The best way to protect your small business from data loss is to always back-up your data. However, sometimes, data loss just sneaks right on you. It could be as a result of incompatible software, data corruption, hacking, accidental deletion or even a simple power surge or outage. Whatever the case, there are some free data recovery tools that could help you get back your lost data.
Free Data Recovery Tools
Recuva
This is an incredibly powerful tool for recovering data. It is available in both free and paid editions, and it can recover files from external drives (USB drives, etc.), hard drives, BD/DVD/CD discs, memory cards. Use Recuva to recover data from Windows 10, 8.1, 7, Vista and XP. Including both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
Pandora Recovery
Pandora Recovery has a paid edition that you can put on a USB disk to recover an operating system drive and a free version that you can use to recover data from secondary drives.
Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery Software
While they also have paid options, Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery solution offers a wide range of features, including the ability to recover lost or deleted files emptied from Recycle bin, recover data from lost or deleted partition, recover deleted emails, photos, audio and videos among many other features.
PC INSPECTOR
Expect thorough inspection and file recovery from this Windows compatible tool. PC INSPECTOR recognizes all types of data and you can use it to recover deletions and even total volume loss.
FreeUndelete
As the name suggests, FreeUndelete is a free tool that you can use to recover deleted files. This is a simple, efficient tool. Pressed SHIFT-DEL or emptied the Recycle Bin? No problem. This tool will recover your files.
ADRC Data Recovery Software Tools
The ADRC Data Recovery Software Tools contains a collection of data recovery tools that support a wide variety of file systems and drives. The tool zooms in to complete critical recovery functions like disk image backup, undeleting files, disk cloning, editing and restoring boot parameters and restoring backup image, among other roles.
NTFS Data Recovery Toolkit
The NTFS Data Recovery Toolkit is built specifically for NTFS volumes. This toolkit comes loaded with data recovery tools, partition manager and disk editor. All tools contain instructions on how to use them.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
This is another great recovery tool that features both free and paid versions. Use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to undelete files from optical drives, memory cards, hard drives, and pretty much anything else that Windows recognizes as a storage device.
Wise Data Recovery
The Wise Data Recovery Tool allows you to get back deleted documents, videos, photos and emails from your removable or local drives for free.
CD Recovery Toolbox
CD Recovery Toolbox is a free tool that is designed to recover files from damaged or corrupted optical drive discs — CD, Blu-Ray, HD DVD, DVD, etc. This tool should help you recover files from discs that have surface spotting, chipped or scratched.
UndeleteMyFiles Pro
UndeleteMyFiles Pro is another amazing free tool that allows you to recover accidentally deleted files from SD cards, hard disks, USB flash drives and other storage media.
MiniTool Power Data Recovery
The MiniTool Power Data Recovery tool is a data recovery tool that’s available in both free and paid editions. The Free edition will help you to recover lost, deleted, formatted and corrupt files with ease.
TOKIWA DataRecovery
TOKIWA DataRecovery is an effective, standalone data recovery program. It is easy to use, featuring a single program window where you can sort and scan files and undelete them. This tool recovers files from memory cards, USB drives, hard drives, and other external drives.
Bplan Data Recovery
This free data recovery tool can help you to recover lost data even after you have formatted your Laptop or desktop computer hard drive. Bplan unfortunately only works with Windows 7, 8 and XP.
TestDisk
TestDisk is designed to repair drives that are no longer bootable and recover lost partitions. This tool is able to repair most file systems (FAT, NTFS, EXT). It runs under most versions of Linux, BSD, Windows and Mac operating systems.
Active UNERASER
Active UNERASER is a freeware software that you can use to recover deleted files as well as damaged folders located on Unix UFS/XFS, Apple HFS+, Linux Ext2/Ext3/Ext4/BtrFS, NTFS, FAT and exFAT fikle systems.
SoftPerfect File Recovery
SoftPerfect File Recovery is a free tool that you can use to rescue and restore data that was accidentally deleted from USB flash disks, floppy disks, SD cards, hard disks and other storage media.
Undelete 360
This is one of the best programs to use when recovering accidentally deleted files. Undelete 360 is built on a fast and efficient algorithm that will allow you to browse, search, and recover files.
PhotoRec
This is one of the best data recovery tools. This free to use software is widely applauded for its powerful recovery abilities. Use PhotoRec to recover data like videos, pictures and documents from a wide range of devices ranging from digital cameras to hard disks.
Restoration
This is an easy to use and straight forward tool for undeleting files that were directly deleted from Windows or removed from the recycle bin. Restoration does not require installation and works with NTFS and FAT as well as digital cameras cards.
Hard Drive Photo via Shutterstock
This article, “20 Free Data Recovery Solutions for Small Businesses” was first published on Small Business Trends