Author Topic: Data recovery software suggestions? (Read 49266 times)

Cloq · « **on:** September 12, 2006, 05:49 PM »

Recently I was in need of a good file recovery program and after doing a general google search, found a couple choice programs. I would welcome input from fellow Cody members (is that proper?), on what they have used and liked or disliked.

Active@ File Recovery
www.file-recovery.net/

File Rescue Plus
www.sunbelt-software.com/filerescueplus.cfm

Type away!

mwb1100 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 12, 2006, 07:13 PM »

I used Restorer 2000 to recover files from a failing drive that Windows would no longer deal with.

It's the old story of inadequate backups and an important school project due soon - suddenly Windows won't boot and even after attaching the drive to a working computer, Windows would not read any files off of it. I was looking into paying *big* bucks (I mean like "sell the car to get the money" bucks) to a data recovery outfit when I decided to try the Restorer 2000 software, whose website had a decidedly 'snake-oil' feel to it, so my expectations were pretty low. But they had a trial version that would make an image of the failing drive which would let you explore the directory tree that it could recover and actually recover small files.

The trial worked well enough that I paid the $80 bucks (or thereabout), and sure enough I was able to recover all the important files I needed - this was easily the best $80 I've ever spent on software. Oh, and I have a couple of backup schemes in place now...

Now, my situation was not recovering deleted files or unformatting a drive which may well have very different requirements, but I am more than impressed with how it handled getting files off the failing drive.

http://www.restorer2000.com/

mouser · « **Reply #2 on:** September 12, 2006, 07:25 PM »

GetDataBack has a very good reputation:
http://www.runtime.org/

kimmchii · « **Reply #3 on:** September 12, 2006, 08:07 PM »

Data Recovery Tools Freeware

Data Recovery Tools Shareware

FreeUndelete

my fav: O&O UnErase

Cloq · « **Reply #4 on:** September 12, 2006, 08:51 PM »

Thank you for the suggestions. I will give those a shot.

A common trend in recovery software programs seems to be that they like to "specialize" in what they recover. I have seen quite a few programs that focus on memory card, image, word and video recovery.

I was playing with the trial version of EasyRecovery Professional and was very impressed in its layout, recovery options, methods and media formats. Then I looked at the price, about fell off my chair. Talk about sticker shock!

I prefer supporting shareware programs and am willing to keep trying to find the perfect shareware data recovery program.

Light weight, truely portable, shareware, lifetime upgrades (or even a small annual fee would ok assuming the program is updated and support is there when it is needed), supports typical media (floppies, HD's flash, raid cdrws,dvdrws), all FAT forms, NTFS,unformatted,raw (any other would be a bonus), decent browsing and none of that online activation junk. I know there is a few other things, but right now that is just off the top of my head.

Darwin · « **Reply #5 on:** September 13, 2006, 12:13 AM »

I've used Restorer 2000 too and really like it. However, I've switched to Recover My Files because I like its intuitive layout AND the fact that it allows you to, amongst other things, preview the recovered files. This extends beyond images and includes xls, doc, pdf, etc. It also works on digital media such as digital camera cards to recover photos (indeed, that is what drove me to buy it, despite owning a license for Restorer 2000). I know that Restorer 2000 has been recently updated and I *think* that this functionality has been added, but I am not sure.

Another good app, despite the cheesy marketing, is Filesaver. In its current incarnation it allows you to preview image files and has the attractive feature of allowing you to secure delete the results that it finds. The price is cheap, too. I got my (older - no previews) copy for $8.95. The marketing about the price being "today only" is hogwash.

RecoverMyFiles has a lifetime license, no on-line activation and is actively developed. Filesaver has no update option (that I could ever find) and no upgrade pricing, but at the full purchase price this is hardly a dealbreaker.

f0dder · « **Reply #6 on:** September 13, 2006, 05:42 AM »

runtime's GetDataBack for NTFS has saved me a couple of times.

Black Mamba · « **Reply #7 on:** September 13, 2006, 03:39 PM »

One more vote for GetDataBack.

KenR · « **Reply #8 on:** September 13, 2006, 03:51 PM »

Another vote for Recover My Files.

Ken.

http://www.recovermyfiles.com/
Screenshot - 9_13_2006 , 3_48_25 PM_thumb.png

sri · « **Reply #9 on:** September 13, 2006, 03:54 PM »

+1 for Recover My Files.

Cloq · « **Reply #10 on:** September 13, 2006, 08:13 PM »

OMG! I just bought Recover My Files and was about to give a big thumbs up on how it meets my expectations.

Darn, you all beat me to it.

Thank you all for your help and links.

Lashiec · « **Reply #11 on:** September 14, 2006, 06:29 AM »

What about PC Inspector File Recovery? It's freeware, but it saved me some headaches. Not that I destroy files that easily, but a safety net it's always welcome.

mukestar · « **Reply #12 on:** September 14, 2006, 10:28 AM »

http://www.r-studio.com/

Terry · « **Reply #13 on:** September 15, 2006, 02:45 PM »

PC Inspector File Recovery (http://www.pcinspect...overy/UK/welcome.htm)
SoftPerfect File Recovery (http://www.softperfe...oducts/filerecovery/)
Both are not powerful enough but they are easy to use and free.

