There are essentially two different applications packaged together.  The first is for file recovery and the second is to help you recover the entire drive.  This has proven to be extremely useful because it allows you to tell the software exactly what you need to do.  For taking such a complex approach to data recovery, the software itself is very easy to use.  The software does all the heavy lifting and all you need to do is find where you want your files saved to.

Features

The software at RecoverMyFiles has broken down the entire process to its simplest form.  The application will do all of the searching and locating of lost files.  You can have it do a basic search or a deep search.  If you are using the deep search then there is a high likelihood that you will find what you are looking for because it goes through everything on your hard drive, however because it is so detailed, it can take some time.  Once all of your files have been found, all you have to do is choose where you want your file saved.  The two basic options are saving them to a CD/DVD or to your hard drive.

Effectiveness

When it comes to data recovery software, effectiveness is a priority.  It doesn’t matter how easy the software is to use or what it costs if it can’t locate all of the files that you need.  While the basic search may not find everything that you need, the thorough search definitely will.  The best part is that the results are very well organized so that you know exactly what was found and what it actually is.  This can save a lot of time that would otherwise be spent sifting through unorganized results trying to find what you need.

What Else Is There?

If you are interested in other products at RecoverMyFiles.com, then you have a lot of choose from.  All of the software falls into 6 basic categories

•    Data Recovery Software
This is includes the Recover My Files software for your computer as well as two additional pieces of software: Recover My Photos and Recovery My iPod.

•    Email Recovery
There are also two different pieces of software to help you recover any email messages that you may have lost or accidentally deleted.  They are Recover My Email and Recover My EDB.

•    File Repair
Depending on what type of files you need to repair, there are a large number of options available to you including: Zip Repair Pro, XEF Repair, Repair My Excel, Repair My Backup, Word Repair, and CRW Repair.

•    Windows Tools
RecoverMyFiles.com offers two different applications for Windows – Explorer View and Burn My Files (CD and DVD).

•    Erase Data
With the concern for data security on the rise, it is no surprise that wiping your hard drive might be in order.  The two pieces of available software are WipeDrive to completely wipe your drive and SecureClean which only wipes your data files.

•    Computer Forensic Software
RecoverMyFiles.com also features 3 applications that fall under the guise of forensic software including Mount Image Pro, Phone Image Carver, and VFC (Virtual Forensic Computing).

Overview of Spotmau Data Recovery Kit

Spotmau claims that with only three clicks, you can recover your lost data from a variety of locations including your hard drive, camera memory card, and USB drive.  Regularly the Spotmau Data Recovery Kit has a price tag of $49.95 (for 3 computers), however they run specials fairly often.  Currently it is only designed to work with a Windows operating system.  You can either download it directly from their website or have a CD shipped to you for an extra $4.95.

Benefits of Spotmau Data Recovery Kit

    Comprehensive
The Spotmau Data Recovery Kit supports almost any device that holds data.  Along with your internal hard drive, it can also recover data from a USB, zip drive, flash drive, camera memory card, memory stick, SD card, etc.  It also has the ability to recover more than 200 different file types while supporting several file systems including: FAT(12, 16, and 32), exFAT, NTFS, and NTFS5.

    Easy to Use Interface
The Spotmau Data Recovery Kit utilizes a very intuitive recovery wizard interface which means that you don’t need to know a lot about computers to use it effectively.  Once you open the wizard, you are presented with 4 options: Deleted Recovery, Formatted Recovery, Raw Recovery, and Create Rescue CD/USB.

    The Deleted Recovery is what most people will use when they lose any type of data including pictures, videos, emails, and music.
    Formatted Recovery is similar to Deleted Recovery, however it is designed to recover data from a formatted partition or any device with a “device not formatted” error.
    The Raw Recovery option is what will be used when your file storage system has completely crashed.  While this will take a little longer, it is because your device will be scanned at the sector level.
    Create Rescue CD/USB is what you will create so that you have a rescue CD in the event that you cannot boot up your computer.

