Top 10 FREE Data Recovery Software
In my experience, accidentally deleting important files or forgetting to backup important files before formatting are quite often. At first when i lost my data in a External Hard-drive crash i didn’t know how to restore my data. But recently i came across these bunch of free softwares which can restore data from crashed HDD and flash drives.
STEPS To follow
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.
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 ]
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 ]
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 ]
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 ]
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 ]
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.
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.
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 ]
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.
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.
Great suggestions up there! I think you missed one though! it is a great backup/restore software that can also restore deleted files and is free Genie Timeline 2.0 Free. It is very easy to use, and i restore deleted files by right clicking the location where i deleted the file from and simply restore it. I found it much easier than recuva honestly!
Good suggestion Rias, I believe your dream will come to pass. I think backing up online is also a good alternative to protect your data. Been using http://www.safecopybackup.com for my online storage, it’s pretty secure for me there. It’s easy to use and fast when uploading files. They have 3GB free if don’t mind a try.
Hi, I’m very interested in Linux but Im a Super Newbie and I’m having trouble deciding on the right distribution for me (Havent you heard this a million times?) anyway here is my problem, I need a distribution that can switch between reading and writing in English and Japanese (Japanese Language Support) with out restarting the operating system.
Nice updates, i hope this will be good to keep our data in safer side. as its always a big issue to get it return. nice & informative post. i keep to come here again to get some more detail.
As a data recovery software suite, MiniTool Power Data Recovery includes five data recovery modules – Undelete Recovery, Damaged Partition Recovery, Lost Partition Recovery, Digital Media Recovery and CD/DVD Recovery. Each data recovery module focuses on different data loss condition.
And we provide Power Data Recovery Boot Disk for you. With our Data Recovery Boot Disk, you could recover data after system crash, hard drive crash and booting problems without Operating System.
Good recovery tools…
thanks,…..
Some paid data recovery software have free options. For example, ZAR data recovery software allows to recover digital images and movies for free (using demo version).
Another good tool – ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery which is capable of recovering the array configuration parameters for free.
Thanks. I like to work with “Undelete Plus” but from version 3 it “Get your free file report!” only!!!
what software work the best forrecovering data deleted bi antivirus? i tried recuva but it doesn’t work. Only my deleted file are recovered. But not the one deleted by antivirus;(
These software tools are capable of finding disk errors and possibly fix them. But, data recovery nyc should be noted that not all errors can be fixed in data recovery new york city and manhattan best by these tools, they are not miracle tools anyways Good Job!!!
People restoration is so not user friendly.If u do want a user friendly with good filters go for undelete plus
what is the best data recovery software for hard drive data recovery now a days….
regards:
hydeR
best software for data recovery
Hi and thanks for the help. I’ve been trying to access a word file for the past week on a USB key which started telling me – it requires formatting despite not been removed from its port.
I downloaded the Inspector Recovery [first one you proposed] when I look at the contents of “root” I find my folder titled ‘Finding Form’ and my file titled ‘Part 3′. However, when I view it as a HEX dump or as text it’s corrupt. The size is 97440 which seems small for a 20 page word document?
Anyway, I’d appreciate if you would advise me where or how I go from here.
John.