On the Actions tab, I clicked on 'scan for non-deleted files.' The program took 7 minutes to partially/completely recover all the files. I then had to go to the Advanced program, click on Options and sort through the tabs on the window that opened.

So, after selecting the options I wanted, a window came up. So, I had to select file location as 'on my media card or iPod.' I wanted to retrieve files that had not been deleted as well as files that had been deleted. I tried to get the program to search in the camera that was plugged into the laptop via USB, but it didn't recognize that option. With Recuva, I used its wizard and selected options that I wanted, such as 'pictures' as the file type I wanted to retrieve. That meant I'd lost the entire card's contents. The memory card, when in my camera, showed some photos with no problem, but many others as 'can't playback image.' I couldn't download even the good photos to my laptop the process would essentially freeze. I'd recommend potential users read through its online manual and other documents first before using the program if I had, I'd have saved myself quite a bit of time. However, 7 of the files were 'partially' recovered. Recuva retrieved all 886 files I had on a Transcend SDHC 16GB memory card. I downloaded Recuva but not the second program (Mini Tool Photo Recovery) because I didn't need it. Summary Recuva was 1 of 2 photo recovery programs I decided to try after reading reviews here. Fortunately I managed to get another copy of the file from its original source! This software is a waste of time (for me, anyway) and I'd look elsewhere. Many of us have had that 'oh no' moment when we realise we've deleted something important, and will try anything to get it back. I was so desperate to retrieve the file that I ignored the warning - taking the risk for nothing. Smart Screen Filter blocked the download. Installation process installed software didn't want (Google Chrome, Google Toolbar and CCleaner.) Yes, there was an opt-out but as so often it was not easy to spot. I'd emptied the recycle bin only an hour previously so my lost file can't have been that badly damaged.

The scan was pleasingly fast but I got a message that it was unable to find ANY files. I was delighted to find free file recovery software - more often than not you get a trial version that identifies the lost files but won't recover them unless you pay. Summary I needed to recover a file I'd deleted for good by mistake. Like CCleaner, Recuva is fast, reliable, and delivers a lot for freeware. To us, that seems like a good time to have a local copy of the Help file. Online help file: Recuva's Web-based Help file supposedly keeps the download smaller, but including a Help file would take up less space than the portable version that's supposedly useful when Internet connections are down.

ConsĪdvanced Mode switchback: The Advanced Mode shows file paths, info, and headers in a list view instead of thumbnails, which is fine, except there's no way to toggle back to the normal view. It runs without an installer, so it can find and recover files in damaged systems. Portable version: Recuva includes a fully portable version that fits on a USB drive. We could also scan by File Location ranging from 'I'm not sure' to CD/DVD and enable the Deep Scan option.Ĭontext menu integration: The Advanced Options include adding 'Scan for deleted files' to Explorer and Recycle Bin context menus. Wizard: The Recuva Wizard dialog let us scan All Files or just Pictures, Music, Documents, Video, Compressed, or Emails. Fast, focused scans find just the files you want and deep Scans find lost, damaged, and deleted files anywhere in your system, including portable, removable, and unmounted drives and even CDs and DVDs. Recuva undeletes files recovers data from corrupted, damaged, and reformatted discs restores unsaved Word documents and securely deletes files so they're unrecoverable, even by Recuva.

Recuva portable download