Hello! There are many reasons why we can lose our personal files. For example, a hard disk failure, a virus, a Windows error, even human error. Therefore, we always recommend having backup copies of our most important data. Indeed, if something happens, we can recover them quickly and not lose that material. It may not have much economic value, but it does have sentimental value. However, when a misfortune happens, and we do not have a backup of the data, that is when forensic data recovery software comes into play. Therefore, today, we will know the best programs to recover data
Why we should have these types of programs on hand.
Most of the time when a file disappears from our computer, it is not actually completely deleted. What actually happens is that the space it occupies has been marked as available for a reason. So, it is waiting for other data to occupy it. However, the data is still there. File recovery programs take advantage of this. Instead of reading the hard disk index, they perform a complete scan of its surface and record all files and folders created on it. This way we will find all the files we can see. In addition to all those that, for some reason, have disappeared. And, based on these data, they allow us to make a copy of these to recover them.
On the Internet, we can find a lot of data recovery programs, both free and paid. We will now take a look at the best ones for Windows. So, that if we find ourselves in this situation, and we do not have a backup, we can recover our data.
What to consider before recovering data
Using these programs does not guarantee that we will be able to recover the data. Just as not all programs are equally accurate as it depends on the algorithms they use. If the data has just been deleted, and we have not used the computer at all, the probability of recovering it is quite high. However, the more time passes and the more we use the computer, this probability decreases. Indeed, it is very likely that sectors with parts of the file we want to recover will be overwritten.
It is important to remember that the recovery program must be installed on a different hard drive than the one with the data to be recovered. If we install it on the same hard disk or on the same drive, we are likely to overwrite the very data we are trying to recover. The same happens when we find the data we want to recover. It is very important that, when saving them, we do it in a USB or in a different hard disk than the one that originally had the data. This will reduce the likelihood of overwriting the sectors. And worse, lose any chance of recovering the data.
The analysis and recovery processes are generally very slow. They depend on the type of hard disk or SSD and its size. A lot of patience is required for successful data recovery.
What a program should have for this purpose
There are many programs to recover deleted or lost data from a hard drive. However, there are not so many programs that really work and do their job without any problems. Keep in mind that these programs will handle our precious data. Therefore, a good program must have the following characteristics:
- It must be up-to-date.:There are many programs that had their moment of glory in the past, and enjoyed a certain popularity. However, nowadays, they have been completely abandoned. A program of this obsolete style will probably not be able to detect and recover our data.
- Compatible with multiple file systems: We will not always work with NTFS. Therefore, it is recommended that the data recovery program also be able to read and operate with other file systems. Apart from the classic FAT32 and exFAT, it should also work with other popular file systems, such as EXT4 or APFS, among others.
- Different recovery modes: Data may have been lost for many reasons: accidental deletion, failure of the disk itself, accidental formatting, etc. A good data recovery program should ask how the data was lost. In addition to knowing how to choose the best recovery method.
- Compatibility with all types of formats. Certainly, there are programs specialized, for example, in photo recovery. However, a good program should be able to search for and recover any type of file that has been deleted from the PC.
Best paid programs for deleted data recovery
Many of the free programs that we have just seen in the previous point have their corresponding paid versions. These are usually much more complete and professional than the previous ones. They also eliminate some restrictions (e.g., size) that we may encounter. In addition to them, there are other much more professional programs, exclusively for a fee. These will save the day when all else fails.
Stellar Data Recovery
Stellar Data Recovery is one of the programs to recover deleted data from our hard drives that we can download and use for free or for a fee. . This program is compatible with all types of storage drives. It is also capable of detecting and recovering practically any type of file. One more alternative to consider when others, for some reason, do not work or do not let us recover the data.
As soon as you install it on your PC, you will find an intuitive user interface with several commonly used file formats. This way we will be able to select the one we want to search and recover. Among these, we find Office documents, photos, music files, folders in general, emails, or videos. It is obvious that at the same time we will be able to mark all of them so that the program, Stellar Data Recovery, performs a complete scan of the disk drives. In this way and in a simple way, we will have the possibility of recovering everything that we lost accidentally. Either by our failure, or by a defective disk, for example.
Disk Drill Pro
Disk Drill Pro is one of the most advanced and professional programs we can find for recovering deleted data from hard drives. It supports a wide variety of file systems. Including the typical Windows ones, such as FAT, exFAT and NTFS, up to HFS and EXT. This program can read mechanical hard disks, SSD drives, USB flash drives, SD. In addition to any other storage device. Its algorithms are capable of detecting virtually any file that has the slightest trace on our hard drive. It also has functions that even allow us to pause and resume data searches as needed.
DiskDigger
This software allows us to recover any type of deleted file from almost any type of drive. Including classic hard drives, SSD, memory cards, USB and much more. It has an effortless to understand Ribbon style interface. In addition, the whole process is properly explained and guided so that we have no problems when recovering the information.
Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery
Another one of the most powerful and complete paid programs that we can find to recover our files. This Wondershare alternative is capable of reading virtually any Windows, macOS, and even Linux file system. In addition to detecting and recovering any file found in it. Its strengths are, on the one hand, the possibility of generating a preview of the files before recovering them and its ease of use. But above all, the speed with which it scans hard disks and recovers data. In addition, it is compatible with all file types.
Active File Recovery
This program is broadly similar to the previous ones. It has support for all major file systems and can detect deleted files with high accuracy. However, it wants to differentiate itself from the other alternatives by offering users a much cheaper alternative than others, thanks to a subscription-based licensing system. This program has two scanning options (Quickscan and Superscan). Through them, we will be able to adapt the searches according to our time. In addition to allowing to recover the data even when Windows does not start.
R-Studio
R-Studio is another commercial program for forensic data recovery. This program is characterized by offering advanced users many options and technical tools. In this way, search and recovery is much more efficient and accurate. This program is compatible with all file systems used and can even recover data from RAW drives.
Very well, in this way we have seen the best programs to recover deleted files. In this way, we can try to recover our valuable information. See you later!
