8 popular data recovery tools for Linux

These open source data recovery tools can help you out  to recover your disk failure  Linux system:

1. Knoppix

Knoppix is one of the most poular recovery software available for Linux platform. It comes as bootable CD version with list of GNU/Linux software. Knoppix can auto detect the hardware and optimize the recovery tool by itself. Since it comes as bootable CD, you can use it as Linux demo, educational CD, rescue software or even a platform for commercial software product demos.

2. Trinity Rescue Kit

This is a free live Linux distribution that helps user to recovery and repair operations on Windows PCs. Anybody can easily use TRK to perform system maintenance and repair tasks such as password reset, disk cleanup to virus scanning on PC. However it can be used as it is on Linux systems also. Trinity Rescue Kit v3.4 and later have user friendly interface with scrollable text menu.

3. Avira Rescue System

This open source application can access the computer data of a damaged hard drive. It is possible to repair a damaged system, to rescue data or scan the system for viruses using Avira Rescue System. You can burn the software package on CD/DVD and use it to boot the computer.

4. GParted Live

This is a small Linux distribution designed for x86 based computers.GParted Live supports array of filesystem hence, it can be used to recover the damaged partition. It packs all the features of latest GParted apps. You can create a bootable CD, USB or PXE Server to boot GParted Live.

5. System RescueCd

This is a Linux system rescue disk with number of bootable recovery software. RescueCd packs number of Linux software, system tools, basic tools etc. It can be booted from CD/DVD or USB stick. You can easily carry out most admin tasks on computer like creating and editing hard disk partitions, clearing memory cache etc. RescueCd kernel supports all major file systems for Linux.

6. Ubuntu Rescue Remix

This is a robust yet lean system for recovery software, data recovery and forensics. Ubuntu Rescue Remix uses terminal commands UI for operations. It has a unique tool called ddrutility, which identifies files affected by unrecoverable blocks on disk image. This is the best bet for systems with low hardware configuration. The command line environment features all the functions of powerful data recovery software.

7. F-Secure Rescue CD

This data recovery tool is based on Knnopix derivative of Linux OS, which lets user run the software completely from a CD and check integrity of installed applications. This tool is capable of recovering the system from malware infections. However, this tool cannot scan the encrypted hard drive. It is possible to perform advance data repair and recovery using F-Secure Rescue CD.

8. Ddrescue

This data recovery tool from GPU comes very handy in copying data from one file or block device to another. If read error occurs, it automatically rescues the data. You can always terminate any automatically triggered operation in Ddrescue. The basic operation of Ddrescue remains fully automatic. Ddrescue can detect the memory errors, dead blocks, log file as well as rescue the good part of it. It operates automatically.