Top 10 Partition Recovery Tools for Windows

25Mar

There is nothing more unfortunate than losing an entire disk partition. It might happen when you are trying to install a new OS or repartitioning a drive. I have also come across partitions that are corrupted due to virus attacks, system crashes, etc.

On the bright side, thanks to the control that Microsoft Windows offers, you get a few options to fix the problem. A partition recovery tool is one of them. That said, choosing the right partition recovery tool for Windows can be quite confusing, primarily due to the number of choices.

Here’s something I have done.

I tested a few drives with formatted/corrupted/deleted partitions with some of the most popular partition recovery tools for Windows. The idea was simple: find which partition recovery tools you can rely the most on when it comes to recovering a partition.

TL;DR: Top 10 partition recovery software tools

EaseUS Partition Recovery: Best overall for ease of use and high success rates
AOMEI Partition Assistant: For versatile partition management and OS migration
Partition Recovery by Disk Internals: For professional-grade recovery
MiniTool Power Data Recovery: For recovering a wide range of file types
Hetman Partition Recovery: For recovering from various storage devices and file systems
Recoverit: For versatile file recovery beyond just partitions
TestDisk: Free option for advanced Windows users
DiskGenius: All-in-one partition management and recovery
Disk Drill: For user-friendly interface and additional disk health tools
Stellar Data Recovery: For beginners with a straightforward interface

What is partition recovery software & why you need it?

So, what exactly is partition recovery software, and why should you care? Simply put, it’s your lifeline when a drive partition goes missing or becomes inaccessible. Think of your hard drive as a filing cabinet, and partitions as the individual drawers. Partition recovery software is the tool you use to find a drawer that’s been misplaced, damaged, or simply vanished.

You might need it in situations like these:

Accidental Deletion: We’ve all been there – a slip of the mouse, and a partition is gone.
Botched Operating System Installations: Trying to install a new OS, or even just updating, can sometimes corrupt the partition table.
Virus Attacks and System Crashes: These can wreak havoc on your file system, leading to partition loss.
Drive Errors: Let’s be honest, sometimes the drive itself is the problem.

Why not just restore from a backup? Well, not everyone has a recent backup. Partition recovery software offers a chance to salvage your data without starting from scratch. It can save you time, money (compared to professional recovery services), and a whole lot of frustration.

These tools aim to restore access to your partition and its data with minimal extra damage to the drive. Now that you are more aware of partition recovery and its importance, let’s get into which tools worked out the best!

Note: It is essential to note that this article is for educational purposes, and we do not guarantee data recovery or take responsibility for any loss. Using the below-mentioned partition recovery tools is at your own risk. These tools worked as they did during our testing, but the final results depend on many factors.

10 Best Partition Recovery Tools for Windows

At TheSweetBits, we began with an array of 25 data recovery tools that offered partition recovery options. Most of the tools were general data recovery tools, but there were, of course, dedicated options. As I said, we tested HDDs as well as SSDs that had earlier contained partitions. In some cases, these partitions were deliberately deleted, but we included drives with corrupted partitions as well.

All the testing was done on a Windows PC with a 13^th-generation Intel processor and 16GB of RAM. All HDDs and SSDs were connected using a USB 3.0 port to ensure that variables didn’t affect the judgment. In addition to the success rates of the data recovery tool, other factors like ease of use and compatibility were also taken into consideration.

Now that you know about the testing, shall we move to detailed reviews of the four top options you have? We will also mention our experience with other top contenders.

#1 EaseUS Partition Recovery

At the top spot, we have the much-deserving EaseUS Partition Recovery. In addition to offering the highest partition recovery success rates, this tool from EaseUS packs an intuitive UI design. It thus becomes one of the partition recovery tools that don’t need you to be tech-savvy.

Like the many EaseUS tools we have tested, EaseUS Partition Recovery also follows a three-step process. So, after you have installed the app, you can select a disk, preview available partitions, and recover the partitions you want to have back.

Our Testing Experience

We tried testing EaseUS Partition Recovery with multiple storage devices like SATA and M2 drives. We also made sure that it works with different file systems like NTFS, FAT, and Ext2/Ext3. The program worked great with multiple partition tables, including MBR and GPT.

A worth-mentioning feature is “Explore support” as it helped us with selecting the partitions that we need to restore. We used the explore feature by clicking on the lost partition to preview the stored files and narrowed down the necessary partitions while avoiding unnecessary ones.

We faced a slight delay while dealing with corrupt partitions. However, it is still impressive that Partition Recovery from EaseUS can handle such devices in the first place. Many generic data recovery tools we tested were not able to detect corrupted drives.

