Before downloading a hard drive recovery tool in Germany, prepare both the recovery computer and a separate destination disk. A scan result is useful only if you can export and verify the needed files without writing over the source.
Plan the working environment and destination
Identify whether the affected device is a mechanical HDD or an SSD; the same enclosure style does not tell you how deleted data behaves. Check that the recovery computer recognises the device and that the destination has room for the files you need. Keep the original device separate from the recovered output.
If the recovery computer must remain offline, check the edition and activation workflow before beginning. For XRecovery’s offline version, an internet-connected computer exchanges activation information with the offline recovery computer using a companion tool. This should not be read as a claim that every edition has the same connection requirements.
Evaluate XRecovery before exporting everything
XRecovery 3.1.6 runs on Windows and can scan partitions, disks and external devices that Windows recognises. The ordinary scan starts with a quick scan and then proceeds automatically to a deep scan. Preview is available for some mainstream file formats; it is not a complete compatibility test for every result.
The confirmed free recovery allowance is 2GB in total. Use it to check representative files before deciding whether more recovery is worthwhile. File names, thumbnails and scan counts alone are not proof of complete recovery.
Scan, save and verify
- Preserve the source and prepare a different physical device for recovered files. Check backups first, and avoid formatting or repair writes while the missing files are needed.
- Select the intended source by its capacity and identity. Stop if it becomes unstable; scanning software cannot fix physical damage.
- Review available results and previews. Save selected files to the separate destination, then open them with their usual applications and check the important contents.
XRecovery scanning is read-only, but exporting writes data to the destination. Its default warning against saving to the scanned partition can be overridden, so keep the destination separate yourself. No software can guarantee recovery of data that is no longer readable.
Does using desktop software settle my data-handling requirements?
No. Confirm the chosen edition, activation process, destination access and your own organisation’s rules. A country label or a local scan alone is not evidence of compliance.
Before choosing a download or licence
Use the official product information to check the current package, requirements and terms. For users in Germany, also check that the available interface and support arrangements fit your needs; this article does not establish a separate local edition or local service coverage.