If you’ve ever accidentally deleted important files, or if you’ve had a disk go bad, you know how hard it can be to recover your work. Data Rescue II, a file-recovery program that can resuscitate files you thought you’d trashed and data from drives you thought had died, could help. Needle in a haystackRunning Data Rescue II is easy: You select a disk and volume to scan, specify a separate drive to which the program can copy the files it recovers, then select a scan method: Quick, Thorough, or Deleted Files.
The first two are for finding files on drives that aren’t working; the last is for finding files you’ve accidentally erased from working drives. There’s an Expert mode that offers those same three scanning options plus a disk analyzer and a disk cloner (so you can make a copy of a damaged disk to a properly functioning disk before performing your scans). Whatever mode you use, once Data Rescue has finished scanning, you review the results and recover the files you want.I tested Data Rescue II on a 30GB partition of my test Mac’s startup disk, a 100MB Zip disk, and a 60GB iPod in disk mode. (The program will scan anything—hard disks, Zip and Jazz drives, compact flash camera cards, whatever—that appears to OS X as a disk device.) On each, I copied 30MB of text, graphic, music, Word, PDF and RTF files, deleted them all, then fired up Data Rescue to see what it could find.Searching is pretty snappy. Scanning through that 30GB partition took about 13 minutes—pretty fast, given the number of files already on it before I copied and deleted my 30MB sample. The 100MB Zip disk (which I’d completely ‘zeroed out’ using Disk Utility before copying and deleting my test files) took just a few minutes. Mixed resultsUnfortunately, Data Rescue doesn’t always find everything it should.
Searching that hard drive and the Zip disk in Deleted Files mode, it recovered only some of the files. Results were better on an iPod: Data Rescue successfully recovered all of the files I’d deleted from it.And even when Data Rescue thinks it’s recovered a file, it may not have really done so.
For example, some of the PDF files the program claimed to have recovered produced “File Error” messages in Preview.The program recovers data, not the actual names of files, so you need to open all the files the program finds to get the one you are looking for. (Spotlight can help if you are looking for specific content.) You may also find multiple versions of certain files, so you’ll have to search through each one to the find the version you want; that process can be really laborious if you’ve recovered lots of files.Data Rescue II really comes into its own when a disk bites the dust. After manually corrupting the catalog on that same Zip disk, so it would no longer mount in the Finder, the program found all the test files I had copied to it. Granted, that process can take a long time: Scanning a large disk can take several hours, and file-recovery can take days. But if you really need those files, you won’t begrudge the wait.Data Rescue II comes with a CD (or a downloadable disk image you can burn to CD, if you purchase by download), so you can boot the software on a damaged computer; unfortunately, that CD won’t boot on all Macs.
(Tip: Make sure to note your serial number before disaster strikes: you won’t be able to use the CD without it.) Also, since you need to copy recovered files to an external disk, you might be better off using a second disk for any major operations. Macworld's buying adviceData Rescue II produces mixed results, depending on the state of your drive, whether files have been corrupted or overwritten, and whether your drive is damaged. It works well for recovering deleted files on a variety of media, though not all files will be usable.
You need an external hard disk to do anything other than recover accidentally deleted files, but if you ever have serious disk problems, this program may save your hard work.Kirk McElhearn is the author of many books, includingThe Mac OS X Command Line: Unix Under the Hood(Sybex, 2004). His blog, talks about Macs, iPods, and more.
So, you just found that you had deleted or lost some files? Maybe on your computer hard drive or an external storage device.And you also learned that there are software might be able to recover the files.There’s more than meets the eye, though. Some of the data recovery programs are good, some are not. Some claim to be free — but when you try to use them, you find out you have to purchase a license to fully recover or save your files.Seriously, I hate the trick! Yes, I call it a “trick”.How do you tell good, solid data recovery software from wallet-sucking fraudulent programs?Here’s your answer: I’ve personally downloaded, tested 50+ data recovery programs on my Windows 10 based PC and macOS based MacBook Pro, sorted out the truly free data recovery tools and put them all in one place.The apps listed below are 100% free, or open source, or freeware, which means there’s no catch and you can use them to scan, recover and save your files without any restrictions.
No need to purchase a license!Before you read the list though, check out these practical data recovery tips to increase your chances of recovering the data. Saving additional data to the disk drive in question could overwrite your deleted data, making it difficult to restore your lost information. Stop using the computer or device (or SD card, flash drive, etc.) where your lost files located.
Try not to install a data recovery program on the same drive you want to recover files from. Once you are ready to export the recovered files, save them on a different volume. Update Note (July 2018):Hey, it’s been a while since I check this roundup post again.
