According to Varonis, the average estimated cost of lost or stolen file per individual is $141.
And the average cost to retrieve lost file can vary extensively based on the reason for data loss. Sometimes, you may need the help of a data recovery expert, which can cost an average $100 per hour in the United States.
But before getting help from data recovery expert, you can try using a free DIY data recovery software in case you had lost the data due to common reasons such as accidental deletion, formatting, drive corruption, system crash, etc.
The chances are that you may recover all your files with the help of a free data recovery software—if leveraged promptly.
A free data recovery software such as Stellar Data Recovery, Recuva, and more can help you get back your lost or deleted files from a Windows PC and save several hundred bucks that you would otherwise need to spend to get back the lost files.
The following are 5 prominent reasons as to why you should try a free data recovery software in the event of data loss from a Windows PC and supported storage media.
5 Reasons to Try a Free Data Recovery Software
CAUTION: Always download a free data recovery software from the official website. Never install a data recovery software on the affected PC or storage media. While installing the software, choose an external media or a different volume as installation directory to avoid data overwriting or permanent data loss.
Now that you have been cautioned, here are 5 reasons to try a free data recovery software,
Reason 1: It’s Free
The foremost reason to try a free data recovery software is that it’s FREE! There are a few options available such as Recuva, Stellar Data Recovery, and more. While Recuva can help you get back deleted files, you can use a powerful data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery to retrieve files lost due to formatting and drive corruption.
Reason 2: Reliable and Safe
While there’s no guarantee that a free data recovery software can get back all your files, it is yet the safest bet. It may or may not recover your files but will surely help you analyze your storage media or Windows PC for the possibility of data recovery.
In case a free data recovery software fails, it is may be due to the limited features and options they offer. In such cases, you can free download the premium versions of the software to scan your PC or storage media.
If you can preview your files after the scan, you can surely recover and save them after software activation.
Reason 3: Works with All Kinds of Storage Media
You can leverage a free data recovery software to get back files from any Windows-based storage media such as Hard Drives, Solid-State Drives, Thumb Drives, SD cards, eMMC storage, etc. A free data recovery software supports all Windows file systems, i.e. NTFS, exFAT, and FAT(FAT16/FAT32).
Reason 4: More Than Deleted File Recovery
Generally, a free data recovery software is equipped with all basic options and features required for data recovery. Thus, they can help you get back not only the deleted files but also data from formatted drives, missing partitions, and corrupt internal or external drive volumes.
Reason 5: Recovers Common File Types
A free data recovery software such as Recuva can get back up to 50 different file types whereas Stellar data Recovery supports more than 300 different photos, videos, documents, audio, application and text file types.
In case you need to recover a custom file type or unsupported file formats, upgrade the software to the Professional version and recover virtually any file type from any Windows-based drive.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Avoid using a free data recovery software in case of business-critical data. Instead, get in touch with a data recovery expert for assistance.
Conclusion
A free data recovery software can help you get back a few common file types lost and deleted from a Windows PC or supported storage media. However, you should be careful with the source. Always download free data recovery software from the official website.
Recuva and Stellar Data Recovery are a few reliable and free data recovery software that you can use for data loss situations.
However, if a free data recovery software is not able to get back the desired files, you can free download and try the premium version of the software to scan affected system or storage media and recover virtually any file format.
And to avoid data loss situation in the first place, keep a regular backup of your important files. You can use cloud storage, external storage media, or both to store a copy of your files.