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Test results and conclusions

Tested software

The following unerase tools were tested:

  • Active@File Recovery for Windows 7.5.3,
  • Magic Uneraser 3.1,
  • ReclaiMe build 1103,
  • Recover Files 3.27,
  • Piriform Recuva v1.38.504.

Test results

With a small number of deleted files, all the test results were indentical. All the files were recovered, and the difference in speed was negligible.

Active File Recovery Magic Uneraser ReclaiMe Recover Files Recuva
Ease of use Complicated Easy Easy Easy Moderate
Speed1 Slow Fast Fast N/A2 Medium
Preview or Prediction No3 Preview Preview Prediction Preview
Raw recovery No Yes Yes No Yes, disabled by default
Price, USD 49.99 39.95 29.95 39.95 Free

Note 1

Speed was tested with two million deleted files.

Note 2

It is impossible to estimate speed or recovery quality because the tool displayed an error "out of memory" at 43% of the scan, so we do not recommend it when you need to unerase a large number of files.

Note 3

The preview button, which does exist, seems inactive (unavailable) at all times.

Conclusions

Typically, if you need to recover a few deleted files, all unerase tools get the same result - recover files with the same efficiency and speed. The choice of a recovery tool depends on: price, ease of use, and tool's interface. In case of deletion of a large number of files (starting with tens of thousands), unerase becomes similar to unformat. When choosing a recovery tool you should take into account what recovery capabilities a particular unerase program has. For example, Recover Files cannot handle two million of deleted files displaying an "out of memory" error. Recuva has a limit of about six million deleted files on NTFS and just hung during the scan requiring a hard reboot of the system.