User Reviews
Zero Assumption Digital Image Recovery
Zero Assumption Digital Image Recovery is an easy to use data recovery tool for the recovery of accidentally delete image files on removable media disks (Compact Flash, SmartMedia, Memory Sticks etc. ...
Average of 23 user ratings: 
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- Sep 20, 2009
- For version:
- 1.2
Saved vacation 
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I recently went to Cumberland Falls, in Ky. with my wife. At the end of the 4 day trip with miles of hiking and beautiful scenery and over 450 pictures, I was sitting in our cabin reviewing my pictures when as dumb luck would have it I hit the wrong button not once but twice. You know the rest. Well my vacation was ruined till I got home and came to one of my favorite sites well you know the rest of this to. Zero Assumption came to the rescue and worked great I give it a 9 out of a 10 rating. It saved 445 out of 450 photos and I don't know what they were. Thank you for this little program with the big heart.
Review by: jimboy
First post
- Sep 07, 2009
- For version:
- 1.2
Did not work with Vista x64
- Interface: 1
- Features: 1
- Ease of use: 1
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Program started on run. However, after selecting the target camera (Panasonic Lumix on G: drive), and when I clicked on PROCEED button, the program gave the error message "Source device and target path should be specified." Just to test if it was maybe the connection to the camera itself, I pointed to just the C: drive, it gave the same error. Don't know if running this program on Windows Vista x64 bit was the reason for this problem. The camera shows up on Windows Explorer, so it should just be a multimedia storage device. Not sure what the problem was. There was no support or FAQ on the developer's website.
Review by: jeffbranc
First post
- Sep 29, 2008
- For version:
- 1.2
The only one
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Wow, I have tested freeware and shareware alike for a recovery software that actually worked. This one FINALLY recovered some images and they WORKED! Unlike others. I have a new favorite!
Review by: gimpguy (370)
Read all 370 reviews by gimpguy
- May 03, 2008
- For version:
- 1.2
Could recover images from a formated card
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I have never bothered to enter comments till now but this one is worth. that was incredible and could even recover files from a accidentally formated card. Tried many varieties including professional ones like "recover my files" but was of no use. This really did the job..... An absolute must...
Review by: sp1234
First post
- Jan 25, 2008
- For version:
- 1.2
Excellent...this saved my project
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
This a really great program. I am currently doing Project 365, a personal project of mine that has me take pictures for an entire year. I lost two days worth of photos, and this software rescued them! If all you need is to have some simple photos rescued, this is the program you need. Some of my photos lost some color, but that doesn't matter since that can easily be fixed.
Review by: karisata (2)
Read all 2 reviews by karisata
- Sep 28, 2007
- For version:
- 1.2
Very impressed!
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I downloaded close to two dozen free/trial recovery tools off the net to recover data off one of my bosses' flash drive. Not only did every one of them fail to even detect the drive, but they all were limited to either one 64k file, specific file extensions, or scan only mode (actual recovery after purchase). That was until I got to ZAR. It immediately found the drive and allowed me to recover a dozen critical documents off of it which really impressed us both. I am now MORE than happy to purchase your full product after seeing the product in action.
Review by: smccauley
First post
- Aug 29, 2007
- For version:
- 1.2
Super
- Interface: 4
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
An excellent program that does what is supposed to do. Meaning that it recovers photos with just a click and finds data in situations that other programs either cost a lot or demand hours of search
Review by: arxilaos
First post
- Jul 30, 2007
- For version:
- 1.2
This works - and will save you $40
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Great product, many other companies are charging $40 for this capability. The program found thirty lost files on my compact flash. I know the pictures were taken, and all the camera file numbers were auto-incremented, but no files showed up later on the camera or using the compact flash reader. This program found 'em all and restored them!