Potential Drawbacks of the Spotmau Data Recovery Kit

If there is any drawback to the Data Recovery Kit, it would be that some people feel like it is incomplete.  That is why Spotmau also has the PowerSuite, which is a compilation that includes all of their tools, including the Data Recovery Kit as well as 8 others.

Review of Spotmau Data Recovery Kit

Spotmau has won numerous awards and recommendations over the years and the Spotmau Data Recovery Kit is one of the reasons why.  It is a very solid piece of software that can effectively recover any type of data from a variety of devices and file systems.

Additionally, the company has a data recovery software that now makes it possible for anyone to conduct a do-it-yourself data recovery on their computer’s hard drive should something go wrong. This now makes it possible for the everyday average Joe to be able to take advantage of years of experience and recover valuable data that may be lost due to a number of reasons.

Ontrack data recovery software, which is known as Kroll, is software that can help out in several areas if something is happening to your computer. However, for the most common problems that are associated with data loss, the company recommends their EasyRecovery brand of software which focuses mainly on data recovery. This software allows the user to be able to recover data lost and repair damaged files as well. The software is very user friendly and very affordable for the features it contains.

Of course, the company recommends using any of their software before troubles strike. When used in conjunction with a healthy computer, Ontrack data recover software can not only keep your data from being lost, but it can also help you stay more organized with all of your irreplaceable data.

As far as customer support goes, you couldn’t ask for more. Ontrack data recovery software has an entire team of professionals dedicated to helping those who get stuck along the way and need assistance. Through Ontrack’s website you can find various ways in which to reach the help you may need. Choose from e-mail help, phone help, live chat help, or even use the function that has a representative call you back on your phone when you are ready. No matter which way you prefer to obtain assistance, the company pretty much has you covered.

Additionally, there is a large frequently asked questions data base that covers many of the most commonly asked questions. With over 20 years of data recovery experience, it is no surprise to see just how extensive the frequently asked questions section is.

Ontrack data recovery software is also available to ‘try before you buy’ for a full 30 days. The company allows anyone to download a scaled back version of their most popular types of software, including their EasyRecovery software. This allows you the opportunity to see many of the different features of the data recovery software and can help you formulate your decision to buy the full version software or not.

Data loss can happen to any computer at any time. Even if your computer is brand new, you are still exposed to the unknown. With all that can go wrong in life, especially in the technological part of it, everyone should have access to quality data recovery software. With experience and knowhow behind them, Ontrack data recovery software may be the solution you are looking for.

Boomerang Data Recovery software is designed to help you recover lost and/or damaged data from different media sources, your computer’s internal hard drive, any external hard drive, and any RAID configurations.  So, while the software is designed to offer you ongoing backup if you so desire, its main initiative is to help you recover lost, damaged, or accidentally deleted files regardless of the scenario.

The software is fairly easy to use and the program walks you through any kind of data restoration you are performing and lets you know what you can expect all along the way. However, one of the biggest drawbacks is that Boomerang Data Recovery Software will lock up your computer when it is scanning for files. While the lock up will only be a temporary one, it is not something that you can do and continue to work. So, you have to plan to be able to let the program do its thing while you do something else for awhile.

If you run into any issues with your recovery attempt, you can always turn to the Boomerang website or the program itself for help. There are many questions answered in the frequently asked section of Boomerang’s website and the program itself has a help section that can be accessed. You can also submit an inquiry to the company via e-mail, but there is no dedicated phone support, which is also a drawback. However, even without a dedicated phone support system in place, the help that Boomerang Data Recovery supplies should be more than adequate to help those who get in a bind.

One of the nicest features with Boomerang Data Recovery software is that you can try them out before you make a commitment to buy their software. For each version of Boomerang Data Recovery software, there is an icon on the home page of their website that says, ‘Download and try it free!’ Once you click this icon, you are taken through the steps to use the trial version and this gives you an opportunity to see if the program is for you or not. This gives you a nice ‘test drive’ of the full version.

