Active@ File Recovery

Name: Active@ File Recovery
Availability: InStock
Author: LSoft Technologies Inc

Active@ File Recovery is a data recovery application that restores deleted, formatted or otherwise lost files from hard drives, SSDs, USB drives and memory cards. It supports NTFS, FAT, exFAT, HFS+, Linux Ext and APFS file systems, and includes a signature-based deep scan engine called SuperScan that can find files even when the file system structure is completely destroyed.

What it does

The QuickScan mode examines file system records to locate recently deleted files while preserving their original folder structure and file names. This works well when files were deleted from the Recycle Bin or lost due to a minor file system error. Results appear within seconds on healthy drives, and a preview pane lets you verify photos, videos, documents and archives before committing to recovery.

When QuickScan does not find what you need, SuperScan performs a byte-level sweep of the entire drive, identifying files by their binary signatures regardless of whether the file system is intact. This is the mode you turn to after an accidental format, partition table corruption, or when a drive is no longer recognized by Windows. For physically failing drives, you can create a sector-by-sector disk image first and then scan the image file instead, which avoids putting additional stress on damaged hardware.

Advantages

SuperScan recovers files even after full format or partition table destruction
Supports a wide range of file systems including NTFS, FAT, HFS+, Ext and APFS
Disk imaging feature protects failing drives from further damage during recovery
Bootable recovery environment lets you recover data when Windows will not start

Drawbacks

Paid software with no free recovery allowance, only a free scan preview
SuperScan on large drives can take several hours to complete
Files recovered by signature scan lose their original names and folder structure
RAID reconstruction requires manual input of array configuration parameters

Who it is for

I have used Active@ File Recovery on drives where Recuva and other free tools came up empty, and the SuperScan mode pulled back files I assumed were gone for good after an accidental format. If you work in IT support or data recovery and need a tool that handles more than just simple undelete, the combination of disk imaging, signature scanning and RAID support covers most scenarios you will encounter. For casual one-time recovery of a few deleted photos, a free tool like Recuva might be sufficient, but for anything involving formatted drives or damaged partitions, Active@ File Recovery justifies its price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Active@ File Recovery free?

The free version lets you scan and preview recoverable files but does not let you save them. Actual file recovery requires purchasing a license.

Can Active@ File Recovery restore files after formatting?

Yes. The SuperScan engine performs a byte-level sweep that identifies files by their binary signatures, regardless of whether the file system is intact. This works after both quick and full formats.

What file systems does Active@ File Recovery support?

It supports NTFS, FAT, exFAT, HFS+, Linux Ext2/3/4, and Apple APFS. This covers Windows, macOS, and Linux drives.

Can I recover files from a failing drive?

Yes. Create a sector-by-sector disk image of the failing drive first, then run recovery scans on the image file. This avoids putting additional stress on the damaged hardware.

Features & How-To Guide

#	Feature	How to use
1	Deleted file recovery	Select disk › QuickScan › List of deleted files with the original folder structure preserved › Check files › Recover › Choose save location.
2	Data recovery after disk formatting	Select a formatted disk › SuperScan (signature scanning) › Scans the entire disk byte by byte › Recognizes files by signatures (header/footer).
3	Lost partition recovery 2	Select physical disk › SuperScan › Detects lost partitions › Displays their contents › Recover files or the entire partition.
4	File preview before recovery	After scanning › Click a found file › Preview in the side panel (images/documents/archives) › Verify whether the file is intact.
5	Data recovery from memory cards	Connect an SD/microSD card via a card reader › QuickScan or SuperScan › Recover photos/video deleted from a camera or phone.
6	Disk image creation	Select disk › Create Disk Image › Save the image as a .raw/.img file › Scan the image instead of the original disk › Safer for damaged disks.
7	Bootable recovery environment	Create a bootable USB stick with Active@ Boot Disk › Boot the computer from USB › Recover data from a system that does not start.
8	Scan result filtering	After scanning › Filter panel › Select category (Documents/Photos/Video/Archives) › Or type an extension (.docx, .jpg) › Narrow down results.
9	Recovery from damaged disk	First create a disk image (Create Disk Image) › Then scan the image › Minimizes further damage to the original.
10	Recovery from RAID array	RAID Reconstructor › Provide RAID configuration (RAID 0/1/5) › Point to member disks › Reconstruct the array virtually › Scan and recover data.