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/v3-uk/download-review/1955131/iolo-search-recover-502
28 May 2008, Chris Wiles , V3
Review Rating:
Type: Function limited demo
Platform: Windows XP, Windows Vista
Manufacturer: Iolo
Size: 480Kb
Number of Downloads: 546
Price: $ 39.95
This is the software publisher's description.
Deleting something by mistake is an experience that happens to all computer users. The fact that data can be retrieved has to do with what happens when it is deleted. It is not removed from the computer’s hard drive, but instead the system labels the space on the drive as being available for writing over by a new file or the expansion of an existing one. If this hasn’t happened yet, the data can very likely be resurrected in pristine form. This holds true for other digital devices as well.
Search and Recover can rescue files, photos, e-mail messages, movies, music, or documents from hard drives, floppy disks, CDs/DVDs, music players, digital cameras, PDAs, memory cards, and more. E-mail messages can be retrieved even after the “trash” has been emptied, and in Microsoft Outlook, even calendars, tasks, notes, journals, and contacts can be rescued. Search and RecoverT can also resurrect data after the worst PC disasters, such as accidental formatting, reinstallation, or repartitioning.
Accidentally deleted photos, files, songs, email or videos, lost even years ago, can be safely recovered with a single click. Using the wrong recovery software can damage data, reducing your chances of success. Search and Recover's powerful technology rescues items other products will miss.
Note the download here is a stub which will then automatically download the latest version from the Iolo website.
Do you agree?
Iolo Search and Recover Limitations
I installed a copy of Iolo Search and Recover after the vnunet review, but never really had the opportunity to try it until Saturday.
I had bungled a registry cleanup, then deleted the registry backups accidentally while trying to delete the last backup (using Premium Booster). Immediately after, I ran Iolo.
Not only did I not find the just deleted backup .. I assumed that Premium Booster made it difficult ...but I recovered a lot of long-deleted bits and pieces, include viruses that I thought I had locked away or removed.
While it is not totally Iolo's fault, I had a nightmare situation with all kinds of old viruses floating around, and a lot of other system level software damaged beyond repair. I had to give up the repair, extract important document files and restore the hard disk using an old image backup. It took a whole weekend and some of the stuff was gone for good.
So Iolo turned out to be less effective and more dangerous than I expected.
Posted by PC, 05 Jan 2009