PhotoRec Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

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[[1](#1)] What is PhotoRec?

Do you remember those photos taken with your friends? They are indeed priceless! Hence, the loss of such precious memories can be frustrating, as everyone wishes to keep them forever.

We recommend using PhotoRec, which is a specialized data recovery tool designed to recover lost files, such as videos and images, from hard drives. It is a free and open-source software with a simple yet powerful text-based interface that simplifies the process of data recovery.

It includes TestDisk, which can recover bootable disks and lost partitions, but PhotoRec scores high for its compatibility with different operating systems. The tool runs on several, so most people who own a computer should be able to use it.

This is the detailed list of operating systems on which you can run PhotoRec:

• macOS
• Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP, Windows Server 2016/2012/2008/2003
• FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD
• DOS/Windows 9x
• Linux
• Sun Solaris

Pros and Cons of PhotoRec

Advantages:

• Works with various storage devices.
• Recovers various file types, such as office documents, ZIP files, graphics, and HTML files.
• Completely free to use.

Disadvantages:

Poor customer support. Outdated graphical interface with a basic command-line aesthetic.

However, in today's PhotoRec review and TestDisk vs. PhotoRec article, we'll provide you with all the details about these data recovery tools and their best alternatives. Let's get started!

What is PhotoRec used for?

PhotoRec is a reliable file recovery tool that lets users restore various multimedia files, documents, and archives from different storage media, such as USB drives, memory cards, and hard disk drives. Key features of PhotoRec include:

Price:

PhotoRec is free to use. Unlike other recovery platforms in the market that force you to purchase their pro versions, PhotoRec is deemed an open-source data retrieval tool.

Compatibility:

PhotoRec is not exclusive to Windows; it supports several operating systems. It runs on platforms like Mac OS, Windows, and Linux.

Supported file systems:

The list of file systems it supports is impressive, including exFAT, FAT, NTFS, ext2/ext3/ext4, and HFS+.

Performance:

In terms of performance, PhotoRec offers two main recovery methods, namely Expert and Obsessive modes.

[[3]] Download the PhotoRec software for free.

PhotoRec doesn't have the fancy graphical interface that other data recovery tools have. Instead, it uses text as its primary means of interacting with the user. While this might seem daunting at first, it's not difficult to install, and once it's done, PhotoRec can be your go-to data recovery tool. To download the latest version of PhotoRec, you can:

Download PhotoRec 7.1 for Windows:

• A free and fast downloader
• Virus-free, verified
• Always available

Click here to download PhotoRec for Windows or Mac.

How to Use PhotoRec to Recover Lost Data

Wondering how to use PhotoRec after installing it? Don't worry – we'll walk you through it! Follow these steps to learn how to recover your data with PhotoRec:

Step 1: Download, install, and launch the software on your Windows/Mac computer. Run the program with administrator privileges.

Select Media

Step 2. In this second step, use the up and down arrow keys to select the disk you want to work with closely, and press Enter.

Please make sure you select the correct disk.

Step 3: You will be presented with 4 different options, such as “File Optimization,” “Search,” “Options,” and “Exit.” Now, select “Search” to proceed with the data retrieval.

Step 4. In Stage 4, you need to select the computer hard drive partition from where you want to scan for deleted files. Provide the file system information next. If the file system is not ext2, ext3, or ext4, choose Other.

Step 5. Having selected the partition you want to work with, you have two options available: "Free" and "Whole." Choose "Free" if you want to recover deleted files. Otherwise, select "Whole" in case there are problems with the file system.

Step 6.  At this point, select the folder or directory where the file was located before it was deleted. Use the up and down arrow keys to browse to the desired folder.

Step 7. After selecting the folder, the recovery process will begin. You will need to wait for some time for this process to complete.

The data recovery process has begun.

Which is better, TestDisk or PhotoRec?

When looking for free file-recovery tools, your search will likely lead you to TestDisk and PhotoRec. Despite relying on a command-line interface instead of a graphical user interface driven by a mouse, this open-source file-recovery platform has been popular since 2008 due to its ease of use and flexibility.

Hence, PhotoRec and TestDisk offer the best cloud backup services. However, let's draw a detailed comparison between TestDisk and PhotoRec.

Main Recovery Features:

PhotoRec and TestDisk recover data in two main categories: filesystems, partitions, and photos.

While not designed to bypass partitions, PhotoRec can help you find and recover various file types, such as regular image files (PNG, JPG, etc.), OpenOffice formats, TXT files, Microsoft Office documents, and PDFs. PhotoRec recognizes over 440 different file types, which means it can recover them as long as the data is still there.

On the other hand, TestDisk can help you locate various lost file systems, such as NTFS, ext1, ext2, FAT3, exFAT, JFS, HFS, and more. Thus, TestDisk can recover deleted files from these specific file systems.

Multi-language support:

There are no issues with the file recovery that cannot be resolved. If you have any problems using PhotoRec or TestDisk, you can visit their support forum. Users can get assistance in several languages, including German, French, and English, for all three utilities.

