TestDisk

TestDisk is powerful free data recovery software! 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 deleting a Partition Table). Partition table recovery using TestDisk is really easy.

TestDisk is a powerful open-source data recovery software designed to recover lost partitions and repair disk structures. It's primarily focused on recovering lost files from various storage media, including hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, and more. Developed by Christophe Grenier, TestDisk for PC is renowned for its effectiveness in restoring lost data caused by accidental deletion, formatting errors, partition table corruption, and other disk-related issues.

Highlights

• Fix partition table, recover deleted partition
• Recover FAT32 boot sector from its backup
• Rebuild FAT12/FAT16/FAT32 boot sector
• Fix FAT tables
• Rebuild NTFS boot sector
• Recover NTFS boot sector from its backup
• Fix MFT using MFT mirror
• Locate ext2/ext3/ext4 Backup SuperBlock
• Undelete files from FAT, exFAT, NTFS, and ext2 filesystem
• Copy files from deleted FAT, exFAT, NTFS and ext2/ext3/ext4 partitions

It has features for both novices and experts. For those who know little or nothing about data recovery techniques, It can be used to collect detailed information about a non-booting drive which can then be sent to a tech for further analysis. Those more familiar with such procedures should find the Test Disk app a handy tool in performing onsite recovery.

TestDisk can find lost partitions for all of these file systems:

• BeFS ( BeOS )
• BSD disklabel ( FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD )
• CramFS, Compressed File System
• DOS/Windows FAT12, FAT16 and FAT32
• Xbox FATX
• Windows exFAT
• HFS, HFS+ and HFSX, Hierarchical File System
• JFS, IBM's Journaled File System
• Linux btrfs
• Linux ext2, ext3, and ext4
• Linux GFS2
• Linux LUKS encrypted partition
• Linux RAID md 0.9/1.0/1.1/1.2
• RAID 1: mirroring
• RAID 4: striped array with parity device
• RAID 5: striped array with distributed parity information
• RAID 6: striped array with distributed dual redundancy information
• Linux Swap (versions 1 and 2)
• LVM and LVM2, Linux Logical Volume Manager
• Mac partition map
• Novell Storage Services NSS
• NTFS ( Windows NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008/7 )
• ReiserFS 3.5, 3.6 and 4
• Sun Solaris i386 disklabel
• Unix File System UFS and UFS2 (Sun/BSD/...)
• XFS, SGI's Journaled File System
• Wii WBFS
• Sun ZFS

Main Features

• Partition Recovery: It can detect and recover lost partitions on a wide range of storage devices.
• Filesystem Support: It supports various filesystems, including FAT, NTFS, exFAT, ext2/3/4, HFS+, and many others.
• Fixing Partition Table: It's capable of fixing partition tables, including the master boot record (MBR) and GUID Partition Table (GPT).
• Data Undeletion: It can undelete files from FAT, exFAT, NTFS, and ext2 filesystems.
• Cross-Platform: It's available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and other Unix-like operating systems.
• Command Line Interface: Offers a powerful command-line interface for advanced users.
• Photorec: Bundled with Photorec, a companion tool for file recovery based on file signatures.

User Interface

It primarily operates through a command-line interface (CLI), which might seem daunting to novice users. However, it compensates with comprehensive documentation and step-by-step guides on its website. While lacking in graphical elements, its CLI interface is efficient and straightforward for experienced users.

Installation and Setup

Installation of this program varies slightly depending on the operating system. For Windows users, it's a matter of downloading the executable file and following the installation wizard. Linux users can install it via package managers like apt or yum. macOS users can either compile from source or use package managers like Homebrew.

How to Use

• Launch: Run the executable file or launch it from the terminal.
• Select Media: Choose the affected drive where the lost data resides.
• Choose Partition Table Type: Depending on your disk, select the appropriate partition table type (Intel, EFI GPT, etc.).
• Analyze: Let the app analyze the disk for lost partitions.
• Select Partition: Choose the partition you want to recover or repair.
• Proceed with Recovery: Follow on-screen prompts to recover lost data or repair the partition table.

FAQ

Is TestDisk for PC safe to use?
Yes, the app is safe to use as it operates in read-only mode by default, ensuring it doesn't modify the original data unless instructed by the user.

Can TestDisk recover data from a formatted drive?
Yes, it can recover data from formatted drives, provided the data hasn't been overwritten.

Does TestDisk work on SSDs?
Yes, it supports SSDs along with traditional hard drives and other storage media.

Can TestDisk recover data from RAID arrays?
Yes, it has limited support for RAID recovery, but it's advisable to consult its documentation for specific instructions.

Is TestDisk free to use?
Yes, the program is entirely FREE and open-source software.

Alternatives

PhotoRec: Developed by the same author, Photorec is focused solely on file recovery and lacks TestDisk's partition recovery features.

Recoverit: A popular alternative for Windows users, offering a user-friendly interface and robust file recovery capabilities.

R-Studio: A comprehensive data recovery software with advanced features suitable for both novice and expert users.

Disk Drill: Known for its intuitive interface and extensive file recovery options, Disk Drill is available for both Windows and macOS.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: Offers a wizard-based approach to data recovery, making it accessible to users of all skill levels.

Pricing

The tool is completely FREE to download and use, as it's released under the GNU General Public License (GPL).

System Requirements

• Operating System: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10/11, macOS, Linux, Unix-like systems
• Processor: Intel-compatible x86 or x64 CPU
• RAM: 512MB or higher
• Storage: Minimal disk space required for installation

PROS

• Free and open-source.
• Cross-platform compatibility.
• Powerful partition recovery capabilities.
• Works with a wide range of filesystems.
• Command-line interface allows for advanced control.

CONS

• Lack of graphical user interface might be intimidating for some users.
• Steeper learning curve compared to some commercial alternatives.
• Limited documentation compared to commercial software.