5 applications to recover deleted data

Erase an important document because of a small handling error, this can happen to everyone. Between the Recycle Bin that we empty without thinking, formatting launched distractedly, and clicks too fast on confirmation buttons, there are many opportunities for files to fall by the wayside without really wanting.

The good news is that file deletion is rarely final, regardless of the media type (magnetic or electronic) and the type of document (Word file or other, workbook, presentation, PDF, photo). If one intervenes quickly, and indeed also if one delays a little to react, one is likely to be able to recover the erased data.

How? Using software specialized in data recovery, such as those presented in this selection. These applications are able to analyze a medium to detect traces of old files that have not been overwritten by new data. And in many cases, it works! You would even be surprised that a software like Recuva (see below) is able to find on the hard disk of a PC. Try it ...

• Recuva

Proposed by the same publisher as the famous CCleaner, Recuva is a free software, with an interface in French, and a recognized efficiency. The software is regularly updated, and a new version has just been released (April 2015).

 

The wizard that starts at startup (but can be disabled) simplifies the programming of an analysis. You can also use advanced mode with all kinds of options. In particular, the in-depth analysis and analysis of "undeleted files" allows to find files on media that have been reformatted (accidentally or not).

Recuva also offers a secure erase feature, if you want to permanently erase a file once it has been retrieved from a disc or memory card. Finally, note that the software is also available in a portable version, if you prefer not to install it, and use it for example from a USB key.

• PC INSPECTOR File Recovery

Like Recuva, PC INSPECTOR File Recovery is a free application. And like Recuva, this software offers an interface in French, but with a more technical approach that can be confusing. Otherwise, the principle is the same: we select a support, then we launch an analysis.

 

Various options are available in the menus, which allow not only to find deleted files, but also lost files (following formatting or a crash), or find records that would become inaccessible.

Overall, compared to Recuva, PC INSPECTOR File Recovery is a little more complex to master. It will however be a good second choice (and even the best) if its illustrious competitor could not find what you were looking for.

• Auslogics File Recovery

Auslogics File Recovery is a paid software (about 25 dollars), the trial version allows, for 30 days, to recover as many files as you want. But only ten at a time after each scan, and up to a certain size limit per file (unspecified).

 

In a simple interface (and in English), Auslogics File Recovery proposes to recover the files - or at least try to do it - by being guided in stages. And to speed up the search, we can restrict the analysis to a given period (files deleted last week, for example) and / or a name or part of a name. It ispractical .

Note that the publisher announces that the software is compatible with the future Windows 10, in addition to being with existing versions of Windows 8 and 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista (SP2) and Windows XP (SP3).

• Glary Utilities

Free suite (in its Free edition) optimization utilities for Windows, Glary Utilities includes a data recovery module. The well-named File Recovery is very easy to use, since you only have to select a disk and click on a search button.

 

After the media scan completes, the software indicates whether the detected files are in good condition or not, with explicit labels such as Very Good, Good, Bad, or Crushed. We understand that with a bad or crushed state, the chance of recovering the intact file is very slim.

Otherwise, this file retriever from Glary Utilities does not offer options for analysis, and generally few adjustments, mainly for the control and display of the list of potentially recoverable files. After all, that can be enough.

• AnyReader

AnyReader is not, strictly speaking, software for recovering deleted data. But it is logically in this selection because it allows to find files that seem lost. His speciality ? Scan defective media - optical disc (CD or DVD), memory card, USB stick or hard drive - to properly finalize copies of files that are normally interrupted by Windows due to read errors.

 

The software is paying (about $ 30), but the trial version offered by the publisher is still fully functional. It allows, for 30 days, to recover up to 700 MB of data in all. Once the period expires or the limit of 700 MB reached, it will buy a license.

The interface of AnyReader is in English, clear, and the software is used very simply thanks to a wizard that guides the operations step by step. There are only a few options (accessible via the Menu button, bottom left), which is ultimately a good thing: if AnyReader succeeds, so much the better;otherwise, we will not waste time trying all kinds of settings.