Pricing

Though EaseUS Partition Recovery offers a free version, it lacks many features. If you want access to all the features like RAW recovery and maximum compatibility, you need the paid plan. You can pay either $49.95 per month or $69.95 per year for this package. If you prefer a one-time payment, you can get it for $99.95.

The Final Take

Considering the features and speed it offers, EaseUS Partition Recovery is a worthwhile investment for most people out there. If you prioritize compatibility and success rates over generic features, you’d appreciate the package from EaseUS.

Pros

User-friendly interface
Powerful scanning algorithms
Wide compatibility

Cons

Limited effectiveness in certain data loss scenarios

Editor’s Note: While EaseUS Partition Recovery is a great choice for partition-specific issues, those needing a more comprehensive data recovery solution should explore the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for its broader file recovery and repair capabilities. This tool offers a wider range of features in its premium versions, including advanced file repair and recovery options beyond just partitions.

#2 AOMEI Partition Assistant

AOMEI Partition Assistant is an all-rounder and is ideal for those looking for a complete partition tool that can recover data as well. It packs a clean and simple design, making it accessible to both new and experienced users. It assists you with multiple steps in handling disk partitions, including cloning and booting.

Getting started with AOMEI Partition Assistant was straightforward. First, you select the disk containing the lost partition, then initiate a scan. The software then searches for lost or deleted partitions. Once the scan is complete, you can preview the found partitions and their contents.

Finally, you select the partition you want to recover and initiate the recovery process.

Our Testing Experience

Like the overall best option, AOMEI Partition Assistant also handled the variety of storage devices and file systems with ease. We felt that AOMEI gets an additional advantage in terms of compatibility, probably because it is designed to be a comprehensive assistance suite.

It also works with different file systems like NTFS, FAT2, FAT16, exFAT, ReFS, Ext2, Ext3, and Ext4. We found the Preview feature quite handy as we have the option to know what is inside without spending resources or time recovering everything.

While the interface is intuitive, it may feel slightly dated compared to some other tools on the market. However, its comprehensive feature set and robust performance make it a strong contender in the partition recovery space.

Price

AOMEI Partition Assistant offers a free standard version with basic partition management features. For advanced features like partition recovery, you need to upgrade to a paid version. The pricing options include a yearly subscription for $49.95, which covers two PCs, and a lifetime license for $59.95.

The Final Take

In the end, despite being recovery-focused, AOMEI Partition Assistant does a great job of dealing with various types of disk partitions. Considering the reasonable pricing plans, we can’t ask for more from this package. It thus suits most people who need a better way to manage partitions.

Pros

Easy partition management
Drag-and-drop interface
Supports various file systems

Cons

Poor error handling

#3 Partition Recovery by Disk Internals

You should check out Partition Recovery by Disk Internals if you need a professional partition recovery suite for all intents and purposes. This tool is made for professionals, offering maximum performance in terms of recovery success rates and compatibility.

Setting up Partition Recovery by Disk Internals on your Windows PC does not take more than a few minutes at max. We were excited to try the app, considering its compatibility claims, but we thought the UI could use some improvements.

Our Testing Experience

Once we installed and started with the recovery operation, and just like any tool, we were asked to pick the disk on which we wanted to perform the restore operation. However, the interesting thing happened once we selected a disk and proceeded to the Folder Structure Recovery window.

The program offers two scanning modes here. The Full Recovery mode provided the flexibility to manage and manually select the file systems of our liking. On the other hand, the “Fast Recovery” mode is straightforward and ideal for lightly damaged disks.

Once the recovery operation was done, we noticed that the Full Recovery mode did a significantly better job than the Fast Recovery mode, with better recovery featuring more files. However, on the dark side, the Fast Recovery mode took a lot of time to finish.

The performance was good, but we were disappointed with the Preview section as it felt completely outdated. The interface of the Preview section resembled a combination of Windows XP and Windows 7 themes, and we couldn’t preview everything inside the selected partition.

Pricing

Once the free trial is complete, you can get Disk Internals Partition Recovery for either $39.95 (Personal) or $219.95 (Business). All these plans offer core features like advanced compatibility, but you may not get extra options like Exporting to Virtual Disk and offering data recovery services to third parties.

Our Take

Despite its rudimentary UI design, Disk Internals Partition Recovery is a great choice for professionals. The tool offers great value in terms of performance and compatibility. We really liked the option to read disk partitions from macOS and Linux.

Pros

Three scanning modes
Supports RAID recovery
File preview feature

Cons

It can be complex for beginners

#4 MiniTool Power Data Recovery

MiniTool Power Data Recovery is a feature-packed, comprehensive tool that’s perfect for anyone in search of the ultimate data recovery solution. It offers a wide range of features, from the basic to the advanced, and one of its standout capabilities is partition recovery.