While there are some downsides – for example, a question answered in one language sub-forum may not be visible to those who could benefit from it in another, say German or English – the advantages are considerable.

On the downside, one major drawback of TestDisk is that Microsoft Defender SmartScreen highlights that the app is not recognized. This is unfortunate for a data recovery tool that has been around in the tech market for so many years.

Top 5 Alternatives to PhotoRec

Are you looking for the best alternatives to PhotoRec? We recommend the following 5 tools, and you can choose based on your preferences. However, the features and pros and cons of these mentioned tools are factors for comparison.

1. TestDisk

Name of the data recovery tool: TestDisk

Features: Rapidly recovers data from exFAT, ext2, ext3, HFS, FAT32, and other file systems; supports multiple operating systems such as Linux, macOS, and Windows; and is multilingual.

Pros: It's open source and free; TestDisk can recover many partition types and file systems; it supports multiple operating systems.

Cons: Awful user interface.

Final Verdict: If you want to recover various files from storage devices like SSDs, HDDs, flash drives, and SD cards, TestDisk is a recommendable option. It's a free and secure tool that provides you with a comprehensive analysis of your storage device.

2. Recuva

The name of the data recovery tool: Recuva

Features: Easily recover your Word documents; easily retrieve important e-mails; supports multiple language versions.

Pros: Recuva performs well in both deep and regular scans, allowing you to search your hard drive and motherboard; the ability to retrieve files from NTFS, ex-FAT, and FAT drives makes this tool even easier to use.

Drawback: If Windows has overwritten the MFT space of the deleted file, you won't be able to recover it.

Final Verdict: Recuva can recover lost or deleted files from your hard drive. As a free tool, it's worth a try if you don't have any other data recovery methods at hand. However, the tool is less efficient compared to others on the market.

3. Data Recovery Wizard Tool

Name of the data recovery tool: Data Recovery Wizard Tools

Features: Flexible scanning modes; Recovery of files deleted accidentally; OS crash recovery; Virus attack recovery; Lost partition recovery.

Pros: Searches unlimited data; Offers top-notch file recovery quality; Perfect preview quality and interface; Ultra-fast data scanning capability.

Cons: Rather expensive; no option to scan specific folders.

Final Verdict: Although the software is quite expensive, you can still opt to purchase this data recovery tool because of its seamless feature performance. It is highly recommended for those looking for the best data recovery software. In case your system fails to boot, you can buy just the bootable media.

4. Disk Drill

Name of the data recovery tool: Disk Drill

Features: Proprietary ADVANCED technology; Recovers data from various file types and storage devices; Scans partitions, damaged files, and raw disk data for recovery and backup.

Pros: Automatic scanning; Fast and deep scanning algorithms; Seamless compatibility with various file systems, such as NTFS, FAT32, and ext2/ext3/ext4.

Cons: Not available for smartphones; limited customer support.

Final Verdict: Disk Drill is indeed a top-notch professional and personal data recovery tool. But if you need a good data protection solution, frequently experience data loss, and use a lot of vulnerable storage devices, then it's for you.

5. R-Studio

Name of the data recovery tool: R-Studio

Features include: full support for Linux mdadm arrays, Linux LVM/LVM2, Apple CoreStorage/FileVault/Fusion Drive volumes, and Apple software RAID; a standard “Windows Explorer”-style interface; intelligent indentation; and the ability to run R code directly from the source editor.

Pros: Competitive pricing for what you get; includes disk management, RAID recovery, and SMART monitoring, among other niceties.

The downside: Its pricing structure for Windows is a bit complicated.

Bottom line: R-Studio is your all-in-one data recovery solution. It gives you full control over the data retrieval process and provides you with the tools needed for advanced recovery in complex situations. All in all, R-Studio has everything you need to recover your files. Initially, using and navigating it can be a bit overwhelming. Once you get the hang of the app, scanning and data recovery become much easier.

Conclusions

In our PhotoRec review, we found that PhotoRec can recover images and important files from your computer for free. It's reliable and easy to use. However, if you want to retrieve photos from your computer and don't mind using an excellent text-based user interface, then we recommend giving PhotoRec a try.

[[8]] PhotoRec FAQ

We hope you now have a detailed understanding of PhotoRec and its main alternatives. For a more in-depth look at how to use it, consider checking out the following FAQ:

1. Is PhotoRec safe?

A: PhotoRec is safe. Download it from the developer's website to ensure that you're only installing the app and nothing else.

2. Is PhotoRec for Mac safe?

A: PhotoRec for Mac is safe because the files it recovers are written to the directory where you run the PhotoRec program. This ensures that you never overwrite any files on your external drive, flash drive, memory stick, or USB device.

3. Is PhotoRec better than Recuva?

A: While organizing the article, we found that PhotoRec is a better data recovery tool than Recuva, as it can recover a similar amount of deleted files multiple times.