iBOYSOFT DATA RECOVERY
iBoySoft Data Recovery is a powerful data recovery software designed to help users recover lost, deleted, or formatted files from various storage devices, including hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, and memory cards. It claims to support multiple file systems (including NTFS, FAT, HFS+, APFS, exFAT), making it a versatile solution for both Windows and macOS users. In this review, we’ll explore the features, performance, ease of use, pros, cons, and overall value of iBoySoft Data Recovery.
Installation of iBoysoft is straightforward but does need some additional System Settings approval. This is a common system protection warning on the newer macOS versions. It does however need an additional installation of a Kernel extension and a final reboot to complete its installation.
Starting with macOS 11, if third-party kernel extensions (kexts) are enabled, they can’t be loaded into the kernel on demand. Instead, they’re merged into an Auxiliary Kernel Collection (AuxKC), which is loaded during the boot process. For a Mac with Apple silicon, the measurement of the AuxKC is signed into the LocalPolicy (for previous hardware, the AuxKC resided on the data volume). Rebuilding the AuxKC requires the user’s approval and restarting of the macOS to load the changes into the kernel, and it requires that the secure boot be configured to Reduced Security.
Important: Kexts are no longer recommended for macOS. Kexts risk the integrity and reliability of the operating system, and Apple recommends users select solutions that don’t require extending the kernel.
iBOYSOFT INTERFACE
iBoysoft Data Recovery presents a clean and minimalist interface.
SETTINGS of iBOYSOFT DATA RECOVERY
The provided settings show an easy menu with file types you wish to recover and the disc format file type.
Fully compatible with T2 and Apple silicon, Unbootable Mac recovery support. SSDs, HDDs, USB flash drives, SD cards are supported.
Recover Data from External Disks on Mac
Mac users create a DMG (disk image) file that is a compressed copy of entire content of a disk or partition for backup or saving disk space.
File Restoration from an Unbootable Mac
This macOS and OS X file recovery software can be launched in macOS Recovery Mode without creating a bootable drive nor software installation. It specializes in recovering lost data from a Mac that failed to turn on due to macOS/Mac OS X crash or file system corruption.
File Recovery from Mac’s Startup Disk
iBoysoft perfectly supports Mac APFS data recovery from an APFS formatted volume or disk. It also helps find the lost APFS partitions and recover lost files from them.
This Mac hard drive recovery software fully supports recovering data from Mac’s hard drive even it is encrypted by Secure Enclave technology of T2 Security chip or Apple silicon M1, M2, by APFS ecnryption, or by FileVault 2.
HOW DOES IT WORK
Lets use the analogy that your device is a book, and the blocks of the hard disk/SSD are the the pages of the book.
Naturally, your data would be the text contained in the pages of the book.
Now consider a flag – 0 or 1, indicating whether a page of the book is empty or is occupied by some text. The net ‘free capacity‘ of your hard drive is empty is the sum of the block sizes of the pages which are marked as 0 (empty). Makes sense, right?
Firstly, let us understand what happens when you delete a file. Does it vanish in thin air?
The answer is NO. The file never gets deleted, but what happens is that the pages of the book which contain the data of the file are now marked with a 0, thus designating the space that the file is using as being available for future use when needed. It is no longer ‘accessible’.
N.B. The deleted data is still there, but you have indicated that you are not concerned about it, since you have deleted it. In course of time, the data in this space can be overwritten by other files, and thus compromising the original file that you had you deleted and intend to recover.
So now, how does the recovery software work?
In layman’s term, data recovery software scours the hard drive to look for the pages marked with 0’s to locate any recoverable data, piecing it back together and providing it in a salvageable format. While deleted files are inaccessible and are in danger of being overwritten, they can often be recovered with professional data recovery tools.
N.B. No Data Recovery software is perfect: if a file has been partially/wholly overwritten or otherwise compromised, recovery chances are low. But if it hasn’t been too long since you deleted the file, the chances of complete recovery are pretty good!
NEED TO DISABLE SIP ?
macOS version 10.13 and later macOS is using the new file system – Apple File System (APFS). It doesn’t allow any application to access to the system hard drive (the hard drive where the macOS is installed). So, no data recovery software can directly scan the system hard drive (also called startup hard drive, boot hard drive, Mac HD, etc) under macOS 10.13 or later macOS. If you want to recover lost data from the system hard drive in APFS, you should disable System Integrity Protection (SIP) first and then run the data recovery software.
Depending on the active macOS on your Mac, you may need to disable SIP depending on the source to recover:
Here’ how to disable Apple integrated System Integrity Protection (SIP)
SPEED
Judging speed of scan-time we need to consider the scanning process involved:
– Normal Scan
– Deep Scan
When do you need a Deep Scan?
When your disk or drive is recognized as RAW or when you want to find more files, the deep scan is necessary. What is a RAW recovery? Data recovery tools usually rebuild lost files in two ways. One is the fast and easy way to locate the files via file directory info. The scan result will be listed in a file tree with the original file name and attributes.
