Recover Maxtor Hard Drive Data: getting files back from a Maxtor drive
You plug in your Maxtor drive and Windows says it needs formatting. Or you deleted the wrong partition while using Disk Management. Or the power cut out in the middle of a file transfer. In each case your files may still be on the disk, and the worst thing you can do is keep using the drive. Recover Maxtor Hard Drive Data is built for this situation: it scans the drive and lists what it finds so you can pick files to restore.
Quick facts
- Works on: Windows and Mac versions of the tool are offered for Maxtor drives
- File systems: FAT and NTFS partitions, on 32-bit and 64-bit systems
- File types: more than 300
- Trial: a free trial version is available to download first
Key features
Bring back files after formatting or re-partitioning
The program has two recovery paths: one for deleted or lost partitions and one for formatted or re-formatted partitions. You choose the one that matches what happened to your drive.
Recover data from a drive with bad sectors
If the drive has bad sectors, the tool can create a disk image, an exact copy of the drive saved as a file. This lets it work around the damaged areas.
Find your files by type, name, size or extension
Recovered files appear in a File Type View or Data View. You can also sort them by title, date, size and file extension.
Work with more than just Maxtor internal drives
The vendor says it handles IDE, SCSI, SATA, SAS, USB and FireWire drives, as well as external hard disks. It can also rescue photos from SD cards.
How recovery works
- Disconnect the affected Maxtor drive and attach it to another computer as a secondary drive.
- Install the free trial and choose the option to recover drives.
- Pick partition recovery or formatted recovery.
- Select the Maxtor drive and click Next.
- Wait for the scan, then browse the recovered files.
Who it's for
It suits you if you have lost photos, home videos or work documents from a Maxtor drive and want a guided, step-by-step tool. It is aimed at accidental deletion, formatting, partition mistakes, power failures and crashed drives.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Clear, short process with a main screen, option screen and drive picker
- Handles formatted drives and deleted partitions
- Disk imaging helps with drives that have bad sectors
- Free trial lets you check results before buying
Cons
- It is software recovery only, so it can't repair a physically failing drive
- You need a second computer to connect the affected drive safely
- Files that have been overwritten may not come back, so stop using the drive straight away
FAQs
Can it recover data after I format a Maxtor drive?
Yes. The tool has a dedicated option for formatted and re-formatted partitions.
Should I keep using the drive while I wait?
No. Continued use can overwrite the files you want back. Shut the system down and run recovery from another computer.
Does it work on Mac?
The vendor offers versions for both Windows and Mac, with separate downloads for different Mac OS X releases.
Can I try it before paying?
Yes. The vendor offers a free trial version.
System requirements
The tool runs on 32-bit and 64-bit Windows PCs and reads FAT and NTFS partitions.