File Recovery Software FAQ

If the number of questions we get about file recovery are any gauge of an article's popularity then our free file recovery software list must be one of the more popular pieces on our site.

In other words, the complicated and often misunderstood topic of recovering deleted files rightly generates a lot of confusion.

If you haven't yet, be sure to read through our complete tutorial on this topic, How to Recover Deleted Files. It should clear up most of your questions along the way.

Beyond that, to both shrink our ever-growing inbox and to settle the minds of those that decide not to take the time to ask a question, here are answers to some of the more common questions we get regarding these "undelete" programs and file recovery in general.

• Can I Undelete a File if I Don't Already Have a File Recovery Tool?
• Will a Data Recovery Program Undelete Anything Ever Deleted?
• How Long is Too Long Before a File is Unrecoverable?
• Can I Recover Files From SD Cards, Flash Drives, Etc.?
• Do File Recovery Tools Support Network Drives?
• Should I Use a File Recovery Tool's Portable or Installable Option?
• Why Are Some Deleted Files Not 100% Recoverable?
• Can I Recover Files From a Dead Hard Drive?

If you've looked through everything above but still have questions or concerns about recovering or "undeleting" files, see our Get More Help page for information about contacting me on social networks or via email, posting on tech-related forums, and more.

We're always open to adding more Q&As here as well. Just ask!