- 2018
- 2015
Overall Product Rating: 4.5
An effective data recovery program with nearly all the features required for professional data recovery. Strengths: A full-featured startup version. The best score for file recovery from deleted and damaged partitions Weaknesses: Only one interface language (English). Very limited demo evaluation mode. Lacks support for many logical disk managers such as Windows Storage Spaces, and user-defined RAID layouts. It doesn’t show a disk’s S.M.A.R.T. attributes.
Added since our last review: Support for new file systems: ReFS, JFS
Interface and Features
Localized file name recognition: 6.0Compare
Recognized all tested localized characters in file and folder names.
Demo version restrictions: 2.0Compare
File preview (up to 10 MB). Recovers files up to 64 KB. No time limit for the demo version.
File preview: 3.5Compare
The built-in previewer can show Microsoft, Open Office, and pdf documents, and graphic and text files. File size limit is 10 MB. Can also view file properties.
Logging: 4.0Compare
Standard logging. The log can be saved to a file. Some parameter sets can be specified: minimal and detailed.
Deep analysis of disks (disk scan): 4.0Compare
Hard drives and logical disks can be scanned. Scan range, file systems, and bad sector processing can be specified. Scan results can be stored and then loaded later. Scan results can be automatically saved.
File recovery using file signatures (raw file recovery): 5.0Compare
Supports raw file recovery (SuperScan Signatures Recognition). User can select which file types are to be included and can add custom file signatures. Raw file recovery can be started alone (Last Chance), without other data recovery methods.
Disk imaging and copying: 4.5Compare
Image types: byte-by-byte and compressed (the extension is dim). Image compression ratio, file split size (chunk size), and bad sector handling can be specified. The program can open various other raw image types (vmdk, vhd, etc.). The user can manually add image parts (chunks) when opening the image.
File recovery parameters: 4.5Compare
Recovers file names, folder structure, and named streams. Files with the same names can be renamed during recovery.
File search, mark for recovery, sorting: 4.5Compare
Search parameters: “Show only deleted files”, “Show only existing files”, individual file search/mark for recovery, file mask search, file search for date, file search for size, file search for file ID. Files can be sorted within a folder by clicking column names (name, size, data, etc.), similar to sorting in Windows Explorer.
File systems supported for file recovery: 5.0Compare
NTFS, NTFS+EFS, exFAT, FAT12/FAT32, HFS/HFS+, UFS and ext2/ext3/ext4fs, Btrfs, Silicon Graphics XFS, CD/DVD/Blu-ray UDF, and ISO9660, ReFS, JFS.
Support for disk and volume managers: 3.0Compare
Support for Windows Dynamic Disks (Windows software RAIDs), Storage Spaces, and Linux Logical Volume Manager (LVM/LVM2)
Startup version: 6.0Compare
Runtime Live Linux/WinPE 3.1 CD: equivalent in its features to the Windows version.
Hexadecimal editor: 4.0Compare
The editor has all standard features. Data may be represented in any coding or as hex values. Built-in templates for data interpretation.
RAID recovery features: 5.0Compare
Direct access to a virtual RAID. Only disks, disk areas, and images can be added to a virtual RAID.
Standard RAID level presets: 3.5Compare
JBOD, RAID0 (Stripe Set), RAID-1 (Mirror), RAID5 with all their variants.
File recovery performance
Files Deleted without Recycle Bin (exFAT file system): 5.0Compare
After Quick Scan (opening the partition):
Almost all files and folders were correctly recovered with correct original names, except the avi file from the root folder.
After QuickScan Plus and After Super Scan:
This file was found in raw files but appeared damaged.
Files that could not be recovered: the avi file from the root folder.
Files Deleted without Recycle Bin (FAT32 file system): 4.5Compare
After Quick Scan:
Only files from the root folder were found. After recovery they appeared damaged. Also, the four folders from the root folder were found, but they appeared empty.
After SuperScan:
Almost all files were found with incorrect names among Signature Files and correctly recovered.
Files that could not be recovered: 5 mp3, 5 docx, 2 xls, and 2 xlsx.
