precisely aimed at recovering accidentally deleted files. After launching, you are greeted by the Configuration Wizard, where you need to specify the type of objects that will be found. Next, the search location is determined. The location can be a specific folder or logical volume on the hard disk. The program will automatically scan the selected location and display all found files. All you have to do is determine which ones should be restored, and then place them in a convenient directory on removable or local media.
Recuva is still actively supported by developers and is distributed free of charge on the official website. If you wish to purchase a complete set of software from this company, we recommend paying attention to the PRO version subscription. Read more about this all on the product page by clicking on the link below.
DMDE
Special attention in our today's article deserves DMDE (DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software), since the developers have implemented a truly unique scanning algorithm into this software, which turns out to be effective even in situations where other tools do not bring any result. Its essence lies in the reconstruction of the directory structure even after complex damage to the file system. This is feasible thanks to heuristic algorithms. Algorithms are called euretic, the correctness and effectiveness of which has not been proven, but in most cases they turn out to be working.
DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software supports almost all known file systems and will help in object recovery even in cases where using the file system structure is not possible. The free version of DMDE includes many useful features - disk editor, partition manager, imaging and cloning disks, reconstructing RAID arrays, returning files from the current panel. All this will help in a variety of situations, and we, in turn, can recommend DMDE as one of the best solutions to accomplish the task.
TestDisk
The free utility TestDisk is primarily designed to repair the boot loader and find lost partitions. It does not require installation and runs from the console or executable file. Additional functions include recovering the MBR by rewriting, searching for the file system for further adjusting the bootloader, performing a wide variety of actions with all popular file systems. Of course, TestDisk allows you to easily recover files, but the software algorithm is quite specific, so 100% success is never guaranteed.
The software in question is intended exclusively for experienced users who at least roughly understand the structure of a hard disk, understand the concepts of file systems and boot sectors. In addition, TestDisk will help fix errors if they are suddenly found. The developers have created a special section on their website, where they demonstrate the principles of interaction with this utility. Therefore, if you have not yet encountered work in such software, first read the training materials.
R.Saver
R.Saver is one of the most popular programs for standard recovery of deleted files, which allows even the most novice users to quickly understand the functionality and recover long-lost files. The principle of operation of this software is quite simple - choose the place where the necessary files were once located, or scan the entire physical disk, and then start the analysis. After that, the screen will display a list of all found directories and files. Most of them will clearly exist, so you will have to find the required objects among them in order to restore them and save them in the required place.
The presence of the Russian language is also encouraging, which will make the software management procedure even easier for beginners. There are practically no additional functions in R.Saver. This can only include testing the file system, during which the number of integral and damaged elements is shown. The program is distributed free of charge, so there will be no problems with downloading either.
GetDataBack
The next tool is called GetDataBack and stands out from other similar software with an unusual interface. In fact, this solution is practically no different from the ones presented above, but here more attention is focused on the initial settings before scanning. You can select the file system in which the search will take place, set the range of files by size and last editing date. Based on this all, GetDataBack will display on the screen only objects and directories that match the parameters.
This scanning method will quickly filter out unnecessary elements and concentrate on one thing. In addition, in some cases, it is possible to fix the file system and damaged elements, since not everything depends on the software algorithm. Paying attention to GetDataBack is definitely worth it, because it is distributed free of charge and perfectly copes with its main task.
Ontrack EasyRecovery
If you set a goal to recover files from a disk, flash drive, player or, for example, a RAID system, Ontrack EasyRecovery is ideal for this. Interaction with it is extremely simple and begins just with the choice of the available device. Based on this, the software will automatically decide on the selection of the scanning algorithm. Otherwise, Ontrack EasyRecovery works in the same way as previous programs - you need to wait for the scan to complete, and then restore the found files to any convenient location.
Recover My Files
The name of the software Recover My Files (Recover My Files) already speaks for itself. Here you will be able to set a filter and select one of the check modes: either fast (shallow) or thorough (deep). There is a separate menu in which filtering is configured (file size, modification date, type and file system). All this will help to optimize the scanning and recovery procedure as much as possible.
Recover My Files is distributed for a fee, but the developers provide a free trial with a limited duration so that novice users can experience all the benefits. The only drawback that immediately catches your eye is the lack of the Russian interface language. However, it is quite understandable, so even those who do not know English should not have any problems. You can still view and download Recover My Files from the official website.
PC Inspector File Recovery
PC Inspector File Recovery is another free piece of software to make our list today. The built-in functionality is exactly the same as the tools already discussed earlier, and of any features, only a search by content among all detected files can be noted, which will allow you to quickly find the required components. Otherwise, this is standard software with deep scanning and the absence of the Russian interface language.
Comfy File Recovery
Now let's talk about a software called Comfy File Recovery, which differs from all others in the ability to save and mount disk images. It is not known why such a function is needed in a standard file recovery tool, but it is present here and may even be useful to certain users. In addition, it is possible to save a text report on the analyzes performed in automatic or manual mode. This will allow you to always be aware of attempts and results of file recovery.
Auslogics File Recovery
Auslogics File Recovery is a program with one of the most user-friendly interfaces. Despite the absence of the Russian language, even the most novice user will quickly figure out all the tools and be able to start the scanning procedure. It consists of several stages here - choosing a logical or physical partition, setting up search filtering, scanning and recovery. After finding files available for recovery, you can sort them in every way or set up a convenient display mode. After that, the required elements are selected and restored.
Auslogics File Recovery is distributed for a fee, and the user is only offered to get acquainted with the trial version for a limited period of time. This will allow you to study in detail the functionality of the software and understand whether you will really use it on an ongoing basis and whether it is worth your money.
Disk Drill
Completely free program for recovering files from hard drives and other media, which has a rich set of functions, but, unfortunately, lacks support for the Russian language. Among the main features, it is worth highlighting two types of scanning (fast and deep), saving and mounting disk images, saving the current session and activating protection against information loss.
Hetman Photo Recovery
The last contributor to our express review is a tool for recovering deleted photos. The program has an excellent interface, support for the Russian language, a rich set of settings, which includes creating and mounting disk images, creating a virtual disk, full or selective recovery of photographs and much more. It is distributed for a fee, but with a free trial version, which is quite enough for recovering photos on disks.
As you can see, now on the Internet there is a fairly large number of paid and free software that will help you quickly recover lost files. It should be noted that they all work according to different algorithms. From this we can conclude that it is recommended to use several tools at once in those cases when one of them is not able to restore the necessary objects. Now you can choose the appropriate option from the proposed list to complete the task.