The other is RAW Recovery, which will search and re-create the file directly by searching all Data Field. It requires more time to go through all sectors on a partition. The recovered file will be assigned a new name like FILE001 and all sorted by file types in the “Tags” and “RAW” folder. When the file directory is corrupted, there’s no method to recover files with the right file names and data content. So you need to check the files found by RAW Recovery in order to recover lost data.
🧰 To ensure the success of recovering deleted, lost or formatted files from for instance SD card on Mac, don’t save the recovered files to the SD card again. You know, your device may generate new data, which will overwrite the deleted files in the SD card permanently, making the recovery fail. So, please save them to your Mac or another external hard drive. If you do, you will be risky to lose them again.
iBOYSOFT IN PRACTICE
We created a test file containing the file types, .bmp, .jpg, .jpeg, .word, .xls, .pdf, .doc, .png, .dmg
To test iBoysoft’s recovery capabilities we ran two different test. The first test we erased all data from the testfile with 1 erase where the second test was run after a three times erase.
- Security Option 1 (Fastest) – This option does not securely erase the files on the disk. A disk recovery application may be able to recover the files.
- Security Option 2 – This option writes a pass of random data, and then a single pass of zeros over the entire disk. It erases the information used to access your files and writes over the data 2 times.
- Security Option 3 – This option is a DOE-compliant 3-pass secure erase. It writes two passes of random data followed by a single pass of known data over the entire disk. It erases the information used to access your files and writes over the data 3 times.
- Security Option 4 (Most Secure) – This option writes multiple passes of zeros, ones, and random data over the entire disk. It erases the information used to access your files and writes over the data 7 times.
According to the ‘settings’ only limited audio formats are supported! Our ‘Flac files’ were not recognized by iBoysoft for a recovery procedure. iBoysoft scantime is almost double of Disk Drill where Disk Drill achieves even better results, finding our Flac files and more….
Sofar iBoysoft works well but slow. Its interface is by far not as good as Disk Drill which has a better layout all together. iBoysofts interface looks bulky compared to Disk Drill which has a refined sophisticated definition.
KEY FEATURES of IBOYSOFT DATA RECOVERY
- Comprehensive File Recovery
- iBoySoft Data Recovery supports the recovery of a wide range of file types, including documents, photos, videos, audio files, emails, and even archived files (e.g., ZIP, RAR). Whether you’ve accidentally deleted a file, formatted a drive, or lost data due to system crashes, iBoySoft claims to offer a reliable recovery solution.
- The software can also recover files from raw drives, corrupted partitions, and damaged or inaccessible drives—a feature that adds to its reliability in complex recovery scenarios.
- Advanced Scanning Modes
- iBoySoft provides two main scanning modes:
- Quick Scan: This is the default option, which scans the drive for recently deleted files and quickly recovers files that were deleted in a short time frame.
- Deep Scan: A more thorough scan that takes longer but has the potential to find files that were deleted a long time ago or are from damaged or formatted partitions.
- These scanning modes cater to different recovery needs, allowing users to quickly restore recently deleted files or dive deeper for harder-to-recover data.
- Support for Multiple Devices and File Systems
- iBoySoft Data Recovery is compatible with a variety of devices, including:
- Hard drives (internal and external)
- USB drives
- SD cards (for cameras, smartphones, etc.)
- Memory cards (e.g., microSD)
- Formatted or damaged drives
- The software supports both Windows (NTFS, FAT, exFAT) and macOS (HFS+, APFS, FAT), making it a versatile tool for both PC and Mac users.
- File Preview Before Recovery
- One of the standout features of iBoySoft Data Recovery is the ability to preview files before recovering them. You can preview documents, images, videos, and other file types to ensure you are recovering the right files.
- This feature is especially useful when you have many files to recover and want to avoid unnecessary recoveries, saving both time and storage space.
- Selective File Recovery
- The software allows users to selectively recover files from a scan result. You can browse through the files found by the software and choose only the files you want to restore, making the process more efficient and organized.
- User-Friendly Interface
- The interface is simple and intuitive, designed for users of all skill levels. It offers a clear, step-by-step process, from selecting the drive to scanning and recovering the files. The process is non-technical, ensuring that even beginners can easily recover lost data without any advanced knowledge.
- Preview of File Structure
- iBoySoft Data Recovery also displays the directory structure of the lost or deleted files, which can be crucial for finding files that are buried deep within folders. This feature adds an extra layer of convenience and clarity during the recovery process.
- Safe and Secure Recovery
- The software is designed to be safe to use. It does not overwrite any files during the recovery process, and it restores data to a different location to avoid further data loss. It also ensures that files are restored in their original format and quality whenever possible.
PERFORMANCE
- Scanning Speed
- The quick scan is fast and efficient, typically completing within minutes, depending on the size of the drive. The deep scan, however, can take longer, especially for larger storage devices or drives with extensive data loss. During deep scans, it’s normal for the software to take several hours to thoroughly search the drive for recoverable files.
