TestDisk and PhotoRec logo

TestDisk and PhotoRec

By CG Security Free Editors' Rating

Editors' Review

Download.com Staff Aug 29, 2012

TestDisk and PhotoRec from CG Security are freeware utilities bundled together in one portable download. TestDisk is a simple but powerful tool for analyzing and recovering disk partitions, including some unusual selections such as Xbox and Mac partitions. PhotoRec is designed to recover lost files from your digital camera's memory or any similar memory device. It can handle most memory types, including USB, CompactFlash, MMC, and SmartMedia as well as optical disks and your hard drives. Though PhotoRec and TestDisk are bundled, they're separate utilities with separate executables.

PhotoRec is designed to be totally safe to use, and it doesn't write to the drive or memory directory you're trying to recover files from but rather saves recovered files to the directory it's stored in. Since PhotoRec is portable, that destination will be wherever you saved PhotoRec's program files. PhotoRec's user interface isn't a GUI so much as a modified Command Prompt that only allows keyboard control, but don't be put off by the stripped-down look. PhotoRec is easy to navigate. It walked us through every step: selecting a drive and partition, selecting Options, initiating a Search, or starting a recovery operation. We selected a thumbdrive, then the partition, and then clicked Search. PhotoRec automatically searches for lost files. The program usually highlights the best option, and users simply need to press Enter. PhotoRec definitely requires a little more knowledge and skill than many tools that do similar jobs. But it found a lost file, and quickly, too.

TestDisk is very much like PhotoRec in appearance and operation, but it requires more care to use successfully, and more knowledge, too (some experience is also recommended). This tool can analyze your disks and partitions to extract information about their geometry, formatting, and file structure. It saves the data as a text file that serves as a reference when you need to recover the partition. It can do more, such as make a nonbooting disk bootable. But be careful! TestDisk is a capable utility -- capable of wiping all data from a partition, if you let it. Just follow TestDisk's onscreen instructions and you won't go wrong.

Full Specifications

What's new in version 6.14

Version 6.14 fixed crc in EFI backup GPT and improved display the partition table type if auto detected.

General

Release April 16, 2012
Date Added April 16, 2012
Version 6.14

Operating Systems

Operating Systems Windows, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Additional Requirements None

Popularity

Total Downloads 261,468
Downloads Last Week 33
Report Software

Related Software

Total Commander logo

Total Commander

Free to try
Total Commander
ReNamer logo

ReNamer

Free
ReNamer
i-FunBox logo

i-FunBox

Free
i-FunBox
ExamDiff logo

ExamDiff

Free
ExamDiff

User Reviews

4.5/5
84 User Votes
5 Star
4 Star
3 Star
2 Star
1 Star

Developer's Description

TestDisk is a powerful data recovery utility. It was primarily designed to help recover lost partitions and/or make non-booting disks bootable again when these symptoms are caused by faulty software, certain types of viruses or human error (such as accidentally erasing your Partition Table). PhotoRec is file data recovery software designed to recover lost pictures or lost files from digital camera memory (CompactFlash, Memory Stick, SecureDigital, SmartMedia, Microdrive, MMC, USB Memory Drives), even Hard Disks and CDRom. PhotoRec is safe to use, it will never attempt to write to the drive or memory support you are about to recover from. Recovered files are instead written in the directory from where you are running the PhotoRec program.

Promo image for CNET Shopping

Get the best price on everything

Shop your favorite products and we’ll find the best deal with a single click. Designed to make shopping easier.