A file that was once encrypted on your hard drive doesn’t ever get lost. It will die only if your hard drive’s life cycle has come to an end. With most of modern hard drives, that will happen not sooner than almost 1,000 full encryption. There are models that can resist even to more encryption, so buying a new hard drive or using a new model of external HDD is a good solution for your files. When a file is deleted it’s actually removed from the directory of files. Even if you’ve used the the Shift+Delete option, to remove it from the Recycle Bin, it still remains recoverable as it leaves traces on the hard drive disk.
However, you should hurry with your recovery process, because sooner you do it, there are more chances of recovering your files. If you’ll use some free software, they will be able to recover recent files with an accurate precision, just like a paid program. If you’re trying to recover the files a long time after they were deleted, then a free software may not be as good as a paid, with support program. One thing to avoid is the defragmentation as this will highly reduce the chances of recovering your lost photos, docs or rare videos.
File Scavenger
File scavanger will search for “dead” files or, will scavenge them to extract precious lost data. This program is created and supported by the guys at Quetek. The advantage that this software has is that it will recover data also from floppy disks, ZIP disks, memory sticks, flash cards, RAIDs and more. With other programs, you’d have to buy a different version for each type of storage device.
Munsoft Data Recovery Suite
The Munsoft program presentation has a big red cross on it to suggest that it will help you recover old files. You’ll see on their website that they have six different recovery programs, for documents, photos and all kinds of files. The Recovery Suite sums up all those features in a single program. It’s cheaper than other programs.
Recover My Files
This is one of the most popular file recovery software on the torrents. It’s not cheap, but it performs the needed tasks without no issues. If one needs to cure their MAC as well, they will have to pay a little more, as the software charges for the MAC version as well.
Data Recovery Software
The most expensive starting version from all the programs enlisted here. One would wonders why does it cost that much? Well, because it’s fast and it recovers even the smallest files that you had. It will basically work for any kind of storage device and will be quick to respond to your immediate needs. This is the suggested program for those who’ve lost a very important password and will do anything just to get it back.
Free Software to Recover Deleted Files
If you currently don’t have money to pay for such a software or if you don’t think it’s right to do so, then you should take a look at the free programs. If you’re a Windows user and you have activated the back-up option, then the restore option can be your savior. You’d have to set a previous restore point, though.
PC Inspector
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.
Win Data Recovery
Like most of these software presented here, this one will recover data for the Windows users. It’s a product that has been tested by PC Mag, so you should be confident in its powers. The official presentation of the software says that it can even restore files that have been damaged by viruses, so this software acts a little like an antivirus, as well. Of course, the biggest advantage is that it’s free.
Panda Recovery
Panda Recovery has been the favourite recovery tool for years now. I am not afraid of accidentally deleting files because I know that the mighty Panda is here to protect me. What’s even better, you can carry it with you, but you’d have to pay for the mobile version, though. You can ever recover hidden or archived files with the Panda recovery software.