- Overall, iBoySoft is relatively quick compared to some other data recovery tools, especially for users recovering recently deleted files.
- Recovery Success Rate
- In terms of recovery effectiveness, iBoySoft Data Recovery is generally reliable, with a high success rate in recovering lost or deleted files. The tool is particularly good at recovering files from formatted, corrupted, or damaged drives, which is a key feature that sets it apart from other recovery software.
- That being said, recovery success depends on various factors, including the extent of data corruption, overwriting, or physical damage to the drive. The sooner you attempt recovery after data loss, the higher the chances of success.
- Recovery Quality
- The quality of recovered files is also commendable. iBoySoft ensures that files are restored to their original format and quality, especially with documents, photos, and videos. There are no significant losses in quality during the recovery process, which is important for those relying on the software for professional work.
USER INTERFACE and USABILITY
- Simple Design
- iBoySoft Data Recovery is designed with simplicity in mind. The interface is clean, straightforward, and easy to navigate. The main dashboard offers clear instructions and minimal distractions, ensuring that users can easily follow each step of the recovery process.
- Step-by-Step Process
- The recovery process is broken down into clear steps:
- Select the device or drive you want to recover files from.
- Choose between the quick scan or deep scan.
- Preview and select the files you wish to recover.
- Specify the recovery location (a different drive to avoid overwriting).
- Each of these steps is intuitive and guided by on-screen instructions, ensuring that users can follow along without confusion.
- Compatibility
- The software is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X devices, making it versatile across different operating systems. The interface is also consistent across platforms, so whether you’re using a PC or Mac, the experience remains largely the same.
- High Recovery Success Rate
- iBoySoft boasts a high success rate for recovering a variety of file types from different storage devices, including hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, and even corrupted partitions.
- Support for Both Windows and macOS
- iBoySoft Data Recovery works on both Windows and macOS, allowing it to cater to a wide range of users. It also supports multiple file systems (NTFS, HFS+, APFS, FAT, exFAT), which is important for users working with different devices and storage formats.
- Advanced Scanning Options
- The two scanning modes, quick scan and deep scan, provide flexibility for different recovery needs. The ability to conduct a deep scan increases the likelihood of recovering files from severely damaged or formatted partitions.
- Safe and Secure
- The software ensures that no data is overwritten during the recovery process, offering a safe and secure recovery environment. It’s designed not to damage or further compromise the data on the drive.
- Preview and Selective Recovery
- The ability to preview files and selectively recover only the needed files is an excellent feature. It saves time and ensures that users can recover exactly what they need.
- Pricing
- iBoySoft Data Recovery offers a free trial with limited functionality (you can scan and preview files but cannot recover them). To unlock full recovery features, users need to purchase a license.
- The personal plan starts at $69.95 for a one-year license, which might be on the higher end compared to some other data recovery software options.
- While the pricing may be justifiable for users looking for a reliable and effective solution, it could be a deterrent for users on a tight budget.
- Deep Scan Can Be Time-Consuming
- While the deep scan mode is incredibly effective, it can be time-consuming, especially for large drives or drives with extensive data loss. Users with large storage devices may need to be patient during this process.
- Limited Features on Free Version
- The free version is only useful for scanning and previewing files, but it doesn’t allow users to recover data unless they purchase a full license. For users who need to recover larger amounts of data, the free trial offers limited practical value.
PRICING
- Free Trial: Allows users to scan and preview recoverable files but does not allow actual recovery of files.
- Personal Plan: $69.95 for a one-year license (covers one computer).
- Family Plan: $89.95 for a one-year license (covers up to 3 computers).
- Professional Plan: $99.95 for a one-year license (covers one computer and includes priority support and additional features).
Is iBoySoft Data Recovery Worth It?
iBoySoft Data Recovery is an excellent choice for users looking for a reliable, easy-to-use tool to recover lost files from hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, and other storage devices. It stands out with its high recovery success rate, advanced scanning modes, and support for both Windows and **mac
OS** platforms. The ability to preview files before recovery and selectively restore them is a major plus.
While the pricing may be a bit on the higher side, the software’s comprehensive features, particularly the deep scan mode and the ability to recover from damaged or formatted drives, make it a valuable tool for anyone in need of data recovery. However, the limited features of the free version and the time it takes for deep scans are points to consider.
If you are in need of a reliable, safe, and easy-to-use data recovery solution for personal or professional use, iBoySoft Data Recovery is a great option to consider.
VERDICT
- Pros: High recovery success rate, excellent scanning modes, support for both Windows and macOS, safe recovery process, file preview before recovery.
- Cons: Pricing can be high for casual users, free trial offers limited functionality, deep scans can be time-consuming.
Overall: iBoySoft Data Recovery is a reliable and effective data recovery solution that is well worth considering for users who need to recover lost or damaged files. It is especially recommended for those who need a powerful, user-friendly tool for recovering files from a variety of storage devices.
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