Files Deleted without Recycle Bin (NTFS file system): 5.5Compare
After QuickScan:
All files were found in their original locations with correct names, except for one avi and 2 jpg files from the root folder, and one mkv had zero size. All found files were correctly recovered.
After QuickScan Plus: The results were the same.
After Super Scan:
The avi and jpg files from the root folder and the mkv file were found in raw files with incorrect names and successfully recovered.
Emptied Recycle Bin (NTFS file system): 5.0Compare
After QuickScan:
The ! Lost & Found ! section contained two Virt_Dir_xxx folders with files and subfolder from the Video folder which were correctly recovered. The $RECYCLE.BIN folder was also found. It contained 3 folders and files from the root folder, except one jpg file. The folders and files from the root had incorrect names, the rest of the folder structure and file names were correct. They were correctly recovered, except 2 xlsx files, which appeared damaged. One mkv and one avi file was found with incorrect names among raw files and correctly recovered.
Files that could not be recovered: 2 xlsx and 4 mp3.
Emptied Recycle Bin (exFAT file system): 6.0Compare
After QuickScan:
All files and folders were found with correct names and correctly recovered.
Reformatted disk (exFAT to exFAT): 3.0Compare
After Quick Scan:
Nothing was found.
After Quick Scan Plus:
Nothing useful was found. The $!Lost & Found! section contained only empty folders like Virt_Dir_xxxxxx.
After SuperScan:
An exFAT partition of the correct size was found. It contained only raw files (Signature Files) with incorrect names. Most of them were correctly recovered.
Files that could not be recovered: 1 avi, 5 docx, 2 xls, and 2 xlsx files.
Reformatted disk (NTFS to NTFS): 3.0Compare
After Quick Scan:
Nothing was found.
After Quick Scan Plus:
Files and folders on the partition were found in the $!Lost & Found! section only. Three folders Virt_Dir_xxxxxx were found and contained some folders and files from the Photos and Video folders.
After SuperScan:
The same !Lost & Found! was found. Raw files (Signature Files) contained some of the other lost files with mostly incorrect names. Almost all of them were correctly recovered.
Files that could not be recovered: 1 jpg, 13 mp3, 5 docx, 2 xls, 4 xlsx files.
Reformatted disk (NTFS to exFAT): 5.5Compare
After QuickScan:
Nothing was found.
After QuickScan Plus:
Nothing was found
After SuperScan:
Two NTFS partitions were found with correct file names and folder structure. One of them contained only damaged files. The other partition contained almost all files and folders in correct place with correct names. They were correctly recovered.
Files that could not be recovered: 2 xlsx and 1 mp3
Reformatted disk (exFAT to NTFS): 4.0Compare
After QuickScan and QuickScan Plus:
Nothing was found.
After SuperScan:
Only raw files were found with mostly incorrect file names. Almost all of them were correctly recovered.
Files that could not be recovered: 5 docx, 2 xls, and 2 xlsx files.
Reformatted disk (FAT32 to FAT32): 5.0Compare
After Quick Scan:
Nothing was found.
After Quick Scan Plus:
4 folders of type Virt_Dir_00025281 were found in the Lost & Found! section. They contained all files and folders with correct names. All files were correctly recovered with their original names.
After SuperScan:
Files from the root folder were found in the raw files Signature Files section with incorrect names. They were correctly recovered. Overall, all files were correctly recovered. Files from the root folder were recovered with incorrect names.
Damaged partition (HFS+): 5.5Compare
After SuperScan (disk scan):
All files and folders were found with correct names and correctly recovered.
Damaged partition (NTFS): 5.0Compare
After SuperScan:
Two NTFS partitions were found. One contained all files and folders with correct names. All of them were recovered. The other partition was empty.
Damaged partition (exFAT): 6.0Compare
Immediately found an exFAT partition of the correct size.
After Quick Scan (opening the partition):
All files and folders with correct names were found and correctly recovered.
Damaged partition (FAT32): 6.0Compare
Immediately found an exFAT partition of the correct size.