There are simply too many scenarios where you can lose valuable data that is either on your computer, or located on another media source that you use in conjunction with your computer. If you do not have all of these files backed up and something happen, you might be out of luck. However, before you throw in the towel, you should consider using a program, such as Boomerang Data Recovery software, to see if you can retrieve files that have been lost, damaged, or accidentally deleted.

Overview of ParetoLogic Data Recovery Pro

ParetoLogic Data Recovery Pro currently retails at just under $50 and is most well known for email recovery, however it is equally effective with other types of data such as pictures, texts, and much more.  ParetoLogic is a well known software company that has created a wide variety of computer health related tools over the years.

Benefits of ParetoLogic Data Recovery Pro

1.    Easy to Use
One of the biggest benefits of this software is that the user interface is very intuitive and easy to use.  This is especially important for people who are not as technologically savvy.  It is also designed so that the scanning engines are the focal point of the software without the common extraneous features that often only complicate the data recovery process.  This also ensures that software loads extremely fast.

2.    Effective
Overall, ParetoLogic Data Recovery Pro is fairly effective at helping with basic data loss.  In most cases, the quick scan feature will be all that you need.  If the quick scan doesn’t find what you are looking for, additional scanning engines that are included are Full, Email, Advanced, and Guided.

Potential Drawbacks of ParetoLogic Data Recovery Pro

There are not all of big drawbacks to using this software.  The only thing that stands out is that there are not a lot of advanced features that are found with many other types of data recovery software.  While these additional features are common, they are not always necessary  While this will not have a big impact of people who just need a more basic piece of software, it can be a problem for people who like a more hands-on approach to data recovery.

Review of ParetoLogic Data Recovery Pro

ParetoLogic Data Recovery Pro seems to be the perfect piece of software for a person who wants the software to do most of the work.  The powerful scanning engines are definitely the highlight of this software and the reason that it is so easy to use.  The only potential drawback is that it lacks some of the additional features that many people look for.  In the end, it seems like the conflict is that this software has been made so user friendly that it lacks some flexibility and features for more advanced users.  Overall, it can get the job done with very little effort on your part.

When you use Runtime data recovery software you can take any healthy computer and utilize it to help you recover files and other forms of data that have been lost. Here’s the process:

•    Install: Install the proper software application on your healthy computer. This is done in the form of a downloadable installation.
•    Attach the Bad Drive: Once installation is complete, you will want to attach the bad drive to your healthy computer as a secondary drive.
•    Run Program: Next you will run the application that you installed and then go along with the instructions that follow.
•    Copy Files to Good Drive: As you go through the process, what you will be doing is retrieving some, or all, of your lost data files and you can then move those over to your good drive. Once the process is complete, simply turn your computer off and disconnect the bad drive from your computer.

Of course, this process may vary to some degree depending on which Runtime application you are using. Additionally, Runtime recommends that you take your time and thoroughly look through all of the files that you recovered to make sure you obtained all that you were after before you recycle, or dispose of, the bad drive.

For the most common problems, Runtime provides a program called GetBackData, though it comes in two different versions. The version you will need will depend on your specific problems. You can read more about the two different versions of GetBackData as well as Runtime’s other products on their ‘Products/Downloads’ page on their website.

While you are on the website, you can also take a look at the many testimonials and reviews that are offered up by past Runtime customers. However, it is important that you look outside of the company’s website at some independent testimonials and reviews so you can formulate your best decision to buy a Runtime product or not.

Runtime also has a great deal of support should you have trouble at any point along the way with your data recovery efforts. On the website, you will find phone numbers for their customer support team, both here in the states as well as overseas, and a way to e-mail or fax them. Keep in mind that they are in Hawaii so they are open at Pacific Coast hours, 9:30am to 5:00pm, Monday thru Friday.

If your computer is acting up, or even if you just want protection now, a great idea is to get data recovery software. If you are looking for data recovery software that is flexible and problem specific, then you may want to consider looking at Runtime and seeing if they can help you with your data recovery software needs.