Starting with the downloading and installing MiniTool software, there were no issues, and the setup file took care of the entire installation. Even though the home screen is intuitive, we felt room for improvement, and with additional refinement, it would arguably be the best in its segment.

Our Testing Experience

Our testing showed that MiniTool Power Data Recovery supports the retrieval of lost partitions due to accidental deletion, formatting, or other system errors. The tool scans the storage media thoroughly, searching for lost partitions and displaying them in a clear and understandable manner.

We can preview files within the found partitions before initiating the recovery process. Additionally, we have the option to selectively recover specific files or folders, saving time and storage space by excluding unnecessary data.

Aside from partition recovery, MiniTool Power Data Recovery offers a range of other useful features. These include data recovery from damaged or deleted files, CD/DVD drives, SSDs, USB drives, memory cards, and the ability to recover data from inaccessible or corrupted drives.

Pricing

The free version of MiniTool Power Data Recovery has a 1GB file limit. If you want unlimited recovery of disk partitions and files, you can get the paid version for $69 per month. The premium versions also offer extra features like scan result history and support for WinPE bootable media.

The Final Take

Whether you’re a novice or an expert, MiniTool Power Data Recovery has got you covered when it comes to managing your partitions with ease. The performance was impressive, and we recommend this tool to most people.

Pros

Easy to use
Supports various storage devices
Quick scan option

Cons

1GB recovery limit in the free version

#5 Hetman Partition Recovery

If you want support for multiple storage devices and file systems such as FAT, NTFS, exFAT, HFS+, etc., you must check out the Hetman Partition Recovery. Like most prominent partition recovery tools, it comes with advanced scanning and recovery algorithms, resulting in faster scanning and recovery of lost partitions.

On the other hand, the interface is one of the best-looking in the segment, as it is easy to navigate. The paid versions pack more features, and it is a great choice if you have to deal with many partition recoveries. Our experience with Hetman Partition Recovery was satisfactory, but we encountered a few more glitches.

For instance, we had to completely disable our antimalware suite before Hetman Partition Recovery could start up. You should watch out for these minor issues while using the app. On the bright side, the app does a great job of integrating with Windows.

As for pricing, the paid version of Hetman Partition Recovery starts at $37.95.

Pros

User-friendly interface
Supports all Windows versions
HEX editor

Cons

Conflicts with anti-malware suites

#6 Recoverit

Wondershare’s Recoverit is a data recovery tool that is different from the standard partition recovery tool. With Recoverit, we start by selecting a disk, and the recovery begins automatically. So, you get to decide if you want to recover an entire partition or a single file from the bunch.

Unlike the partition recovery tools, all the lost data is displayed in one place, and one doesn’t have to worry about managing partitions after recovering them. Like our list’s top three partition recovery tools, Recoverit supports all file system types and storage devices.

You also get a few extra features with the package. For instance, the Enhanced Recovery option offers the best results with removable devices. Meanwhile, its corrupted video repair utility and NAS data recovery are also great. Considering it is from Wondershare, the interface is free of issues.

The premium plans for Wondershare Recoverit are available for $79.99 per month.

Pros

Versatile file recovery
User-friendly design
Supports over 1000 file types

Cons

It may not be effective in all data loss scenarios

#7 TestDisk

If you believe you’re technically sound and can work with complex tools while referring to a few tutorials and walkthroughs, then TestDisk is for you. For starters, TestDisk is open software designed to recover lost partitions and can make non-booting disks bootable again.

One capable of using TestDisk would never consider checking out any tools as it can easily handle all the recovery operations. TestDisk can easily compete with any modern data recovery tool, but the downside lies in its complexity and outdated interface.

However, it would be an absolute steal for only those who can figure out how to use it.

Pros

Free and open-source
Supports multiple file systems
Powerful recovery features

Cons

Steep learning curve

#8 DiskGenius

DiskGenius is another disk management and data recovery software that is extremely efficient at recovering lost data. We were extremely happy with its performance, but the reason for not considering it for top spots was its interface.

The interface is very technical, and most people might find it confusing, and only a few would navigate around and use the features without difficulty. There are no additional limitations; on the bright side, it supports multiple file systems and storage devices.

We have noticed the paid version offers additional flexibility, but there is no improvement to the interface. Hence, we suggest looking for a recovery tool with an intuitive interface that provides great performance and recovery rate.

Pros

Comprehensive partition management
Supports virtual disk images
HEX editor

Cons

Complex interface for beginners

#9 Disk Drill

If you don’t want to go through the entire process of restoring and recovering a partition to get back the lost data, then Disk Drill is for you. Disk Drill is an efficient and reliable data recovery suite that can recover lost data from removable drives, hard drives, and physical/virtual partitions.

