Summary: We provide an overview of one of the best free data recovery applications available on the Internet today – Recuva.

Data Recovery Toronto - RecuvaLast time we mentioned that we would cover several free, readily available applications which are capable of recovering deleted files. Well, the first program we will look at is Recuva, created by Piriform (the software developer behind other popular applications including: CCleaner, Defraggler, and Speccy).

Recuva

Lately, Recuva has gained a reputation as being one of the premiere data recovery programs out there. Why, you may be wondering? Well, first of all, it is a program which is good at a single task – recovering and restoring your files. Secondly, it is extremely easy to use. In our next post we will be discussing how to actually use Recuva; however, most intermediate to advanced computer users are probably able to use it without any form of tutorial. So if you are confident in your computing skills, by all means, head on over to their website, download the software and attempt to gain access to those lost files. If, however, you are a little less confident, wait a week or two and come back to Data Recovery Toronto – we will be posting a how to use guide shortly.

Before we discuss the features of Recuva, it is useful to note that it can be used on nearly any version of Microsoft Windows: Windows 2000, Windows 2003 Server, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 2008 Server, and Windows 7. Therefore, if you run some versions of Windows – you are likely able to run this program.

Recuva Features

Recuva is capable of:

  1. Recovering files which you have previously, accidentally deleted from nearly any storage media – your hard drive, an external hard drive, a USB key, a cameras memory card, and even an iPod.
  2. Recovering files from media which have been reformatted recently or which are corrupt. Say, you recently reformatted your PC, but you forgot to back up some very important files – this program may just be able to help you out.
  3. Recovering deleted emails from a variety of common email programs – Outlook Express, Windows Mail, and Thunderbird.
  4. Recovering music from your iPod.
  5. Recovering certain unsaved files. In particular, it is able to retrieve unsaved Word files (files which you were unable to save before the application suddenly quit as a result of a computer error). As a side note though, we here at Data Recovery Toronto recommend that you first try to retrieve your files within Microsoft Word (since Microsoft Office has become quite good at being able to retrieve files lost due to sudden termination).

Recuva Price

The basic version of Recuva is absolutely free for home use. You can, however, choose to pay $24.95 for what they call Priority Support. Business use is also free. However, business support will cost you $34.95.

Even though their support package is quite affordable, Data Recovery Toronto considers it to be overkill in most situations. Unless you constantly need to restore and recover data, you likely can use the program with little additional help. Furthermore, the Internet provides a wide range of forums where you can post questions regarding nearly any program imaginable.

Recuva Summary

Is Recuva useful? Definitely! It is a great little application designed by a company which has become increasingly well known for quality products. It provides a whole host of features for the exceptional price of – free. As a result, we would definitely recommend you try it soon after you have discovered a lost file. It is not guaranteed to work, but there is little harm in using it – basically the good far outweighs the bad.

That is enough discussion of the program. Next time at Data Recovery Toronto we will be providing a step by step guide on how to use it – perfect for those first timers out there.

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