CNET Editors' review
Disk Drill for Mac is an easy-to-use data-recovery tool with a limited free version and more-robust (and more expensive) Pro, Expert, and Enterprise packages. The free Disk Drill Basic can help you protect your computer from future data loss (whether accidental trashing or as the result of more serious hardware problems), while you'll need to pay for at least Disk Drill Pro if you've already lost data that you need to recover.
What sets Disk Drill apart is its slimmed-down interface and almost painfully user-friendly documentation. If you're looking for a data recovery app with a good feature set and some reassuring hand-holding, Disk Drill is a solid choice--and you can't go wrong installing the free version to take advantage of Disk Drill's "Recovery Vault" feature, which can make recovery much faster and more reliable, by tracking a "smart history" of your files (including file names, locations, and activity). When you're recovering a file, Disk Drill's workflow is dead simple: you switch over to "Recover data mode" (from "Prevent data loss" mode), then with a couple of clicks you can choose the drive and then type of scan you want to run, which vary in terms of speed and thoroughness. As with similar apps, Disk Drill also offers S.M.A.R.T. monitoring, backup to disk images, and both quick and deep scan options. Disk Drill can help you recover data on HFS/HFS+, FAT, and NTFS drives, as well as flash drives and memory cards (although Recovery Vault only helps with HFS/HFS+ and FAT).
If you haven't already experienced data loss, you will--and in the meantime, Disk Drill Basic is a great, free way to help ward off the inevitable. If you've already lost data, one of the paid Disk Drill apps can be a good option for getting it back, especially for less technically inclined users.
Publisher's Description
From CleverFiles:
Disk Drill is a free Mac data recovery software designed for Mac OS: easily protect your files from accidental deletion with Recovery Vault and recover lost data from Mac disks. When something is deleted Recovery Vault makes it possible to recover not only the file itself, but also its properties, such as original file name, location, etc. So you will always be able to recover data from Mac files system (HFS/HFS+) & FAT32 partitions. Disk Drill also includes powerful S.M.A.R.T. disk monitoring: you can monitor your disks' hardware status and get automatic notifications of potential failures or other issues. If a disk or partition is failing, you can easily backup it into a disk image (DMG) and mount it later for data recovery. This way there's no need to keep a failing media running until the completion of a Deep Scan for instance.
Disk Drill PRO also features a number of advanced scanning modes for data recovery of FAT, NTFS, HFS/HFS+, other file systems and formatted (initialized) drives. Using Quick Scan you can locate deleted items on FAT and NTFS disks, this scanning method is fast and accurate, but is unlikely to find data deleted long ago. With Deep Scan you can try to recover data from any disk or memory card regardless of their file system. This recovery method is long and thorough, it scans your disk in a binary mode and is capable of finding deleted files even after formatting.
Disk Drill is a professional but extremely simple Mac data recovery software that helps you rescue data on your Mac disks, external or internal hard drives, memory cards, cameras, iPods Classic, etc. So if your hard drive was damaged, or you accidentally deleted your favorite photos, music, videos and other data, no worries about data loss. Disk Drill will recover deleted files on your Mac!
If you don't want someone to undelete what you removed but it's still protected by Recovery Vault, you can specify a Master Password to protect your configuration of Disk Drill, Mac data recovery software by CleverFiles. Additionally, Disk Drill Mac Recovery features convenient scan sessions management, so you can scan a 2TB disk recovery, pause it, save a scanning session and continue it in a couple of days or even weeks (presuming you don't use the target drive to prevent data from being overwritten).
What's new in this version:
- new: support for data recovery on external Thunderbolt hard disk drives
- new: Disk Drill knows some new file types for deep scan recovery (.xib for Mac OS X Interface Builder, .h and .m Xcode 3 and 4 related files, .ESS for The Elder Scrolls IV and V saved game files, .LXO, .PRPROJ, .VWX, .OLK14MSGSOURCE - Outlook for Mac Email Message Data File)
- new: updated Growl notifications, full support of new Growl's features
- improved: lost partition searching
- i... See all new features
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All versions:
3.8 starsout of 57 votes
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Current version:
3.9 starsout of 7 votes
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My rating:
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Results 1-7 of 7
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"Works well. Recommended."