Like other disk recovery tools, it has advanced scanning algorithms and support for multiple storage devices and file types. However, it stands out from the rest because of its special tools, such as disk cleanup, duplicate file finder, and disk health monitoring.

The intuitive interface of Disk Drill is probably the best looking in its segment and matches the theme of Windows 11. One wouldn’t find it difficult to navigate, and even beginners can easily use this tool to recover lost data.

Pros

User-friendly interface
Supports various file systems
Free version available

Cons

Limited features in the free version

#10 Stellar Data Recovery

While looking for data recovery with an extremely simple and user-friendly interface, we crossed paths with the Stellar Data Recovery tool. The interface is so straightforward that an individual with no prior experience or knowledge would use it straight away with ease.

We felt nothing new with the Stellar Data Recovery tool except for the interface. Like every other data recovery tool, it features custom advanced scanning algorithms paired with support for multiple storage devices and file types.

The recovery rate is promising, and purchasing a pro version can help you gain access to a few perks. These additional perks enhance the overall usability and performance, resulting in better data recovery. These paid plans start at $69.99.

Pros

Advanced recovery features
Supports encrypted drives
User-friendly interface

Cons

Expensive compared to competitors

Comparison

Tool	Best For	Key Features	Pricing	Pros	Cons
EaseUS Partition Recovery	Overall ease of use and high success rates	3-step recovery, wide compatibility	Starts at $49.95/month	User-friendly interface, powerful scanning algorithms	Limited effectiveness in certain data loss scenarios
AOMEI Partition Assistant	Versatile partition management and OS migration	Comprehensive partition tool, OS migration	Starts at $49.95/year	Easy partition management, drag-and-drop interface	Poor error handling
Disk Internals Partition Recovery	Repairing damaged partitions and professional-grade recovery	Three scanning modes, RAID recovery	Starts at $39.95 (Personal)	File preview feature, supports RAID recovery	Can be complex for beginners
MiniTool Power Data Recovery	Recovering a wide range of file types	Supports various storage devices, quick scan option	Starts at $69/month	Easy to use, supports various storage devices	1GB recovery limit in the free version
Hetman Partition Recovery	Recovering from various storage devices and file systems	Supports multiple file systems, HEX editor	Starts at $37.95	User-friendly interface, supports all Windows versions	Conflicts with anti-malware suites
Recoverit Data Recovery	Versatile file recovery beyond just partitions	Supports over 1000 file types, enhanced recovery option	Starts at $79.99/month	Versatile file recovery, user-friendly design	May not be effective in all data loss scenarios
TestDisk	Free option for advanced users	Open-source, powerful recovery features	Free	Free and open-source, supports multiple file systems	Steep learning curve
DiskGenius	Comprehensive disk management and recovery	Partition management, data recovery, HEX editor	Free version available, paid starts at $69.90	Comprehensive partition management, supports virtual disk images	Complex interface for beginners
Disk Drill	User-friendly interface and additional disk health tools	Supports various file systems, free version available	Starts at $89	User-friendly interface, supports various file systems	Limited features in the free version
Stellar Data Recovery	Simple, straightforward recovery for beginners	Advanced recovery features, supports encrypted drives	Starts at $69.99	User-friendly interface, supports encrypted drives	Expensive compared to competit

Conclusion

To wrap this up, recovering a lost partition loss and its associated data is a frustrating experience. However, you can ease the process with the right Partition Recovery tools.

Independently developed tools like our pick, EaseUS Partition Recovery, represents the best choice for most users, and AOMEI Partition Assistant remains the complete solution for advanced operations.

However, if you are willing to take some extra effort, you can try command line-based tools as well. So, the final choice is between convenience and whether you want to spend.

FAQs

Is it safe to use partition recovery software?

It is safe to use partition recovery software if you download it from a reputable source and follow the instructions carefully. We suggest checking if the tool is prominent and has decent reviews. Also, try the free version before subscribing or purchasing a tool.

Can I recover the lost partitions and their data entirely?

There is no guarantee about total data recovery with any of the recovery tools mentioned above. Also, remember that misusing these tools can lead to data loss and partition deletion.

What precautions should I take to prevent future data loss and partition damage?

Here are a few suggestions from us that would help you with preventing data loss and partition damage in the future;

Always back up data regularly.
Use reliable Anti-virus software.
Invest in a UPS to avoid power failures.
Always update your device.
Download only trusted software or tools.
Eject external storage devices carefully.
Handle storage devices with care.

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Top 10 Partition Recovery Tools for Windows

What is partition recovery software & why you need it?