User Reviews
Restoration
Restoration is an easy to use and straight forward tool to undelete files that were removed from the recycle bin or directly deleted from within Windows, and we were also able to recover photos from ...
Average of 57 user ratings:
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- Nov 14, 2009
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Excellent freeware 
For a freeware product this is very, very good. My 2 year old son managed to get his hands on our digital camera a delete ALL our recent holiday and family birthday snaps... Within 5 minutes of downloading Restoration we had everything recovered and back-up up onto our home PC. The interface is functional - though with this level of functionality does it need to be anything more? Delighted!
Review by: GlasgowStuart
First post
- Sep 30, 2009
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Oh my god! It worked! 
It saved my document! It worked! After checking the recycle bin, trying to find the document in the temp directory, trying to auto-recover using Word and using many other methods that failed, this brilliant program scratched the previous document (because Word messed up the last version and then deleted it) off the spinning spindle of my hard disk... I can't believe it's free. The author of this program is an angel, a messiah. I would vote him for president... Thank you Thank you Thank you You lifted me up from the pits of despair, weeping, sobbing and cursing myself for not printing hard copies every 20 seconds... For a more serious review: the interface was smooth and simple, it explained itself as you went along, giving you all sorts of options to filter your search and sort the results. It worked fast and well. Did I mention thank you?
Review by: tazoz77
First post
- Aug 18, 2009
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Best of the best 
Downloaded a movie around 900 meg. Accidentally deleted it before burning it. Getting ready to slash the wrists when I stumbled on Restoration. This would have to be the best tool on the internet. Within 20 seconds I had it back.
Review by: topaz18046
First post
- Sep 22, 2008
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Great but not the best 
I feel this is excellent at restoring but didn't do any more than others I've used and actually is quite a bit slower. It's still better than some others though so really, it's an in between recovery app to me. Still would recommend it though and can't beat the price.
Review by: gimpguy (370)
Read all 370 reviews by gimpguy
- Jun 08, 2008
- For version:
- 2.5.14
This little thing is great 
I can't tell you how many times it saved my butt, it got files off of my hard drive, and my flash drive and even my camera. It's scary as I had a ten year old computer and I got files off the computer from 1998 intact. Shows how much isn't deleted. It is so small it runs on a floppy Great!! Try this first.
Review by: EricPost (7)
Read all 7 reviews by EricPost
- May 09, 2008
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Keep this ready for when you need it 
I love these kind of apps - lightweight, simple, and incredibly useful. Everyone should have this utility sitting on your desktop, USB drive, or somewhere handy. Come the day when you wipe a file from the recycle bin by accident, use Restoration to get it back (hopefully). Thanks to the author for a wonderful tool.
Review by: VikingMan (15)
Read all 15 reviews by VikingMan
- Sep 08, 2007
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Won't scan a thumbdrive? 
Although it works great "from" a thumbdrive to scan any other drive, I could not get it to scan the thumbdrive without getting an error. I'm using a new 4 gig cruzer sandisk drive. Maybe its not supposed to recover from a thumbdrive, but it would sure be nice if it would. It seemed like it started but maybe the file transfer was too slow causing it to error?... only a guess. Thumbdrives are very popular now... we really need that support too.
Review by: windstrings
First post
- Aug 20, 2007
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Lifesaver 
I lost all the pics on my camera's memory card. With this program, I got all of them back. Warning: As with any recovery program, do NOT write to the source that you want to recover from prior to recovery. I.E. don't take more pictures after formatting you camera's memory card if you want to recover those images.
Review by: Azguard98 (18)
Read all 18 reviews by Azguard98
- Aug 07, 2007
- For version:
- 2.5.14
This rescued all my photos 
I thought I had lost my huge picture file and was frantic. I found a recommendation for Restoration, downloaded it, and had my photos restored within minutes. The program was extremely easy to use.
Review by: DThurston
First post
- Feb 04, 2007
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Excellent utility - just what i needed! 