Version: Disk Drill 1.7.183
Pros
Easy to use in all modes of search, you just have to be patient when using the Deep Scan - well worth the wait. Took a couple of minutes to recover a 2 GB deleted folder. Recovered everything!
Cons
The situation when you need to use it.
Summary
Everyone makes mistakes. Disk Drill can help you out of a pinch.
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"This is such a life saver!"
Version: Disk Drill 1.7.183
Pros
Deep scan - it recovered even more data that I'd hoped it would be able to! No brain surgery required - very easy to use.
I am happyCons
None that I could identify
Summary
I had some issues with my digital camera that resulted in the deletion of my pictures. Disk Drill recovered not only those photos but ones from several month ago as well. I highly recommend it !!!
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"Appalling Recovery"
Version: Disk Drill 1.7.183
Pros
Easy to use
Cons
Did not recover ANY Logic projects, or most of my Itunes library using deep scan.
Summary
Complete waste of money!
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"SAVED MY LIFE!"
Version: Disk Drill 1.7.183
Pros
Simple to use! Just plug in external media, any external media, and start up Disk Drill! A few clicks in guided menus, and it started doing it's thing.
It can find stuff from waaaaaay back!Cons
The only time I was confused, or had issues is - after it does it's scan, it presents you with all the "info" it's gathered, and you select what you want to recover. I was a bit confused, because the scan showed me a few partitions it found. I was a little lost as to which partition I was supposed to try and recover.
Also, there are generic filenames, like: Filename000001.JPG...a thumbnail view would be nice, since all the filenames are automatically assigned.Summary
I have an external backup drive with 35 years of photos. Photos from childhood to photos from when the digital age started. While working on my computer, I had a hard drive issue that made me have to load everything from backup. When I checked the drive, I saw that I had accidentally erased the drive, sometime previously.
Disk Drill helped me recover everything...and more actually. More files under the layer of the files I was looking for!
I never heard of, or used this software until I had my emergency, and I was able to recover everything. So, it's pretty simple to use. If I can use it successfully, anyone can!
I LOVE this program now, it literally saved my life! (or, at least recovered it!)
Thanks to all the staff at Disk Drill! -
"Must-have App for Every Mac User"
Version: Disk Drill 1.7.183
Pros
I haven't actually realized how really helpful it could be to purchase MacLegion Bundle with Disk Drill as a part of it until I lost almost all my Logic projects. I have spent 10 hours recovering my files with Disk Drill PRO and as a result all of my work is resurrected!
Much respect to developers for that bundle offer and great performance that Disk Drill has shown.Cons
The only complaint I'm having is that there is no iPod Touch support as far as I could understand...
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"THE BEST DATA RECOVERY SOFTWARE FOR MAC OS X ON THE NET"
Version: Disk Drill 1.7.183
Pros
Customer support
Cons
High price
Summary
Well done! I like your software, a also like your givaways, this one was discovered on youtube -"DD-YTUBE-DISCNT", You can save 15% on PRO, or just use free edition to protect your data. Thanks
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"Disk Drill did not recover missing files."
Version: Disk Drill 1.7.183
Pros
Easy to use.
Cons
I had accidentally ejected my USB drive from my Mac laptop while in use. Several folders vanished, each containing many files. The free DiskDrill download found nothing until I performed a deep scan. Then it appeared that many files had been revealed. The preview function was ghosted, so I could see them. The only way to actually recover the files was to pay $89 for the pro version. I did, the followed the directions, copying the "recovered' files to a new location. However, those files were the very same as the ones that remained on my USB and were not, in fact, missing. I contacted the company and received a couple email replies asking for information. I supplied that info, and continued to ask for a rebate, but received none. So I am now out $89 and have lots of work to do to rewrite those files.
Summary
Promised much be delivered nothing.
Results 1-7 of 7
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