You try to copy a folder off an old drive or a scratched disc, and Explorer gives up at the first file it can't read. You end up with nothing, even though most of the data is still there. Roadkil's Unstoppable Copier is built for that situation.
Quick facts
- Version: 5.2
- Platforms: Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 and 11. A Linux build also exists.
- Price: Free. The vendor says its programs are free for personal and business use, and it accepts donations.
- Languages: English and German
Key features
Copy files from disks that give read errors
It copies files from disks with bad sectors, scratches, or other read errors. It tries to recover every readable piece of a file and puts the pieces together. Most file types can still be made usable even when some parts can't be recovered.
Choose how hard it tries
You can change the recovery level. It ranges from very intense recovery attempts to skipping damaged files completely, so you can get the easy files first.
Pause and resume in the middle of a file
You can pause the recovery process and resume it later, even partway through a file.
A log of what was copied and what failed
With logging turned on, the program records details on transferred files, their integrity and the offsets of any errors.
Drag and drop, plus batch mode
You can drag folder structures or single files onto the window. A batch mode tab lets you build a list of source and target folders, which suits regular backup jobs.
Who it's for
It suits anyone with a scratched CD or DVD, a failing floppy, or a hard disk that still mounts but throws read errors. It also works as a plain file copier.
Pros and cons
- Pro: It is free.
- Pro: It is a small program.
- Pro: You control how aggressive the recovery is.
- Con: Parts that can't be read are lost, so a recovered file may be incomplete.
- Con: The latest release is old, so you get no recent updates.
- Con: It only offers English and German.
FAQs
Does it cost anything?
No. The vendor provides its programs free of charge and asks for optional donations.
Will it recover every file?
Not always. It recovers every readable piece, but data that can't be read stays missing. Check the log to see which files had errors.
Can I use it for regular backups?
Yes. Batch mode lets you save a list of source and target folders for repeated copying.
Which languages does it support?
You can switch the interface between English and German.