After Quick Scan:
All files and folders with correct names were found and correctly recovered.
Damaged partition (ext4fs): 6.0Compare
After Quick Scan:
All files and folders with correct names were found and correctly recovered.
Damaged partition (exFAT): 6.0Compare
Immediately found an exFAT partition of the correct size.
After Quick Scan:
All files and folders with correct names were found and correctly recovered.
Deleted partition (exFAT): 5.5Compare
Initially, an Unknown File System was found. Nothing was found after Super Scan of this partition.
After Quick Scan (of the entire memory stick):
The previous FAT32 partition was found. All files and folders were found with correct names and correctly recovered.
Deleted partition (exFAT): 6.0Compare
After Quick Scan:
The previous exFAT partition was found with all files and folders with correct names. All of them were correctly recovered.
Deleted partition (FAT32): 5.5Compare
Initially, an Unknown File System was found. Nothing was found after Super Scan of this partition.
After Quick Scan (of the entire memory stick):
The previous FAT32 partition was found. All files and folders were found with correct names and correctly recovered.
Deleted partition (NTFS): 6.0Compare
After Quick Scan: The previous NTFS partition was found with all files and folders. All of them were correctly recovered.
Windows Storage Space (WSS) Recovery with One Missing Disk: 0.0Compare
The program doesn’t support Windows Storage Spaces, and there’s no way to create it directly or indirectly.
Windows Storage Space (WSS) Recovery: 0.0Compare
The program doesn’t support Windows Storage Spaces, and there’s no way to create it directly or indirectly.
Linux MD RAID 5 Recovery: 0.0Compare
Could not automatically detect and recognize the Linux MD RAID 5.
Windows LDM RAID 5 Recovery: 6.0Compare
The LDM RAID5 was immediately found and correctly reconstructed. All file and folders were found and correctly recovered.
Windows LDM RAID 5 Recovery with One Unsynced Disk: 6.0Compare
The LDM RAID5 was immediately found and correctly reconstructed. All file and folders were found and correctly recovered. The program showed the unsynced disk.
Mac RAID 0 Recovery: 1.0Compare
The program could not recognize the Mac RAID 0 automatically. It was possible to create this RAID manually, and the program showed all files and folders. They were recovered but appeared damaged.
Linux LVM2 RAID 0 Recovery: 6.0Compare
The Linux LVM2 RAID 0 was immediately found and correctly reconstructed. All file and folders were found and correctly recovered.
Automatic RAID 5 Parameter Detection: 0.0Compare
No such feature. The RAID was correctly re-constructed manually.
Speed of SSD disk scan: 5.0Compare
9 min 29 sec. (380 GB/h): disk scan (SuperScan) and search for all file systems and raw files.
9 min 3 sec. (398 GB/h) – disk scan (SuperScan) and search for NTFS/FAT and raw files search.
Overall Product Rating: 4.0
An effective data recovery program with nearly all the features required for professional data recovery.
Strengths: Good data recovery performance. The best startup version among all tested programs.
Weaknesses: Only one interface language (English). Very limited demo evaluation mode; no advanced features (such as RAID recovery) can be tested.
Localized File Name Recognition: 6.0Compare
Recognized all tested localized characters in file and folder names.
Demo version restrictions: 2.0Compare
File preview (up to 10 MB). Recovers files up to 64 KB. No time limit for the demo version. Advanced data recovery features (e.g. RAID reconstruction) cannot be tested in the demo mode.
File preview: 3.5Compare
The built-in previewer can show graphic and text files. File size limit is 10 MB. Can also view file properties.
File Systems Supported for File Recovery: 4.5Compare
NTFS, NTFS+EFS, exFAT, FAT12/FAT32, HFS/HFS+, UFS and ext2/ext3/ext4fs
Deep Analysis of Disks (Disk Scan): 2.5Compare
Hard drives and logical disks can be scanned. Scan range and file systems can be specified. Scan results can be stored and then loaded later.