Review by: Sieveboy
First post
- Dec 04, 2006
- For version:
- 1.2
Much better than fat-based recovery tools
- Interface: 2
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I have accidentaly deleted all pictures from a CF (CompactFlash) card. I was looking for some recovery tools. I tried FAT-based tools, but they could not get back all the pictures (my camera might use some strange image storing mechanism). Then I found Zero Assumption Digital Image Recovery, which found all my pictures and even those deleted half year ago (and not yet overwritten). As I understood (not an expert on this, though), this program is not using file system recovery, but reads the media bit-by-bit and whenever it finds a JPEG, TIFF, etc. header, it starts to write the bit sequence to the destination folder. When it found an end sequence, or a new start sequence, it stops writing. This is the way to do it! Thumbs up!. Thanks, guys for this freeware! User interface is not exciting, but who cares? It does the job, and that's it.
Review by: sumkar
First post
- Aug 06, 2006
- For version:
- 1.2
Saved 148 photographs!!!
- Interface: 4
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
No messing about, does exactly what it says on the tin!!! Tried three other freeware solutions with no luck, but 'Zero Assumption Digital Image Recovery got them first time. The names a bit of a mouthful and the interface is nothing to write home about but who cares it gets the pictures back safely!
Review by: AddTheBadd
First post
- Jun 21, 2006
- For version:
- 1.2
Thank god for zero assumption!!
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I am not tech savy at all... which is how I somehow reformatted the disc in my digital camera on the last day of vacation, and lost all my photos and videos. I came across this download and gave it a try. Everything was straight forward as it advertises. It was easy and quick. I did have to refer back to the demo for guidance on selecting the right "physical device". The selections it gave me were unrecognizable to me. The demo helped me understand what I was looking for. All pictures are recovered, and I am grateful! The movies were recovered as pictures (large jpeg files). I can't figure out how to convert them back to movies. Regardless, I am thrilled to have my pictures back.
Review by: JulieH
First post
- Dec 06, 2005
- For version:
- 1.2
Saved this fool
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I usually don't like to register at websites but I signed up as a member just to give this review. I had deleted the pics on my camera's memory card and then was shocked to find out later that I had accidentally deleted the file on my computer where my pics were. I searched Cnet and TuCows for flash recovery software but they either cost money or were restricted in their functions. Zero Assumption recovered all the pictures that I had on my flash card including even older ones that I had deleted a long time ago. The recovered pictures were the original size. It was simple to use with only one sole purpose - to rescue those lost files. I was saved by this program and trust me if you want recover deleted pictures from your flash card, you should download this program. It is free and it works. Thank you to Zero Assumption and Snapfiles.
Review by: Michael69
First post
- Oct 02, 2005
- For version:
- 1.2
It works!
- Interface: 4
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
ZA works! I downloaded and tried at least 16 other programs, but none recovered a single image. ZA saved 159 photos (all of the images on the card, as far as I can remember). My 512MB SD card was corrupted when I plugged it into a card reader to make a backup. The FAT was scrambled, data mangled. All the other programs either found "no images", or generated garbage. I'd rather trust my own data sleuthing, so with a low-level data editor and my limited knowledge of JPGs, I wrote a script to extract the images (but I never got the JPG headers right, so I gave up that attempt). Every search turned up fewer "new" programs to try. Tonight I downloaded 4 "new" programs (3 of them didn't work....) ZA works! Thanks Alexey Dubin (the author)! (I ran ZA on Windows 2000, but it doesn't work -- won't recognize any drives -- unless I'm logged in as Administrator. An undocumented shortcoming.)
Review by: EmmCeeBee
First post
- Sep 04, 2005
- For version:
- 1.2
Saved the day
- Interface: 4
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
This product was exactly what i needed to recover my images of a corrupt compact flash card. All the images were recovered perfectly unlike with many oither software products i tried. Highly recommended! thanks! ;)
Review by: Oberon
First post
- Jun 13, 2005
- For version:
- 1.2
What a program and free too.