GetDataBack (http://www.runtime.org/gdb.htm)
Although this is not free, it can retrieve any recoverable data from your disk. Powerful but make take some time.

There are also special software (free) for recovery of images:
Zero Assumption Digital Image Recovery (http://www.z-a-recov...l-image-recovery.htm)
Art Plus Digital Photo Recovery (http://www.artplus.hr/adapps/eng/dpr.htm)
PhotoRec (http://www.cgsecurity.org)

rkarman · « **Reply #14 on:** September 15, 2006, 03:25 PM »

RECOVER MY FILESSSSSSSSS

it saved me just 2 weeks ago when Norton messed up my partition tables and i had to make new partitions on my disk, format and reinstall windows. this program actually got 95% of all my stuff back after all that!!!

so i say: recover my files +10 (or was i only allowed to do a +1?)

appleperl · « **Reply #15 on:** September 19, 2006, 06:52 PM »

I used to use Norton's Unerase which was part of Norton's Suite. I haven't used Norton in a while, though, so I am not sure what changes their products might have undergone. I currently use StompSoft's PC BackUp http://www.stompsoft.com/pc-backup/pc-backup.htmlto try to cover myself if something happens. I have had much success with it, although I realize there are always those interim cases where data recovery is necessary before you even had the chance to backup, but I'm approaching my PC use now as a very multilayer approach.

dk70 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 19, 2006, 07:36 PM »

R-Studio digs deep - have found tons of gbs from my broken NTFS/FAT32 filetables more than once. 2 times even RAID 0! Now Ive learned to overclock the right way I dont need it but at the time I did try all other alternatives, 2-3 years ago. Only R-Studio could do it. Not only can it bring out stuff from dead filesystem but the recovery process is very straight forward and easy. One of the few I wouldnt mind paying for.

Anyway if you like some "trusted" known source behind these tools Avira(AntiVir) just put out another one Avira UnErase http://www.avira.com...avira_unerase_2.html Free "Personal" license. Select drive and it searches for lost files, thats it.

mwb1100 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 20, 2006, 12:34 AM »

http://www.r-studio.com/
-mukestar (September 14, 2006, 10:28 AM)

You know, R-Studio and Restorer 2000 looked very similar to me back when I did my dying drive recovery (I came across R-Studio shortly after I recovered the data).

The two companies are just blocks away from each other on the same street in Ontario Canada. I wonder if there's a connection?

Ella · « **Reply #18 on:** September 20, 2006, 04:27 AM »

I have used the Data Recovery Wizard to recover my files.It's a good tool.You can download the Demo version at: www.easeus.com

Yvener · « **Reply #19 on:** September 25, 2006, 02:39 AM »

For me Stellar Phoenix FAT & NTFS - data recovery software has worked remarkably gud for me when I lost data due to file system failure. It Partition recovery from FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, NTFS5 file systems.Performs NTFS recovery on all IDE, EIDE and SCSI disk devices.
Although the software is not free but it gives to download free demo version
http://www.stellarin...rtition-recovery.htm through demo version one is able to see the recovered data.

Mark0 · « **Reply #20 on:** September 25, 2006, 09:53 AM »

For recovery of images / bitmaps there's also my little free command line driven BitmapRip.
Just make an image of the HD, compactflash, SD or whatever device, and it will scan it for known signatures. Not the most sophisticated, but it's free!

For Win and Linux.

For general file recovery, I used OnTrack's EasyRecovery various times with good results. Back2Life is another interesting one.

Bye!

tomos · « **Reply #21 on:** August 31, 2007, 04:07 AM »

my usb stick went all funny

on me lately

wanted to be formatted.
The only thing I had to hand was SanDisk Rescue Pro.
Well it offered to make an image file (*.img) and to recover from that.
Didnt take too long but the recovering did - I had things to do so stopped it.
Also I needed my usb stick so I formatted it -
I'm not that worried it's mostly backups on the stick but wouldnt mind getting the stuff back in case theres something I've overlooked in there...

So I'm wondering does anyone know of another option to
recover files from an image file. *.img

If not I could always run the SanDisk software overnight &
hope it doesnt need to be prompted at any stage

Renegade · « **Reply #22 on:** August 31, 2007, 04:34 AM »

SpinRite comes highly recommended. I only use it for maintenance... Hoping that I never need to do any data recovery.

f0dder · « **Reply #23 on:** August 31, 2007, 04:55 AM »

SpinRite is a big pile of marketing FUD. I can't believe how many people are fooled by marketing buzzwords, bought testimonials, and a silly textmode sine wave. Using it on a drive that's about to have a head crash can be a downright catastrophe, since it puts a lot of stress on the actuators (sp?).

It might help in some cases, but I'd never run it before doing a full image file of the drive. And it's not data recovery software anyway, all it does it trying to read/write bad sectors, which will eventually get them copied to spare sectors on the drive.

For data recovery, have a look at applications like r-studio, GetDataBack, etc... I've had good results with GetDataBack.

Mark0 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 31, 2007, 05:44 AM »

SpinRite is a big pile of marketing FUD.
-f0dder (August 31, 2007, 04:55 AM)

Amen to that!!!