Active@ File Recovery

Active@ File Recovery is a Windows utility for retrieving deleted files and data from damaged, formatted, or deleted volumes. It suits users handling varied filesystems, storage devices, disk images, or virtual RAID layouts. Its strongest case is breadth and one-time licensing; the free edition is limited to recovering files no larger than 64 KB.

Overview

Active@ File Recovery supports Windows filesystems such as NTFS, ReFS, FAT, and exFAT alongside HFS+, APFS, XFS, JFS, UFS, BtrFS, and Ext2/3/4. It can scan HDDs and SSDs as well as USB, SATA, eSATA, SAS, SCSI, NVMe, flash drives, and memory cards. That makes it a practical choice for mixed Windows, Linux, and Apple storage, provided the recovery workstation itself runs Windows.

Active@ Scan recognizes files by signature and allows user-defined signatures, offering a recovery path when normal filesystem information is damaged or missing. The software can create and open raw and raw-compressed disk images and work with VMware and VirtualPC HDD images, so investigators and administrators can preserve or process image files rather than repeatedly scanning an original disk.

Key features

Filesystem and device coverage

The unusually broad filesystem list is the main reason to choose Active@ File Recovery over a narrowly Windows-focused undelete tool. It covers common desktop formats and less common Linux and Unix families, while its device support extends from internal drives to removable media and memory cards. The breadth is valuable for technicians and households with several device types; someone recovering only a recently deleted Windows document may not need it.

Virtual RAID and imaging

The virtual RAID builder can reconstruct RAID-0, RAID-1, RAID-5, and Span arrays. That is useful when the original array hardware is unavailable or damaged, but the supported levels do not cover every RAID configuration. Disk-image creation and recovery, including raw, compressed-raw, VMware, and VirtualPC HDD formats, add a safer workflow for working from copies.

Bootable recovery

The Ultimate package includes a WinPE boot disk and a Linux-based LiveCD. These options matter when Windows will not start, because recovery can begin from separate boot media instead of the affected installation. They are not included in the lower tiers.

Windows support and assistance

The product supports Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP, and Windows Server editions from 2003 through 2022. LSoft provides a customer communication center, knowledge base, ticket system, email, and phone support. Its stated site protections include HTTPS, encryption, firewalls, and CRC for personal information.

Pricing

The Demo plan costs 0.00 USD and permits free recovery only for files up to 64 KB. That is enough to confirm that a tiny file can be recovered, but not to handle typical photos, videos, archives, or office files.

Standard Personal costs $29.95, paid once. It is for non-commercial use, covers one license for three PCs, and includes one year of free technical support and updates. Standard Corporate costs $39.95, paid once, permits commercial, academic, or government use, and lets the buyer select the license quantity; it also includes one year of support and updates.

Professional Personal is $44.95, paid once with the same three-PC personal scope and one year of support and updates. Professional Corporate is $64.95, paid once with selectable commercial license quantity. Ultimate Personal costs $69.95, paid once for three PCs, while Ultimate Corporate costs $89.95, paid once with selectable quantity. Ultimate is the tier to choose when bootable WinPE and Linux recovery media are important; Standard and Professional give up that capability. The personal licenses are explicitly non-commercial, so businesses should use a corporate edition.

Platforms

Active@ File Recovery runs on Windows. The listed versions range from Windows XP and Vista through Windows 11, plus Windows Server 2003 through 2022. There is no macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS application in the supported-platform list.

Who it's for

Choose it for a Windows-based recovery workstation that may encounter several filesystems, removable media, virtual disks, or damaged RAID-0, RAID-1, RAID-5, or Span arrays. It is also a sensible fit for organizations that need commercial licensing and selectable seat quantities. It is less suitable if you need to recover large files without buying a license, work primarily on macOS or Linux, or require RAID levels beyond those supported.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Wide filesystem support: NTFS, ReFS, FAT variants, exFAT, APFS, HFS+, Linux filesystems, UFS, and BtrFS cover mixed-device environments.
• Broad media compatibility: Support for modern interfaces, removable drives, flash storage, and memory cards helps with varied recovery sources.
• Image and virtual RAID tools: Disk images and a RAID builder support more controlled, technically demanding recovery work.
• One-time licenses: Personal and corporate editions are purchased once, with one year of included support and updates.

Cons

• 64 KB demo ceiling: The free edition cannot meaningfully recover most everyday files.
• Windows-only: Users needing a native macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS tool must look elsewhere.
• Boot media restricted to Ultimate: Lower-priced editions do not include the WinPE disk or Linux LiveCD.
• Limited RAID range: Virtual rebuilding is listed for four array types, not every RAID layout.

Alternatives

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is the better choice when you need Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows coverage; its One-Month plan is $69.95 a month with one computer and one month of free upgrades.

Disk Drill suits Windows users who want a free edition allowing up to 100 MB of recovery, while its Basic plan does not match Active@'s broader 64 KB restriction.

Ontrack EasyRecovery is worth considering if a free trial and up to 1 GB of recovery with files under 25 MB are priorities.

TestDisk is the free, cross-platform option for partition recovery, boot-sector repair, and file undelete.

DiskGenius is another Windows freemium choice with a free edition and a Professional One-Month plan priced at $69.90 a month.

Sherlock Forensics Recover is aimed at users who want free browsing, preview, export, and raw or E01 image creation, with Pro priced at $295, paid once.

ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery is the alternative when RAID 10, RAID 6, RAID 5E, delayed-parity RAID 5, or NAS and hardware-RAID disk sets are central requirements.

DMDE is a cross-platform freemium option; its Express one-year license costs $20 a year.

For a broader comparison of array-focused tools, see the RAID Data Recovery Software list.

Verdict

Active@ File Recovery is a strong Windows choice for users who need unusually broad filesystem and device coverage, image handling, and virtual RAID reconstruction under straightforward one-time licenses. Choose it when those technical capabilities matter; look elsewhere if a useful free recovery allowance, non-Windows support, or a wider range of RAID layouts is more important.