Recover Deleted Files with Handy Recovery

Disclaimer: This is a paid review, ordered by Soft Logica. Although they have paid for the review, I am allowed to be negative if I want and my views are my own.

About two or three times a week, I go into “stupid mode” where I make stupid and unnecessary mistakes on the computer. This includes deleting files that I don’t want to delete and so for the past few weeks I have been researching file recovery tools. Then we are asked by Soft Logica to review HandyRecovery and I think that it makes a worthwhile addition to the list of available tools.

When you delete a file, it isn’t really deleted. The PC just tells you it’s deleted and gives you back the space for other files. Eventually the deleted file gets written over and over until it is virtually unrecoverable. But until then, the file CAN be retrieved from DeletionLand if you’re using the proper tools and if you have the know-how. Just think of all the cop shows on TV who catch the bad guys with the incriminating evidence because the lab geek gets a hold of the bad guy’s computer.

With Handy Recovery, you first have to specify where the file was originally. You then press the “analyze” button and the program begins to scan your hard-drive to see which files are recoverable.

You can then click on a file and be given a preview of what can be recovered. MP3 files and videos are the hardest to recover, text files and pictures are the easiest. But no matter what the file format is, it’s entirely possible that you won’t get a 100% complete file anyway (it all depends on how long ago the file was deleted and what you have downloaded / installed since then). I particularly like the preview feature on Handy Recovery so you can see at a glance what is left.

You also get a status for each file such as “good” or “poor” so you can see right away what your chances are of getting back the file. If you decide that the chances look good, just click the “Recover” button and you will get back what the program is capable of recovering for you.

Handy Recovery is not free – it costs $39 for a single-user license. I am not normally one to advocate paying for software but I am really impressed with Handy Recovery and so this would be one piece of software where I would break my “don’t pay for software” rule. It has lots of features and is easy to use.

However, if you decide that you don’t want to pay for a file recovery tool, check out a free alternative called Restoration which I reviewed here on Make Use Of back in September. We also mentioned Recuva back in MakeUseOf Extra # 15.

Which file recovery tool do you use? Tell us in the comments!