File Recovery Using File Signatures (Raw File Recovery): 4.0Compare
Supports raw file recovery. User can select which file types are to be included and can add custom file signatures.
Disk Imaging and Copying: 4.5Compare
Image types: byte-by-byte and compressed. Image compression ratio, file split size, and bad sector handling can be specified.
File Search, Mark For Recovery, Sorting: 4.5Compare
Search parameters: “Show only deleted files”, “Show only existing files”, individual file search/mark for recovery, file mask search, file search for date, file search for size, file search for file ID.
File Recovery Parameters: 4.5Compare
Recovers file names, folder structure, and, named streams. Files with the same names can be renamed during recovery.
Standard RAID Level Presets: 3.5Compare
JBOD, RAID-1 (Mirror), RAID0 (Stripe Set), RAID5 with all their variants.
Hexadecimal Editor: 4.0Compare
The editor has all standard features. Data may be represented in any coding or as hex values. Built-in templates for data interpretation.
Startup Version: 6.0Compare
Runtime Live Linux/WinPE 3.1 CD: Equivalent in its features to the Windows version.
RAID Recovery Features: 4.5Compare
Direct access to a virtual RAID. Only disks and images can be added to a virtual RAID.
File recovery performance
Deleted Files (NTFS): 4.0Compare
For the 1 GB partition: All files, except the mp3, acc, avi and exe files, were immediately found in correct folders and recovered upon opening the partition. The mp3, acc, avi, and exe files were found but appeared damaged.
For the 500 MB partition: All files, except the exe files, were immediately found and successfully recovered.
Deleted Files (FAT32): 5.5Compare
For the 1 GB partition: All files were found after scanning for file signatures and were correctly recovered.
For the 500 MB partition: All files were found folder in their respective subfolders upon opening the partition.
Emptied Recycle Bin (NTFS): 5.5Compare
All files were found in the $Recycle.Bin folder upon opening the partitions and correctly recovered with their original names. The folder name could not be recovered.
Emptied Recycle Bin (NTFS): 4.5Compare
Most files were found in the original folder with original names and successfully recovered upon disk scan.
For the 500 MB partition: We could not correctly recover the acc, mp3 or exe files.
Disk Reformat – NTFS to NTFS : 4.5Compare
Most files were found and successfully recovered after disk scan for raw files.
Disk Reformat – FAT32 to FAT32 : 3.0Compare
All files were found among raw files without their file names.
Disk Reformat – NTFS to FAT32 : 3.0Compare
Partition size 1 GB: Two NTFS partitions (700 MB and 1 GB) were found and all files were found in the original folders with original names and successfully recovered after disk scan.
Partition size 500 MB: Two NTFS partitions (850 MB and 1 GB), but no file could be recovered.
Disk Reformat – FAT32 to NTFS : 3.0Compare
Disk size 1 GB: We could find only a few files in raw files after disk scan.
Successfully recovered: mp3, avi.
Disk size 2 GB: We could find only a few files in raw files after disk scan.
Successfully recovered: avi, mpg, mp4 and m4v
Damaged Partition (FAT32): 6.0Compare
All files were immediately found in the original folder with original names and successfully recovered upon opening the partition.
Damaged Partition (FAT16): 2.5Compare
We could find only several files in the raw files without file names and successfully recover: rar, zip, pdf, jpg, png, tif, doc, docx, odt, xls, xlsx, avi, mp3, mpeg, mp4, m4v.
Damaged Partition (NTFS): 6.0Compare
The damaged partitions were found without disk scan. All files with correct file names were found in correct folders and successfully recovered upon opening the partition.
Damaged Partition (FAT32): 6.0Compare
All files were immediately found in the original folder with original names and successfully recovered upon opening the partition.
Deleted partition: 6.0Compare
All files were found with original names and successfully recovered after disk scan.
RAID level: 5 consisting of 3 disks: 1.0Compare
Only folders with correct names were found. Several files were found among raw files, but most of them appeared damaged.
RAID level: 0 consisting of 2 disks: 6.0Compare
All files were found in the original folders with original names and successfully recovered without disk scan
