Data recovery software

[GoFigureItOut]

What software has the best success rate of restoring deleted files? Paid or non-paid. I was reading about testdisk and ddrescue, but I'm a little apprehensive when using Linux terminal programs. I've tried using Recuva with no luck. If I'm not mistaken, bootable rescue CD does not work on drives connected with a USB to IDE adapter. I don't mind paying for software, just as long as it works. In the past, I've purchased pretty crappy programs!


Also, what's the best way to remove passwords off of hard drives? I was intrigued about HDD Unlock its seems to be like it would work. Has anyone tried it?

 

[scaminatrix]

I've been talking to some people that work for a company that do data recovery, and they are also contracted by the police to recover data from scum-of-the-earth's machines - they use a program called Coffee.
Aah, it's Cofee, not coffee.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Online_Forensic_Evidence_Extractor

I would have said Recuva - but you said it didn't work for you, so this is the only other program I've heard of that gives good results. If Cofee is used for the type of work and the type of people I've mentioned above then it must be good.

 

[GoFigureItOut]

Thanks, for your reply. Doesn't look like I'll be able to get my hands on Cofee. It seems like its a toolkit only for law enforcement. I recall a case on court TV where a detective mentioned he used software to pull deleted data off a hard drive using CoFee. The Wikipedia page has a link to BackTrack. Are you familiar with BackTrack? I've used it a couple of times just to test my router, but never the data recovery aspect. I'm afraid to even possess CoFee. You know, with Big Brother watching. It might phone home and get me in trouble