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Power Data Recovery is a tool for recovering lost computer files, and is easy to use with no prior experience

Power Data Recovery is a tool for recovering lost computer files, and is easy to use with no prior experience

Vote: (75 votes)

Program license: Trial version

Developer: PowerDataRecovery

Version: 11.8.0

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(75 votes)

Trial version

Developer

Version

PowerDataRecovery

11.8.0

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Operates fast
  • Multiple recovery options
  • Can be installed on portable drives

Cons

  • Limited free trial
  • Success is not guaranteed

Power Data Recovery makes it possible to recover files that were lost on nearly any type of drive. The program works across many different mediums. Although the application can potentially recover a large amount of data, any number of small factors can prevent it from working. Power Data Recovery can be installed on a regular hard drive, on a compact disc or on a properly formatted thumb drive. This is important because installing the application on the same drive where the data was lost can actually make the problem the worse. The developers recommend installing Power Data Recovery on a completely separate or removable drive.

Power Data Recovery has a very basic interface with just a few tabs and buttons. Users can choose what type of recovery operation to perform when the program first starts. The application can attempt to recover files that were accidentally added to the recycle bin and erased. This process has the best chance of success in most cases. Power Data Recovery can also attempt to recover files that were lost due to a hardware or software problem with a local hard drive. Another option allows Power Data Recovery to attempt to recover lost media files from a memory card or a device like a camera. A final module allows the program to attempt recovery of lost files from a damaged or formatted compact disc.

The actual recovery process is very straightforward regardless of the target drive or device. Users are prompted with a list of the possible drives or directories that the program can access, then the application scans the drive looking for traces of lost files. Users can actually select the exact type of files that have been lost. This includes documents, specific image types or application executables. Power Data Recovery then presents users with all of the files and directories that were detected, which may include some of the files that were lost. Users can then select files to recover from the list.

The recovery process takes a little longer than the initial scans. The program will attempt to reconstruct the files from what is left on the drive, which could result in a fully recovered file. This most commonly occurs when data was recently lost and the drive was barely used afterwards. It could also result in a partially recovered file. Partially recovered files are useful when trying to get back important information in documents, spreadsheets or other human-readable formats. The recovery process could also fail completely or reassemble the wrong data in a file.

Power Data Recovery works fast despite the complexity of the operations. It requires no technical knowledge or special skills to use. It is important to always remember that recovering lost files is never certain, as the program could fail to recover anything almost every time depending on the situation. A drawback of Power Data Recovery is that the free version of the program has a one-gigabyte data recovery limit before the commercial version must be purchased. Power Data Recovery is an effective and straightforward program.

Pros

  • Operates fast
  • Multiple recovery options
  • Can be installed on portable drives

Cons

  • Limited free trial
  • Success is not guaranteed