02-04-2011, 02:41 AM

There are several programs available that will recover lost files on your Macintosh:

Data Rescue ($99)
Mac Data Recovery, Hard Disk Data Recovery Software, Windows Data Recovery - Prosofteng.com
(I recommend this one)

Stellar Phoenix Macintosh ($99)
Mac Recovery Software- Recover Mac Drive- Apple Mac Data Recovery- Data Recovery Mac

FileSalvage*($80)
SubRosaSoft.com - Data Recovery for Mac OS X

VirtualLab*($100/$150/$250)
https://www.binarybiz.com/vlab/mac.html

Boomerang ($200)
Boomerang Data Recovery Software - MacOS X Version
Boomerang Data Recovery Software for Windows and Mac OS X

Remo Recover ($69)
Photo Recovery Mac & Digital Media Recovery Software for Mac OS X - Recover Photos, Picture, Images

If you want something that is free, there is this UNIX command line program, if you are handy with OS X's Terminal:

testdisk*
TestDisk - CGSecurity

___________________________________________

Randy B. Singer
Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)

Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance
OS X Maintenance And Troubleshooting
___________________________________________

02-04-2011, 05:37 AM

Great info.

02-09-2011, 07:01 PM

so, textdisk blew My Mind, sounds like exactly what i need but it's way over My head.....

02-09-2011, 08:33 PM

I should add that all of the data recovery experts that I have ever spoken to strongly recommend against using any of these data recovery programs. They suggest that they might make it impossible for them to recover your data if you end up needing to take your hard drive to a recovery service.

I'm also told that these programs vary very greatly in quality. I won't pass on any potentially libelous statements about any of these products, but I can tell you that ProSoft's Data Rescue is very highly regarded by just about everyone who has reviewed/tried it. e.g.
Data Rescue 3 Product Information | Macworld
Prosoft Data Rescue 3 | Mac|Life
Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Data Rescue 3

03-08-2011, 08:50 PM

Great info indeed.
Of coarse the best option is prevention, by means of being vigilant in keeping backups.
Backups, Backups, Backups.

03-08-2011, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by 6string

Great info indeed.
Of coarse the best option is prevention, by means of being vigilant in keeping backups.
Backups, Backups, Backups.

Might not be a bad idea to merge these posts right into that very same thread.

03-08-2011, 10:48 PM

I should add that all of the data recovery experts that I have ever spoken to strongly recommend against using any of these data recovery programs. They suggest that they might make it impossible for them to recover your data if you end up needing to take your hard drive to a recovery service.

I'm curious as to why it would matter? Most folks are naturally going to try recovering data themselves first before sending a drive to an expensive data recovery service. Of course if you're running a business and your critical data was just lost and by losing it you're also losing money, then a data recovery service makes sense.

BTW, the open source recovery program looks interesting. I might give it a try on some test data with an old disk I have.

03-08-2011, 11:17 PM

I just read about a new one called Disk Drill. TÚAW has a review of it and it looks intriguing.
Disk Drill protects your Mac disks, recovers files

03-09-2011, 03:07 AM

Originally Posted by chscag

I'm curious as to why it would matter? Most folks are naturally going to try recovering data themselves first before sending a drive to an expensive data recovery service.

I don't know. I could ask someone, if you like.

I can only guess that using one of these programs increases the likelihood of overwriting the lost data. The folks at DriveSavers (who, admittedly, I don't get along with terribly well these days) are even very negative about using something like Disk Warrior on a drive which might require data recovery services.

___________________________________________

Randy B. Singer
Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)

Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance
OS X Maintenance And Troubleshooting
___________________________________________

03-09-2011, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by Randy B. Singer

I can only guess that using one of these programs increases the likelihood of overwriting the lost data. The folks at DriveSavers (who, admittedly, I don't get along with terribly well these days) are even very negative about using something like Disk Warrior on a drive which might require data recovery services.

Their negativity could also be rooted in fear of losing a client if Disk Warrior gets the job done.

03-09-2011, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by lifeisabeach

Their negativity could also be rooted in fear of losing a client if Disk Warrior gets the job done.

I tend to agree. I'm not familiar with how most data recovery software operates, but I know one of things they try to avoid is overwriting user data. As a matter of fact the standard warning issued by most data recovery software publishers is to cease using the drive for fear of doing just that.