CNET Editors' review
In our tests, this simple but effective file-recovery application worked well. Restoration doesn't have a traditional installation process; you simply click the EXE file, and the program pops up. The main window's austere design isn't likely to drive anyone wild, but since the application really only does one thing, it's a snap to understand and use. You simply specify the source drive for recovery and click the Search Deleted Files button. Restoration did a good job of resurrecting files, folders, and clusters in all of our tests, and we were impressed with both its scan and recovery speeds. On the downside, Restoration offers few extra features, though you can choose to permanently delete any items the program recovers. Still, since it delivers on its promise and is totally free, we think most home users could benefit from downloading this utility.
Publisher's Description
From Brian Kato:
Restore files which are deleted from the Recycle Bin or deleted while holding down the Shift key by mistake. Conversely, this program has another function that makes it almost impossible to restore all deleted files. You can use it after deleting confidential documents, embarrassing files, and so on.
You don't have to install it, so it doesn't leave any garbage in the PC. (You also can run it from a floppy disk.) Even if a file seems to be restored, there is no guarantee the contents are correct. After you run the program, please check the files. You can probably restore it correctly if the drive has enough free space and if it's just after deletion. If you restore a folder, there is no guarantee that all files or folders that used to belong to the folder will be in it. If you can't find them in it, please search and restore them one by one. If you still can't find them, it's impossible to restore them. It will be almost impossible to restore any deleted files if you run the complete deletion function. To be exact, fragments of deleted files can be in last clusters of existing files or allocated and unwritten files. (Note that this function is not suitable for top secret information.) Even if you find completely deleted files, their contents must be erased. If you want to erase the information too, please run the function again.
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All versions:
3.8 starsout of 48 votes
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Current version:
3.2 starsout of 9 votes
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My rating:
Write review
Results 1-9 of 9
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"user account"
Version: Restoration 3.2.13
Pros
right click restorations and click Run as administrator.
Cons
just searching now.
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"Also does FAT"
Version: Restoration 3.2.13
Pros
Not only restores. Also wipes.
Wipes ererything on a certain drive in 1 sigh.
Works on FAT as well as on NTFS (another program, DataRecovery, does well as well on NTFS but not so good on FAT)Cons
Little bit of strange interface (with the 'Others'-button for 'Delete Completely' and the completely different button for 'Restore by Copying').
As if delition/wipening was not wished for.
No HELP at all (details outfindable by TR&E)Summary
Mind you, in case of this program and others alike that Windows will probably run a CHKDSK after restart.
Don't worry about that. Let it run. If it says 'the computer will restart now' at the end, it probably won't. Just shut down the hard way then and after that everything should be fine With (hopefully and apparantly) Thoroughly Cleaned Drives. -
"Can't use it"
Version: Restoration 3.2.13
Pros
None, can't use it
Cons
Says I have to login as administrator even though I'm already. This is something the manufacturer needs to fix.
Summary
Can't get it to work due to programming flaw.
Still doesn't work when I choose run as administrator. Shuts down every time with unknown error.
Updated on Jul 28, 2010 -
"Logging In As Administrator"
Version: Restoration 3.2.13
Pros
Easy to use
No installationCons
There's no help menu (not that it's needed)
Can't be used unless by an administrator (going to elaborate a bit)Summary
For those that cannot use the product because it says you need to be an administrator, even when logged in as the administrator, just RIGHT CLICK THE PROGRAM AND CHOOSE "RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR". I had trouble with that myself and thought others might have the same problem, so typying that up was pretty much the only reason why i made this account.
The program works great and it recovered the mp3s I lost when I deleted my music folder :D (Just an FYI, Shift+Delete = instant deletion without going to the Recycling Bin >.>)
The one downside is that the filename of some items might be a little messed up -
"admistrator"
Version: Restoration 3.2.13
Pros
no pros doesnt work
Cons
i cant use this it says i need administrator log in... how do i use it?
Summary
how do i get around administrator log in?
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"good product"
Version: Restoration 3.2.13
Pros
Restore process is simple
Cons
Did not restore all the files.
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"A Life Saver. Amazing Program!!!"
Version: Restoration 3.2.13
Pros
Works 100%%%%
Restores files months old
Has search utility.
Works for all files.
Saved my lifeCons
I actually used the 2.5 version and there was nothing wrong with it, so version 3 must be even better.
Summary
When i deleted my 25 page paper from recycle bin i felt my heart drop. Seriously it was one of the scariest moments in my life. When i saw this on google i really didnt believe it, i thought it would be a virus or something but at the time i was willing to take the risk. When i downloaded it it showed the thousands of items i've deleted in the past months. And i used the search function to find mine. This saved my life.
Also very easy to use
Updated on Sep 6, 2009 -
"Perfectly restored some irreplaceable pictures."
Version: Restoration 3.2.13
Pros
It is easy to use and I am not extremely tech-savvy. For me, it was a miracle. I had accidentally deleted a large folder of pictures, including from my daughter's wedding. It quickly found them and restored them.
Cons
I didn't see a help file. It is pretty intuitive, but I wasn't sure what I was doing and a help file would have been, well, helpful.
Summary
I would highly recommend it. I used it immediately after realizing the pictures were gone and they were not in the recycle bin, so that probably helped. I have not tried it for files that were deleted earlier. Not a lot of bells and whistles which I wouldn't know how to use anyway. It will also restore files on a portable drive; I tried that just for kicks. Great little program
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"user account"
Version: Restoration 3.2.13
Pros
i can't use it
Cons
you have to log on an user account? i am the administrator.
Summary
the pro is a con.
Updated on Jul 17, 2009
Results 1-9 of 9
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