Sadly, a few programs in this list are no longer free. Some got acquired, some don’t work anymore due to lack of updates. For the accuracy of this post, I have to remove some programs from this list. Previously there were 20 truly free data recovery programs got featured, now much fewer.This is unfortunate, but understandable if you stand from the developer’s point of view. These days it’s really hard for software developers to keep updating a piece of free software (especially Mac apps) to make it still work with the latest operating system.Also, some free data recovery software are pushing users to buy their Pro versions. A good example is Recuva.
I just tested the last version of Recuva on a Windows-10 based PC, and I instantly felt the maker is promoting Professional more aggressively than before though the free version should be enough to handle your data recovery needs. By the way, in case you don’t know. The maker of Recuva and, Piriform, got acquired by Avast in 2017. Now you get the point 🙂 But Recuva is still free to use if you can spot out the catch (and I’ll point it out below).Anyway, thanks for your attention and I appreciate your feedback on this article. Quite a few readers emailed me personally, thank you for taking the time.
And if you get to know a new free data recovery tool, leave a comment or send me an email.P.S. Okay, I get your feedback that sometimes free data recovery software just don’t work that well. If you are willing to try a paid data recovery program, I recommend – they have both Windows and macOS versions and support recovering data from mobile devices like iPhones and Android phones as well. Free trails are available but won’t allow you to save your files (if found after the scan). Your success rate may vary.Also read our in-depth reviews:.1.
Recuva (Windows)If you want to get back the files you accidentally deleted from Windows Recycle Bin or USB stick, then is absolutely the first program you should try. A couple of years ago, I used it to recover most of the photos and videos for a friend in San Francisco who accidentally formatted her camera SD card. Recuva is 100% free for personal use.You can get Recuva from its official website. Just scroll down on the page and click the green “Free Download” button, when using the program do not be bothered by the upgrade pitch 🙂Here’s a video tutorial you may find useful.
What I like:. Quick to download and install. The portable version runs from flash drive.
Easy to use. Perfect for everyone as it comes with both simple and advanced options. Deep Scan function could find more files though take a bit longer. Able to preview highlighted images before recovery.What I Dislike:. Many junk files are scanned and listed there. Some of those show as unrecoverable, making it a bit hard to find the files you actually want.2.
PhotoRec (Windows/Mac/Linux)Created by Christophe Grenier, is a free, open source file recovery program that works amazingly well on almost every operating system. PhotoRec isn’t just a photo recovery tool (don’t be fooled by its name). You can use this powerful software to recover nearly 500 different file formats from hard disks or removable media. On how to use PhotoRec step by step.What I Like:. Works on multiple platforms (Windows, macOS, and Linux). Updated by its developer regularly. Powerful recovery capability that includes a large variety of file formats.
It’s open source (source code is released).What I Dislike:. Not very user-friendly, as it uses a command line tool interface.
You may want to get some help from a techie friend to get this working properly.3. Puran File Recovery (Windows)Another powerful, yet free data recovery utility. Works great to rescue data from practically any storage medium. The software supports ten different languages. All Puran utilities are totally free for private and non-commercial use. You can see a video tutorial from YouTube.What I Like:. Deep Scan and Full Scan options for more powerful searching.
Able to preview files once highlighted. You can categorize found items by file types. Pictures, videos, documents, etc.
File quality reserves after recovery.What I Dislike:. Not that intuitive for new users, especially when compared to some of the other options on this list.4. Glary Undelete (Windows)A great undelete tool similar to Recuva, “unerases” items from FAT and NTFS disks. It’s simple to use: just choose a drive to scan, click “Search”, and wait for a while, depending on the volume of the disk selected. You’ll see a bunch of files found. Once you do, just navigate to the folders on the left, use the preview function to locate your targeted items, and you’re good to go!
Check out more from.What I Like:. Quick to download and install. Clean, logical software interface. Perfect for undeleting items from the Recycle Bin or an external storage device. Preview capability helps find files you want to retrieve.What I Dislike:. Many junk files are found and listed, which can feel a bit overwhelming.
Less capable of recovering data lost to formatting or a hard disk crash.5. SoftPerfect File Recovery (Windows)This is another nice tool to bring your accidentally deleted files back to life. (scroll down on the page to download the program, skip the EaseUS recommendation) was primarily developed to help you rescue data that was accidentally deleted from hard disks, USB flash drives, SD and CF cards, etc. It supports popular file systems such as FAT12/16/32, NTFS, and NTFS5 with compression and encryption. The program runs under Windows XP through Windows 10.What I Like:.
Portable, no installation required. 33 interface languages are available. Very easy to use – no unnecessary settings and screens. Able to restore files with “path”.What I Dislike:. No file preview. Scanned files are listed one-by-one without being categorized in folders.6. Exif Untrasher (macOS)is another totally free program that runs on Mac (macOS 10.6 or above).
