Hard Drive Data Recovery Software & Tools For Macs, Windows, & Linux - Recover For Free & Tested

Hardrive data recovery in Macs, Windows or, Linux computer operating systems is at some point, inevitable since, data loss can occur at any given time while using a computer. Thus the only way to forstall this is to be properly prepared by having on hand, essential tools and software.

This hub hopes to

• introduce you to 3 hard disk drive data recovery software (because I don't wan't to bore you to death) and/or tools that I personally picked. They are, free and like said,personally tested.
• To ultimately, arm you with suitable data recovery services that, are free to use and also as good as any expensive or cheap data recovery services/software out there.
• Also in this hub will be, some educational videos discussing reasons for hard drive crashes and how best to recover data from them.
• This hub will provide you with links to download this software and links to some other useful hard drive data recovery information.
• Plus a cool ipod data recovery software that I just discoovered (when I lost some of my music)... well just read on and we'll get to it further down the hub.
  

But before I proceed, let me quickly state that when none of these tools can be of any help, then I would advice that you get a good professional hard drive recovery service which, you can find listed in your local directory services and online.

As a statement of fact, the best defense against data loss is real-time backup of data. That said, we must understand that sometimes data loss can occur when you least expect it. Whether the long minutes of this quarter's meetings refused to show up when you opened an email attachment on your computer or your game loving son, accidentally deleting all your business account files for the previous year, having ready, hard drive data recovery tools is important to getting your data back before it's gone for good.

So what happens when data loss occurs before a needed data back-up?

Computer or laptop hard drive recovery software tools are designed to recover lost files including video, documents and archives from hard disks. These tools are needed even when real-time data back-up is performed, it has the downside of needing constant updates. This is where the data recovery tools can also help to recover accidental data loss that occurs before updating backed up data.

Need I say why you require these hard drive data recovery tools?

To be blunt and sincere, you need these tools to try and recover any type of data that you have lost (accidentally or not).Now there are different types of hardrive data recovery software and tools out there, they also run under various plataforms (windows, Mac, Linux, etc.). Find below 9 of the best free ones available. Some are as good as the ones that you have to pay for, but do not take this hub as being biased towards free stuff only. After all,your data is important, and whatever you do or spend to recover it is a reflection of how important that lost (or rather, almost lost) data is to you.

Recuva (For Windows)

This is a user-friendly Windows OS software tool. Made by Piriform, this software comes from a stable of well known and highly praised software (e.g Ccleaner). Running Recuva, you can redeem missing files by using either the user friendly file recovery wizard or the application's manual mode for professional user's who know what they are doing. The file recovery wizard is user friendly because you can recover data when you're not sure not quite sure where the data went or how to recover it back. Through the wizard, you can narrow down your search type to pictures, video, documents, music files, or any kind of specific files and you can set the search location to everywhere or specific areas on your computer, like removable media only (usb's, SD cards, removable hard druves, etc.), in my documents folder, the recycle bin, or a particular location.

Working in manual mode, you can search directly where you know the lost file should be. Recuva uses an easy to understand, green/yellow/red lighting system as indicators to show the possibility of success, the recovery of your files will be, and when it has been retrieved, it can provide previews of the image files available for recovery. Recuva also has a tool (like some other hard drive recovery software) to securely wipe files you decide you don't need and that you need to clear up space on your hard drive to help your hard disk recovery process, Recuva can be downloaded here:

Download from FileHippo.com

TestDisk (For Windows/Mac/Linux/Sun OS)
TestDisk is a one of the prime examples that open-source software and tools are worth their 'salt'. This powerful tool for hard disk data recovery is not just a basic file recovery that undeletes accidentally deleted files from NTFS, FAT (W£indows) and ext2, ext3, &ext4 (Linux) file systems, but it comes with an army of additional functionality that cuts across different operational systems. Wether the OS of your hard drive is, Windows, MAC or, Linux, TestDisk you can recover your entire boot sector from a backup, can rebuild your boot sector, repair your MFT, fix FAT tables, locate the ext2/ext3 backup, copy deleted files from partitions to any available recovery media, and locate lost partitions in many different formats to aid the location of lost data. The downside though is, It's a command line tool, that means no GUI (not too friendly for noobies or novices to dos commands). But it has loads of documentation in the wiki (like most open source stuff) that should get you knowing the ropes without much trouble. This software packs some serious sh__, so don't mess with it unless you lnow what you are doing. You can also download it with PhotoRec to recover your digital pictures and file recovery. I'm not going into that here, but you can read more by going to Testdisk's site

Download Testdisk here:

• Windows
• Linux
• Mac OS X

PS: For Mac users who think that you canm only experience hard disk data loss but can't have mac security issues, take a look here and get yourself protected: MAC SECURITY SOFTWARE FOR OS X AND LEOPARD.

Disk Drill (For Macs)

This was contributed by Megan Woods (see comments below). This disk recovery software comes from the Cleverfiles.com site. Basically, it finds deleted file for you from your Mac and recovers them. It does hard drive recovery, recover data from memory cards, file recovery, photo recovery, and even, partition recovery which, is the recovery of files lost due to the partitioning or formatting of a disk on your Mac's hard drive. What's more is that, it has a good looking GUI, it's free and has a very informative site (also incorporating a large forum) that shows you how to use it and trouble shoots (if need be).

Disk Drill Download

Restoration (Platform: Windows)
Though basic, this software is one of my favourites because it is small, portable and, yet very powerful enough to carry around in my usb. Made by Brian Kato and weighing in at a mere 406k  this tiny, no hassles, smple GUI, portable recovery tool, holds it's own and can stand in line with other 'big guys' in data recovery. Sorry Mac and Linux users, it can only be used in all versions of Windows and Windows file systems. Though it is found wanting in advanced functionality that other Hard dish drive data recovery software  possess but, it does have basic file-name search functionality and the ability to sort by file parameters like file size and filename. Read more here: More Restoration

Download here: Restoration Download

Which One Should I Use?

Well it all depends on the type of data loss that you have experienced and the type of operating system that you use on your computer. If you are a Mac or Linux user, the TestDisk is your only choice here (and a good one too). My advice is for you to try and read the Wiki pages thoroughly to help you use this amazing software more effectively. The other two data recovery tools are windows based guns. But my advice is that you use Restoration because of it's basic ease of use and portability. This can be crucial should you wish to quickly recover stuff that you have mistakenly deleted. Let's say, as an example, you cleaned out your recycle bin (via CCleaner or using any windows cleaning/maintenance tools) and remembered that there was a file you forgot to restore back, then Restoration is the quick and easiest to use. Though is not to say that it can't do more serious stuff. For more advanced functionality, Recuva should be able to dig that extra deeply to restore your stuff. I'm all done, but remember, hard disk drive data recovery software and tools are worth considering if you want to salvage any type of data that is very valuable to you.

I'll be trying out more disk data recovery tools/software and if I find any more worthy of note, I will be sure to update this hub by adding them here.

Update 1: This update I found necessary to my hub based on a comment made by a fellow hubber (see comments section at end of hub). Find below a summary of data loss types.

1. Intentional Data loss: This is intentional deletion of data by the computer user, and data recovery is often fully possible if it hasn't been removed from the recycle bin (windows OS).

2. Unintentional data loss: This can be:Accidental, like the deletion of a files, programs or software Errors by the computer's administrator.

3. Data failure: Which can occur due to power failure, hardware failure, software crashing, bugs, data corruption.

4. Cyber crime: Data loss can also occur because of theft, hacking, sabotage, using, malicious means like, worms, malware, and viruses.

Update 2:

PC Inspector (file recovery) - (For Windows)

This hard disk data recovery program is a data rescue program that supports the FAT 12/16/32 and NTFS file systems. I also found a very educative tutorial about how to download and use the software (on the right =>). And I'll just let the guy in the video do the explaining (listen carefully). I have tested out the software and found that it was quick to perform and the GUI was simple to understand.

Ipod Data Recovery software?

Yes you heard right. I lost some music files on my iphone while syncing with my pc and I lost them in all those gigs (somehow). So I went looking for an app that would help me recover my music files. I wasn't sure, but with all those apps, I was sure there was one for data recovery. And that's how I stumbled on Ipod Data Recovery Software. The video on the right is self explanatory, so follow the guy's lead. And the added good news is that it's free software!