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
What a product, and all for FREE,I traveled 50 miles to take some photos only to deleted them while transferring them to disk, This product retrieved them ALL from the smart media card, so saved the day and another trip, I would recommend this program to all, download it NOW, you never know when you'll need it. Alan
Review by: alanwjones
First post
- May 29, 2005
- For version:
- 1.2
No frills program that works!
- Interface: 3
- Features: 3
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I Found Zero Assumption Recovery to be very easy to use & effective in the recovery of my digital photos on my Sony Memory stick. It has no whistles and bells but does what it needs to do with simple ease.
Review by: Klepptoman
First post
- Apr 09, 2005
- For version:
- 1.2
Thanks for the photo recovery
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
After trying multiple data recovery software that did not recover the files, you software came through like a champ! It was able to retrieve all of my digital photos off of a smart media card. Somehow the file allocation tables had been corrupted, but Zero was able to retrieve them. Thanks, Again!
Review by: Photoguy
First post
- Apr 04, 2005
- For version:
- 1.2
I can't believe my eyes!
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I just can't believe it. 2 corrupted Zip disks with thousands of images on them recovered in minutes by downloading this software. I just can't believe my eyes, my pictures are saved! I am ohappyone! Simple to use and it really works. It was not able to recover the original names and properties but one zip disk I have had for 5 years hoping to find a program like this to save it for me.
Review by: ohappyone
First post
- Mar 03, 2005
- For version:
- 1.2
I got my pictures back!
- Interface: 3
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 5
- Overall:
This small piece of software, within minutes of downloading, made me the happiest guy in the world. My camera did something weird to my SmartMedia card, rendering it useless. Upon card insertion, the camera and subsequent computers asked if I wished to format the card. I did NOT format the card, because I had just spent 2 hours taking promo pictures for my business in lots of different locations, and figured SOMEbody could figure it out... Needless to say, it would have been difficult to reproduce the work that had already been done. When I found this program, although it took a minute or two to figure out which "number" went with my USB SmartMedia reader, I clicked a few buttons, and this program went right to work. It took about 5-10 seconds per picture to recover - I was ELATED! Thank you for providing this piece of software for free. I figure the least I could do was come back to say thank you.
Review by: ironmikesh (2)
Read all 2 reviews by ironmikesh
- Jan 26, 2005
- For version:
- 1.2
Excellent within limits
- Interface: 5
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I tested this with a Canon Ixus V3 CF card that had *not* been erased. You can consider it a bug or a feature that the program does not use the directory info to decide which data blocks are currently in use, and just scans the raw data. The Ixus V uses extensions .jpg, .avi and .thm (a jpeg which is a thumbnail for the .avi). Of 31 files it "recovered" all but 1 photo (and 1 thumbnail), though it was unable to tell that the 4 movie .avi files were not part of the previous .jpg and I ended up with 4 very large .jpg files. (The .avi part could be removed by opening the .jpg and re-saving it). ZADIR did slightly better than PC Inspector Smart Recovery at identifying and "recovering" the jpegs but PCI-SR recovered 2 of 4 AVIs. From other comments it looks as though ZADIR would work perfectly if your camera only takes stills.
Review by: NickSemmens
First post
- Dec 29, 2004
- For version:
- 1.2
Great product!
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
This is about as easy and as quick as it could possibly be! I tried two other recovery softwares, but one did not support my camera's format, and the other only brought back 10 pics of a possible 32. I am so very glad to have found this--32 shots from a wonderful vacation are now back with us!
Review by: msreduch
First post
- Aug 11, 2004
- For version:
- 1.2
Powerful + easy to use
- Interface: 5
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 3
- Overall:
Powerful + easy to use. Simply recovers more files; uses maybe better algorithms than compareable software.
Review by: goose73
First post
- Jul 23, 2004
- For version:
- 1.2
Saved me!
- Interface: 5
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
My digital camera went for a swim (in salt water.) No pics were showing on my card until I ran this software. All pics were recovered and look fine. THANKS!
Review by: Tommiet (11)
Read all 11 reviews by Tommiet