I think this app is excellent. I accidentally deleted all my email from the past 10 years from my computer so this app was a God-send. It is very easy to use (point it to the drive where the file was and it will look for it). And it works like a charm. Only thing about the interface that I didn't love was that I could only restore one file at a time. I would have loved to be able to select all the files I want to restore and hit one button. (Maybe you can do this and I used it wrong, I dunno.) But that aside, the result was fantastic! I got everything back as if nothing happened. I also got to have a peak of what used to live on my hard-drive - so may be this is a handy app for spouses with suspicions ;) Thanks Brian, you made my day!
Review by: brisnicki
First post
- Nov 04, 2006
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Thank you brian kato 
Very easy to use
Review by: pathat
First post
- Oct 18, 2006
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Best restoration software yet!! 
I have a list of the BEST software i have ever found and when i found this,i added it to the list!! Is there a way to WIPE only selected files instead of the whole drive?? (Takes 12 hours or so) This program rocks! Thanx Brian!
Review by: Dude111
First post
- Aug 31, 2006
- For version:
- 2.5.14
2 thumbs up!!! 
I have compared restoration to other similar programs and they all fell short to restore. I was able to restore pictures that were previously deleted by other so called strong delete programs. yet when i deleted it with restore. it was totally gone. I'm not saying this is the best one out there but from what i have come across, as far as freeware goes - i give it the proverbial 2 thumbs up!
Review by: rosellor
First post
- Aug 24, 2006
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Simple and fast recovery tool 
Thanks Brian, I used your software for recovering a 4GB Notes it took less than 20 minutes. Very effective. Best regards.
Review by: CGENSE
First post
- Aug 06, 2006
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Everything needed 
Loading...loading...end it takes long for it to work. but it is great... everything you expect it does it job im a bit sad becouse i coldny find 1 of the files for the rest it works
Review by: LuisPuche (4)
Read all 4 reviews by LuisPuche
- Jul 01, 2006
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Seemed to locate files, but restoring? 
Could be improved in several ways - should have a better method of specifying types of files to locate and restore. Also, I found that after waiting for it to restore a large number of mpeg files, none of them worked. Didn't do the job for me.
Review by: dkny4773 (4)
Read all 4 reviews by dkny4773
- Jun 28, 2006
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Great quality utility! 
Excellent utility, great at undeleting files -- better than others that are freeware. Just wish it could undelete more than one file at a time.
Review by: ErikBertrand
First post
- Jun 03, 2006
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Great!! 
All movie files were recovered. Great!
Review by: ryoichan
First post
- May 25, 2006
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Don't bother! 
I deleted a 50+mb directory, it found every directory and all jpg's and vid files. It even told me the location and how big the file was. When you 'undelete' the file, it makes you think everything will be undeleted and working again. Think again! This piece of software is limpware, it is rubbish! No file was useable and when it did undelete a directory, even though it says it contains files etc. It doesn't. This would have to be one of the worst freeware titles I have used to date. Just because you can see what you deleted, doesn't mean you can recover it! Keep away from it and find something better.
Review by: dhemil
First post
- Apr 15, 2006
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Verry good 
This is the best overall file recovery tool I have seen. It is portable, and can be run off of a USB flash drive or floppy.
Review by: 41149512
First post
- Mar 20, 2006
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Easy to use and straight forward tool 
It does what it promises to do! Not full featured but, as far as I as been able to test, it does the job.
Review by: EMendes
First post
- Feb 24, 2006
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Garbage! just doesn't work! 
I tried an experiment and deleted some music files. I used the program and tried to recover the songs and it apparently did so, but when I went to play them back, they were all screwed up. It was just garbled up noise. Beeps and screeching and not one of the songs was recovered in a playable state. In other words, it is useless! If it can't even recover a song, how can you try to recover anything else. Sorry, but this is crap!
Review by: tomcat (16)
Read all 16 reviews by tomcat
- Feb 02, 2006
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Tried the restoration file rescue... 