It’s primarily designed to recover JPEG photos that have been deleted from a digital camera. It also works if you want to get back lost JPEGs from an external drive, USB stick, SD card, etc., as long as it’s a removable disk you can mount on your Mac.What I Like:. Easy to download and install. Quick and accurate in findingrecovering erased pictures from my camera SD card. Quality of recovered photos is very good.What I Dislike:. Works only with JPEG files. Can’t recover photos removed from an internal Mac hard drive (you’ll notice the “Macintosh HD” option is greyed when you attempt to select the volume).7.
Tokiwa Data Recovery (Windows)If you want to recover your lost files quickly, is a nice option. It’s a standalone application, which means little time is required for the installation process. In my case, Tokiwa found 42,709 files in less than a minute — very efficient! Tokiwa claims it can retrieve and wipe documents, archives, pictures, videos, and more from common storage media.What I Like:. It’s portable — no installation required. Fast scanning process.
Deep scan function available after simple scan is over. Capable of wiping files permanently.What I Dislike:. I couldn’t find any settings or documentation — though it’s simple to use.
Can’t preview images or files. Wipe function doesn’t allow erased items to be saved in the system drive.8. PC INSPECTOR File Recovery (Windows)Another super-powerful freeware, helps recover deleted, formatted files from disks or partitions, even if the boot sector has been erased or damaged. The program won’t help if you have mechanical problems with your disk drive, however, and it can’t be installed on the same drive you’d like to recover files from. A video tutorial is available on.What I Like:.
Powerful, able to detect logical drives that other freeware can’t. Easier to organize recovered files, as it automatically puts them into correct file structures. Supports many languages, as seen in the above screenshot. Claims it’s freeware for good.What I Dislike:.
Icons and instructions look a bit obsolete. Freezes sometimes during the recovery process.9.
Wise Data Recovery (Windows)Another excellent freeware from the WiseClean family. Helps you recover files and folders from various devices. The software is intuitive: select the drive you want to scan, wait, then can browse the item tree to recover your precious files.What I Like:. Simple to set up and use. Speedy scanning process. Multiple languages available.What I Dislike:.
No deep scan capability. Large percentage of files are unrecoverable.10. UndeleteMyFiles Pro (Windows)Don’t be fooled by the software name. While it sounds like a pro edition that requires a purchase to use, is absolutely free, and comes with tools for data recovery and file wipe as well. Just select the drive, scan it, and you should be able to view a list of missing files.
SeriousBit, the developers, says UndeleteMyFiles Pro works well for recovering deleted files from hard disks, USB, SD/CF cards, and other storage media.What I Like:. Quick, easy and intuitive to use. File preview ability for certain types of files.What I Dislike:.
File names are missing in scanned results. No deep scan capability.11. TestDisk (Windows/Mac/Linux), PhotoRec’s sister program, is an extremely powerful partition recovery tool developed to help find deleted/lost partitions, make crashed disks bootable again, and a whole lot more. TestDisk is like an experienced doctor that cures most of the problems related to computer hard disks. A video tutorial about.What I Like:. Free, open source, secure. Can fix partition tables and recover deleted partitions.
Rescues data from problematic partitions caused by faulty software, certain types of viruses, or human error.What I Dislike:. Non-GUI program — i.e. It’s not for computer newbies as it requires more tech knowledge to use successfully.12. Undelete360 (Windows)Like the name says, undeletes files you accidentally removed from your computer, Recycle Bin, flash drive, digital camera, memory card, etc.
You’ll see two tabs when the program is launched: “ Recover Files” and “ Wipe Files“. To get back your deleted items, stay on the “ Recover Files” tab, highlight the disk drive, and start searching.What I Like:. Multiple languages available.
The file tree is very helpful to find targeted items. File path, as well as the condition of the files, are indicated. Includes a wipe tool that securely deletes files that are beyond recovery.What I Dislike:. My computer hung during the scanning process. Quite time-consuming compared to most of the other apps listed here.13. FreeUndelete (Windows)As the name indicates, is freeware tool that undeletes files from any NTFS- and FAT-based volume.
Card Rescue Mac Serial Killer
FreeUndelete runs on Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP. During my test, I found the program intuitive, and the process of data scanning is pretty fast. However, what frustrated me was that the found files and folders are not well-organized, making it hard to actually select and recover those you want to recover.What I Like:. Quick to download, install, and scan.
Very intuitive – no complicated buttons or options.What I Dislike:. The panel on the left is kind of odd — there is no drive D: or E: on my computer. Found files are poorly organized.
