Most people think that once you empty the Recycle Bin, you've deleted those files forever. In actuality, this doesn't have to be the final goodbye for your files. Obviously you should avoid deleting files you need, but accidents happen from time to time. And when they do, Recuva is right there to get those files back.
When Windows empties the recycle bin, it is actually just removing references to those files in the operating system. The data still exists on the disk, until it is overwritten by new data. In that sense, when you accidentally delete files, it is very helpful if you notice right away. If you continue using your computer for months before realizing the files are missing, there is a much higher chance they will be impossible to recover.
Accidental deletion is the easiest case that data recovery centers encounter (well, except when the files are actually still in the recycle bin) - and they charge very high fees, especially compared to the price of Recuva. Recuva isn't perfect, and won't recover all your files in every situation, but it outperforms other similar tools and is very easy to use.
Beginners will feel at ease using the wizard and file preview mode, while advanced users will find more powerful options when digging a little deeper. Make sure to enable "deep search" for those really pesky fleeting files, and be patient. Recuva comes from Piriform, the CCleaner developers, so rest assured it's a good and stable app.
NOTE: Advanced and non-Windows users should check out TestDisk/PhotoRec - two powerful data recovery tools from Christophe Grenier that can also repair damaged partition tables or boot sectors. The only reason one of these didn't beat out Recuva is because they are not at all user-friendly, and actually are very risky for the average user. (Once they come with a little better interface or recovery process, step aside Recuva.)
Download latest version:
Recuva v1.35.472
| Homepage: | http://www.recuva.com/ |
| Supported OS: |  |
| Portable version: |  |
| 64-bit version: |  |
| Active project: | |
| No strings attached **: | - make sure to download the "slim" version |
** No spyware, ads, nags, registration reminders, etc.
Other Recovery freeware to keep an eye on:
