Data recovery software and undelete utilities are marketed the same, but they are different in two ways: data recovery software usually offers multiple recovery functions to address various situations; and more importantly, they can recover much more data.

The cost test

If you want to begin looking for a software solution without listening to my explanation of the technical differences, look at price. This is the easiest way to determine which level of software you are reviewing.

Anything under $75 U.S. means it’s an undelete file utility, most of them being in the $35-$40 range. Better quality data recovery utilities that can work on more complex problems averages about $100, and can range upward of $400 for professional programs. Note that when you are searching for data recovery software, many companies sell each component of their software separately. So, make sure the program you are looking for solves your specific problem.

The four scenarios

Data recovery software and any undelete programs claim to recover lost, deleted, corrupt, and damaged files. But there is an important difference between the two. Here are some quick background notes describing each recovery situation, before explaining the powerful difference:

1. A deleted file means you have purposely thrown away a file by putting it in the Recycle Bin, or by using the shortcut delete key “SHIFT+Delete”. You could have also “Emptied Recycle Bin”.

2. Files that have been lost may also have been emptied from the bin, or caused by a virus, software crash, or accidental format. Boot sector and partition table problems make files inaccessible, so in a sense they have been lost until the problem is repaired.

3. File corruption means the file can’t open, or when it does, it reads awkwardly.

4. Any damaged file will open correctly, but the contents will appear distorted. One part may appear perfectly legible and another section might look like scribble.

The powerful difference

While both kinds of disk recovery software are designed to recover data, one primary point separates them apart. Only data recovery software can rebuild and repair a file system that is not intact to recover data. An intact file system means that every component that holds individual files together has not been altered.

If you don’t understand this technical language, and you are unable to tell the difference between various data recovery tools, keep the cost test in mind when searching for software. This will help guide you to the right data recovery utility.

One more data recovery solution

If disk data recovery software fails to resolve your problem, data recovery centers can assist you in restoring your data manually. This might be a bit more expensive, but when hard drive data recovery is a must, there are no more possibilities for recovering files.

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