Card Rescue Mac Serial Key
I couldn’t find the pictures I wanted to recover, whether they were recovered or not.14. Lazesoft Recovery Suite Home (Windows)If you are looking for an ultimately powerful windows rescue solution, then is the one. Besides recovering data from common disks, Lazesoft also comes with a set of utilities that rescues your Windows system when you forget your login password, or even won’t boot.Note: the software has several editions, but only the Home Edition is free.What I Like:. Multiple modes (Undelete, Unformat, Deep Scan) available to choose.
Able to preview pictures before they are retrieved. Many super-useful utilities are included, including password recovery, Windows rescue, disk clone, and more.What I Dislike:.
Download is a bit slow.15. WinHex (Windows)is targeted more toward forensics data recovery needs. After you download the archive, unzip it and click on “WinHex.exe” to run the program.
It might be a little overwhelming the first time you open it. To scan and recover data, move to “Tools” - “Disk Tools” - “File Recovery by Type”. TechTarget also has a detailed.What I Like:. The only freeware I found for investigation and forensics usage. Able to edit/clone disk and recover partitions as well.What I Dislike:. Needs certain expertise to handle the program.Which Free Recovery Software Is The Best?So, what do you think of this list? Have you tried some of them?
Did it work to retrieve your lost files?I’d like to know your stories. For me, I really like and Exit Untrasher for Mac because they helped me pull back some of my deleted items.Also, if you found another free data recovery software that I missed, please leave the comment below and let me know.
I’d be happy to test it out and may feature it here as well.Don’t forget to backup your computer and hard drive! I just did so with my MacBook, see my recent post:.Either way, thanks for reading, and I wish you best of luck getting back the lost data. Hi JP, thanks so much for your post. I just read through your post on “Free Data Recovery Tools.”I recently accidentally deleted all of my photos and videos on my Galaxy Note III. Are there any free photo/video recovery tools that would work for this phone?
I’ve searched all over the internet and even paid for and downloaded a program that was supposed to do this, but it failed every time and wasted a good five hours of my life (and made me feel nervous as it was using the developer tools on my phone). The photos are of my 2-year old boy, taken over the past year, with videos as well. Of course, I was too dumb to back up my files.If you have any advice, I would greatly appreciate it. Even if you know of places where you can take a phone to be services by a professional, I would be grateful. I live in the SF Bay Area, but also come down to San Diego often (I read your bio).Thank you so much in advance!Rocky. Hi Rocky,It depends. If your photos and videos were stored on an external memory card in your Galaxy Note III, you try Recuva (or any other free software I mentioned in this post).
If they were saved on your Android phone internal memory, then you’ll probably have to rely on a paid software like Dr.Fone for Android (it offers a free trial version, with function restriction though).However, I want to point out that chances to retrieve the files are NOT 100% due to the nature of data recovery. Especially if you have continued using your Galaxy to take more photos (or performed any other data generation activities), it is likely that your deleted files could have been overwritten — meaning unrecoverable.Regarding professional data recovery services, unfortunately I have never tried such service so sorry I am unable to recommend any. I heard that many are actually scams, especially those remote ones.
If you decide to try, search on Google and if possible visit several local service providers in Bay Area. Then decide to go with the one you trust.I hope this can be of help to you. Anyway, best of luck and remember to make regular backups next time.— JP. Hello JPMy daughter accidently deleted one of her worlds from minecraft.
She was using samsung tab T211 with no sd card or backup installed. I am trying to recover it using recovery software with not much success. One software I was able to recover the files but there is a huge list of files and I am unable to recognise either the files from tab or minecraft. I am using a acer laptop for this process. Can you please help me choose the software which can help me the best, among all listed above on your site. In need of a prompt reply.
Hi, I was just reading your article and I need some advice. Last summer, I woke up to find that all my notes on my iPhone 5s were missing. I didn’t delete them, they just disappeared. I tried everything to get them back, even talking to a specialist at apple. Since I didn’t have a backup of them, I kind of gave up hope.
But now I’m wondering if I could use one of these programs to get them back. My iPhone is only at iOS 8 something, though, so I don’t know if it will work. I would be so grateful if you could give me any kind of advice on which program to use. Great article, thanks! I haven’t tested all of the programs listed (not yet anyway) but I wanted to share a tool I’ve used successfully on many occasions.That would be Puppy Linux. It’s a live distro which easily fits on a cd or small usb flash drive.
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Where other tools get stuck in a loop due to read head errors or CRC errors, Puppy’s file manager retries a few times and then moves on to the next sector. It’s also capable of bypassing bad/physically damaged sectors.Added benefit: because it’s a live distro, it doesn’t write anything to the hard drive(s) involved unless you direct it to do so or you’re really clumsy. So regardless if you’re trying to recover from an internal drive, usb drive or drive temporarily docked in a usb adapterit’s really safe. Some OS’s have background processes which perform read/write actions under the radar and that can potentially complicate things.