Tried the restoration file rescue utility and couldn't get it to find anything! i even tried "search all clusters" and had the 2 boxes checked. i even deleted a file from the recycle bin and run the program again with the exact name of the file and still nothing! maybe i'm just missing something here, but there are no help files or support that i can find. suggestions welcome. thanks, wolfgang
Review by: wolfgang
First post
- Jan 24, 2006
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Excellent free undelete tool 
Easy to install and use, works like a charm, and it's free! What more can I say? Five stars.
Review by: DavidLandy
First post
- Jan 19, 2006
- For version:
- 2.5.14
A true life saver 
I had a piece of mal-ware delete several directories, taking several hundred files. This program found and recovered a vast majority of them where a commercial undelete utility couldn't do the job. The only files I was unable to recover were a few mp3s that were corrupted after the recovery. (Fortunately, I still have the CD's to make new mp3s of those songs)
Review by: NiteHawke
First post
- Jan 13, 2006
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Excellent program. 
A very useful program, easy to use, easy interface and great results. Give it a try.
Review by: Anticanalla
First post
- Dec 30, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
I'm so relieved 
This program saved my mp3 and picture collections after i accidentally deleted them. i highly recommend using this program. It's a little intimidating at first but thats because it's actually really simple to use and doesn't bombard the user with useless features. Just get your files hasslefree. Also a note to those complaining about not being able to select multiple files, just look for the root directory of the files you want and restore it.
Review by: geemzee
First post
- Dec 30, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Amazing 
Being the total klutz that I am, I accidentally deleted a folder full of my artwork... while pressing shift. So I did what I always do; I turned on my computer, got on Snapfiles, and bingo, there was this. I love you, Brian!
Review by: Shinra (5)
Read all 5 reviews by Shinra
- Dec 09, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Thank you! 
The power cord on my laptop went today. I have an Ebay business and this weekend is my biggest of the year. 90 new pictures for my auctions were on my computer, but I could not get them! With only a couple tries I managed to get them all off of my camera after deleting them last night. I never think programs are going to work and usually I'm right. But, thank goodness this one did!
Review by: Deborah
First post
- Dec 01, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Small, easy to use, free! 
The bad thing about it is i deleted an .asf movie file and it cant find it. :( but it seems to find other stuff quite well, also alot lot lot better than some others, just missing key features, but for the size (90 kb), speed and price it's just nice, should never be with out it. To the author please add support for .asf files this is great tool. sadly i still am not recover my movies :(
Review by: Ghost_grey (56)
Read all 56 reviews by Ghost_grey
- Nov 23, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Fantastic freeware! 
I tried about a dozen undelete programs over a period of 3 hours tonight. I accidentally deleted a 13 MB zip file that I thought was a duplicate, but in fact was my ONLY copy! Although most of the other programs told me the file could be restored, none of them would actually restore it unless I purchased the full version. The only OTHER free product did not find my file. But "Restoration" saved the day and recovered my file flawlessly and instantly (some other products were much slower). I'm super pleased with this product and this company!
Review by: deveau
First post
- Oct 10, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Just what i needed 
[Facts:] I spent hours on download websites and P2P programs, but everything was huge and charged big dollars. This program really is free, easy, small, and effective. The interface isn't refined, but it gets the job done. [Story:] I downloaded another program that allowed me to restore 1 meg of files. I used Restoration for everything it could restore, and for what it couldn't I tried the other program. Although the other program had great graphics and would have charged $100/gig, it couldn't do any better than Restoration. What a life saver Restoration was.
Review by: CUFirebird
First post
- Oct 04, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Very powerful 
2 great aditional qualities: 1st - It is small one 2nd - It should not be installed before and it is possible to run from CD! It is basis of Your `PC First Aid Kit`.
Review by: lotron (2)
Read all 2 reviews by lotron
- Oct 03, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
I'm stylin'... 
Given the situation that I'm working in, this little, yet smart tool helped save this day! An ex-colleague suddenly departed and decided to delete all of her files as her last official duty. Having quickly gotten over this frustration, I happened upon the SnapFiles web site and the Restoration tool. I don't know who I should kiss first, I'm s-o-o-o giddy with joy! Now I know why they escort disgruntled ex-employees out of the building... Hmmm...
Review by: JenIsStylin
First post
- Sep 24, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Excellent tool 
Almost 95% of my files were recovered very quickly!!!!
Review by: acarlson
First post
- Sep 06, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Brian kato is my hero 
Restoration saved me! The programme is quick to download and easy to use. Given the panic I was in, it was important to get my files back quickly. After saying yes to "Are you sure you want to permanently delete these files?", I thought, this is it, 135,000+ files gone. Restoration brought them all back quickly and neatly. And thus Brian Kato is my hero.
Review by: tmalone
First post
- Jul 27, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
No complaints 
Ok, to all the people who complained: you do realize YOU deleted the files? You realize "delete" means forever? The simple fact that this program can recover a deleted file is amazing and worth so much! Who cares how many clicks you have to make? Who cares if the interface isnt pretty? This program saves lives I tell you. Excellent, fantastic, wonderful. A true life-saver. The author should put up a paypal account for donations, I'd be glad!
- Jun 29, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Wow! 
This program saved all my work that I accidentally deleted. Great program! Run the program on a different drive than where you deleted files, also save the recovered files onto a different drive to prevent overwriting.
Review by: lenso82
First post
- Jun 22, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Restoration tip 
I found this program extremely helpful and quite fast. But there are some features missing, like multiple file select (so that you don't have to click a few hundred times to restore up a few hundred files). I found a solution for this though; use this: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/macromaker.html . With this program you can automate the filecopy-process.
Review by: Ravxvi
First post
- Jun 13, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Hard to beat this one! 
Ladies and gentlemen, this little utility program is in a special class. Takes a little time to recover multiple files, but when you thought you had lost them forever, you'll be happy to take the time to bring them back to life. A tremendously huge thank you for this gift to the world. God bless!
Review by: Barfup (2)
Read all 2 reviews by Barfup
- May 11, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Superb 
Accidentally deleted files from my USB-stick. A whole day of work seemed to be lost. Restoration got it all back.
Review by: Butterfly
First post
- May 01, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Freeware better than commercial? 
I can say yes. I have problem. I downloading some web pages (automatic) and experimenting with another programs. Win crash, my restart, scandisk. And where are my downlaoded files? Nowhere to find. I try many NEW commercial solutions and get nothing. But Restoration can find lost directories and back it up. I was surprised that 2 year old product is better than todays products (mainly not freeware), but it is reality. I can recommend it.
Review by: loginCZ
First post
- Apr 30, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Restoration 
This program is very good! Hard to believe it's freeware! I recommend it to everyone who owns a home computer(s)!
- Apr 11, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
It saved my butt! 
I stupidly shift-deleted a main directory and I was able to restore it with all subdirectories and files intact with one selection. I advise RTFM carefully before proceding and be careful mixing Pinot Grigio with disk cleanup.
Review by: GeneralPublic
First post
- Apr 06, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Very effective, and easy to use 
I have been using it for quite a long time and it did many things other more "advanced" programs of this type couldn't. I love it because it is simple and, yes, in my case it has proved to be very effective. It is not perfect though, interface could be better, but it definitely deserves much more plusses than minuses.
Review by: Markan (28)
Read all 28 reviews by Markan
- Apr 05, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Did the trick, and quick 
In response to the reviewer who said they couldn't restore multiple files, you can do this, as long as the files are in the same folder. Only problem with this was that there were viruses in the folder of deleted stuff I recovered, but Norton caught them immediately. After recovering the folder, I was able to simply delete all the unwanted files, and keep the ones that should have never been deleted in the first place.
Review by: Glyphdoctors
First post
- Mar 14, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Works, but slow to use 
This works OK and is very good value for freeware, but the ability to copy only one file at a time is very limiting. For recovering photos from damaged digital cards, try Art Plus Digital Photo Recovery 2.0 which is also freeware.
Review by: ianmacm (99)
Read all 99 reviews by ianmacm
- Feb 27, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Great! 
This little program is a lifesaver! It does require you to only restore one file at a time, but thats better than losing all my files... and you can't beat the price (free!)
Review by: OldFred
First post
- Feb 22, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Good tool 
Good tool, it works as it should work. Interface is little bit poor.
- Jan 27, 2005
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Nice - but word files garbled (help) 
My Marketing Director mistakenly deleted a 500MB folder containing word files and jpegs. I downloaded this software and it restored the files; however, some of the jpegs don't work and ALL of the Word docs are garbled. (They have the Word 2000 icon) but when I click on them, We get that MS Word coded-boxy gibberish. Does anyone know what I did wrong?
Review by: Stealthviewer
First post
- Dec 31, 2004
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Don't let your boss know about this!! 
If you boss knows about this file, you cannot hire any secret from him/her even after you del all temp internet files!n It is amazing that this can restore files so easily. Very excellent product! Well of course, You can pick a program called ERASER to clean up your hard drive. (another excellent freeware)
Review by: homeflash (54)
Read all 54 reviews by homeflash
- Nov 21, 2004
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Simply wonderful! 
1) "Restoration.exe" will allow highlighting only one deleted item (file or folder/directory) at a time for restoration. If files and/or folders to be restored were within a deleted folder, restoring that folder alone will also restore all the files and subfolders within it in one simple operation. Therefore, restoring the higher level folder(s) will speed the recovery of many files. 2) Windows 98 and ME OS: If copying/extracting "Restoration.exe", "DLL32.dll" and "DLL16.dll" files to an active drive running under Windows 98 or ME OS the user may receive a "Can't find DLL32.dll or DLL16.dll file" error message. Restarting the system before running "Restoration.exe" may resolve this problem. ----- 3) Thank you, Brian, for making this simple to use tool available at no charge. Your generosity is greatly admired.
Review by: 123Jack
First post
- Oct 28, 2004
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Wonderful 
This utilty got me out of an awful fix. It worked brilliantly on ntfs files. Many thanks to its creator
Review by: hypotheticus
First post
- Oct 06, 2004
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Free & good software 
This file recovery software is not only free, but functional. It allows searching by partial file name, which speeds up the recovery process. I can download and install it in another PC on a company network and run it over the network to recover the deleted files in another PC. Well done!
Review by: nychoon
First post
- Oct 03, 2004
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Great freeware app 
This is the only freeware file recovery tool that is small enough to fit on a floppy disk, requires no install, and really works. And the best of all it is freeware.
Review by: yoshi123
First post
- Sep 08, 2004
- For version:
- 2.5.14
Thank you! 
I accidentally deleted a very important file, so I jumped out to the web and did a search. I did not choose programs from companies like Executive Software, because they all want you to buy it before you can actually do anything useful with it. I'm happy to pay for software, but I need help now! This utility turned out to be free and does work. I hope the author sees this and drops me a line, because I am happy to pay him for his work!
Review by: CoreyFurman
First post
- Aug 27, 2004
- For version:
- 2.5.14
It works, but usability could be improved 
Biggest issues: 1. Can't select multiple files; must do one at a time. It's then at least a 4-click process for each file: Select, click Restor Button, Save file name, then click Yes to warning dialog about restoring onto same drive. Sheesh! 2. Can't select a default restore-to folder, or specify that restores should be to original location. If I accidentally deleted 200 files, why would I want to be prompted for this each time? 3. If I've just restored a file and yet search for the same filespec again, I'll still find it! No attempt is made to have the program recognize that the file is no longer deleted. Other than that, though, the program works. Even on NTFS volumes in XP. And it's free, too. So, I can't really complain, can I? But of course, I do: EVERYONE's a critic, right? As long as we say this afterwards: thank you!
Review by: HarlanWitherspoon
First post