Overview of Iolo Search and Recover

Currently, Iolo Search and Recover is priced at $29.95, with a renewal price of $19.95 per year.  It can help you recover data from any type of media device including cameras, DVDs, flash drives, memory cards, and CDs.  It is also compatible with a variety of email programs including Outlook, Outlook Express, Netscape Mail, Eudora, and ThunderBird.

Benefits of Iolo Search and Recover

1.    Versatility
One of the most unique characteristics of Iolo Search and Recover is that it works with so many different devices.  Most data recovery software is designed to work on your computer, but that is it.  Iolo Search and Recover also works with items such as flash drives, cameras, and memory cards.  This added versatility could prove to be exceptionally useful in some situations.

2.    SmartScan Technology
Iolo Search and Recover features the SmartScan technology which is designed to automatically find all of your lost data, even if you have no idea where it could be.  It has two different types of searches.  The first is a specific search for certain types of files and the second is a deeper scan that will show you all of the deleted data on your computer, even if it was deleted years ago.

Potential Drawbacks of Iolo Search and Recover

1.    Cannot Boot From Disk
One of the biggest potential drawbacks is that Iolo Search and Recover is that it cannot be booted directly from the disk, which means that you must have a working version of Windows in order to use it.  Not only does this cause the obvious problem if you don’t have a working version of Windows, but this also means that your files could be overwritten during the install.

2.    Trouble With Partitions
Iolo Search and Recover states that it can recover deleted or damaged partitions, again this can be problem if you need a program that can be booted directly from the disk.  Another potential problem is that when you use the formatting tool, it will not re-create partitions, rather it will simple re-format your entire drive.

Review of Iolo Search and Recover

Overall, it seems like Iolo Search and Recover has gotten mixed reviews.  While there are some features that help it standout, there are also number of potential drawbacks as well.  Depending on your specific situation, it may not be the comprehensive tool that you need.  At the same time, it should be more than effective for the average user.

Overview of Diskeeper Undelete

Diskeeper Undelete is a Windows-based software in which the standard Recycle Bin is replaced with a Recovery Bin.  It allows you to recover files that have been accidentally deleted, previously overwritten files, and even files that were deleted before Diskeeper Undelete was installed.  It also offers a SecureDelete function that will allow you to delete files so that they are impossible for anyone to recover.  Everything that gets deleted will go to the Recovery Bin, not just documents.  There are a number of different products available including a Home, Professional, Pro Premier, and HomeServer which range from $39.95 to $109.95.

Benefits of Diskeeper Undelete

1.    InvisiTasking
The InvisiTasking technology allows you to run Diskeeper Undelete as an invisible background program, which means that it won’t slow down your computer.  It also allows you to purge old files whenever it fills up, manage the Recovery Bin, overwrite free spaces with the Wipe Free Space function, and even automatically adjust the size of the Recovery Bin.

2.    SecureDelete 2.0
Using the SecureDelete function, the files which are erased from the Recovery Bin will be securely overwritten using the same methods that are used by the NSA and Department of Defense.  It will overwrite free space which ensures that any remnants of your files that normally would remain can never be recovered.

3.    Coverage
Another huge benefit that the Recovery Bin has over your regular Recycle Bin is that it is a catch-all.  This means that it will hold every file that is deleted, regardless of how it happened.  It can even help you recover previous versions of documents that you are working with.

4.    Unique Features
There are a number of additional features that make Diskeeper Undelete unique from other types of data recovery software.  It provides forensic information related to each file, such as who deleted it, direct from disk file recovery, time-based file storage, and a hierarchical user interface.

Any of the potential drawbacks of Diskeeper Undelete are fairly small compared to other types of data recovery software.  For example, there is no boolean search option, which is nice if you don’t remember how a file name was spelled.  Overall this review of Diskeeper Undelete has been a very positive one.  It offers a simple, preventative approach to data recovery so that you can solve data loss problems quickly and with little effort.  Diskeeper Undelete is also one of the few data recovery tools that does much more than recovering lost files using technologies like InvisiTasking and SecureDelete.

