Recover deleted files
Simplest and most common data recovery scenario. Lets look at some simple and free tools that can be used.
STOP! As soon as you noticed that important file is been deleted stop working with that computer ( Copy, Cut, paste files or restarting computer). However, you have to take a risk to download your file un-delete tool and install it. Use another computer to download the files, copy it to flash drive and install in the affected computer to minimize the risk.
WARNING! If you do not want to spend money to buy a full version, don’t install the trial versions. 99% Recovery software trial version require you to purchase the software to recover files.
1. Recuva is a effective tool to bring back deleted files. Make sure you run a deep scan (Options) to recover all the possible files. It is worth to run the Deep Scan even though it takes some time. [Download Recuva]
2. Pandora File Recovery is another handy tool. It make sure you check the Recycle bin before you run the lengthy recovering process.
Then it gives you three options to either browse, search or deep surface scan. Deep surface scan method will effectively recover drivers with corrupted file tables, recently formatted hard disk, memory sticks, jump drives, memory cards, CD’s and DVDs. [Download Pandora File Recovery]Recuva Vs Pandora File Recovery - There are different strong points for each software and personally I keep both in my portable hard drive.
3. If you are looking for a paid option I would highly recommend R-Studio file recovery software. As R-Studio introduction it recover files from
- FAT12/16/32/exFAT, NTFS, NTFS5 (Windows 2000 /XP /2003 /Vista /2008 /Win7)
- HFS/HFS+ (Macintosh)
- Little and Big Endian variants of UFS1/UFS2 (FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD/Solaris) Ext2/Ext3/Ext4 FS (Linux) partitions.
- local and network disks, even if such partitions are formatted, damaged or deleted.
[Buy R-Studio]
Recover Files when your computer crashed
If you were too lazy to back up your files and now cannot boot up your computer (Only if your computer start up but your OS is crashed and cannot access any of files try the following data recovery solutions.
4 . Slax - Your Pocket operating system will boot up your computer from the CD ROM and give you full access to copy all your files to a external hard drive (How to mount NTFS hard drive). Linux based live CD which is already loaded with essential recovery tools and collection of pre installed software is a effective way to get back all your important files from your crashed computer. It even manage to recover files when file table was corrupted.
[Download Slax]
5. UBCD4Win - Ultimate Boot CD for Windows is a Windows XP Live CD if you really need a windows environment. You require a Windows XP
SP1 or SP2 (Prefer SP2) CD to create this live CD. It comes with collection of file recovery and Windows Administration tools that can be used to recover your computer. [Download Ultimate Boot CD for Windows]
Slax Vs UBCD4Win - I prefer Slax as it is faster and easier to use comparing to UBCD4Win. However, I don't forget to carry both live CDs in my CD pack.
Forensics Data Recovery
Forensic Data Recovery
is challenging and require set of skills and procedures. You need to master then over the time with different conditions. Most challenging part is that under any condition or reason you cannot change the original data (data source). Always you require to use special Forensic data recovery Live CDs. 6. Helix - e-fense - Cyber Security was one of my favorite forensics live CDs used to grab hard drive image and recover files. However, it is no longer available for free. [Try Helix]
These are not the only available data recovery tools but list of simple and easy to use data recovery tools you can try in various situations. Feel free to share your best data recovery tool you have used...