While all of this software differs because they all have separate goals, there are also a number of similarities.  Here is a generalized review of Disk Doctors software.  It should give you a good idea of what to expect, regardless of what package you need.

Features

In general, Disk Doctors software will offer all of the features you need and in some cases more than you need.  Overall, this has proven to be beneficial because their software can be used by the average person or data recovery specialists.  Once you start the recovery, the software takes over and scans your computer to determine what needs to be recovered.  You can even go in depth with a file tracer to recovery specific files that you are looking for.

Ease of Use

While Disk Doctors software has an interface that is fairly straightforward, at times things can get a little confusing.  With such an emphasis placed upon flexibility and features, there are moments where you feel like it takes 3 steps to achieve what could be done in 1 step.

Effectiveness

In terms of getting the job done, Disk Doctors software always seems to deliver.  Even though there may be some frustrating moments, the end results are what really count.  In general, all of the automatic features can complete every task without any additional effort on your part.  However, with such a high level of built in flexibility, you always have the power to make any changes that are necessary.

Customer Service/Documentation

Disk Doctors has a great reputation for providing customer service.  Fortunately, you probably won’t need it because the accompanying documentation is very thorough.  Plus, they are always upgrading and updating their software which means that they are making their software even more user-friendly and effective all of the time.

Price

Overall, it seems like all of the Disk Doctor software is more expensive than the industry average.  At the same time, their software remains some of the most popular.  This is because the software can be well worth the higher price in the end.

Conclusion

It can be difficult to review Disk Doctors software in such general terms because each piece of software has something unique to offer.  In most cases, the question won’t be about effectiveness because Disk Doctors is always improving their products.  The real question is whether or not the software is worth the price tag.  It will normally come down to your specific needs.  Sometimes more generalized software will be able to do the same thing as a piece of specialized Disk Doctors software at half the price.  On the other hand, there will be times where you will need the specialized touch that most other alternatives won’t be able to offer.

Why would I need Hard Drive Recovery?

There are two main reasons you will need data recovery services; a physical or logical hard drive failure, or system and human error.

Human Error:

Human error (also known as logical drive failure) is just when you’ve made a mistake, and accidentally deleted a file that you really needed. There can be system errors as well, these happen when the operating system deletes files because the system itself has become corrupted by a virus or worm that is trying to defend itself against deletion; or because the system itself is just unstable.

These two kinds of deletion can be solved with data recovery software, and are much easier to fix than a physical or logical failure.

Physical Drive Failure:

A physical failure is when the actual physical structure of the hard drive starts failing; signs of this can be clicking or grinding noises coming from your computer, or excess heat being ventilated. If you see signs of this, you need to transfer all your data onto a new hard drive as soon as possible. This will help you avoid having to pay professionals to restore your data when it’s too late.

If you don’t spot the signs in time, you’ll know it; the computer will either not turn on at all, or it will boot to the bios. When this happens, you need a professional to help you fix the situation.

How do I pick a Hard Drive Recovery Specialist?

Once you’ve figured out that you need a recovery specialist to retrieve your data, it’s time to find a good person to work with. You want to first find a company that can fix your data, regardless of the kind of disk (SSD, ATI, IDE, SATA), types of partitions, or the operating system you use (Windows, Linux, Apple OS).

A good recovery specialist will have experience in retrieving data in any system, and will perform a paid analysis or consultation about the cost of recovering your system. One thing to watch for is that everyone says they’re experienced, but not all services are equal.

You can easily verify for the veracity of someone’s claims by searching for their company on Google. If they’re a popular service, there will be user reviews that will give you an idea of their prices and what level their services are at.

One of the mitigating factors for picking a specialist is cost; the cost can run you anywhere from $200 up to $1000 to get your data back. This is one thing you shouldn’t skimp on, if you have a chance to recover your data you should!