Active@ File Recovery review
A broad Windows recovery toolkit with virtual RAID reconstruction and bootable recovery options.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Active@ File Recovery is Windows desktop software for recovering deleted files, damaged or reformatted volumes, partitions, disks, and RAID arrays. It is aimed at personal users and organizations handling local recovery from non-booting or damaged systems. The software supports FAT, exFAT, NTFS, ReFS, HFS+, UFS, XFS, JFS, Ext2, Ext3, Ext4, and BtrFS, along with disk images and virtual machine images.
Its paid editions are divided by audience and capability. Standard Personal and Standard Corporate cover deleted files plus deleted or damaged partitions. Professional Personal and Professional Corporate add a disk editor, damaged-RAID recovery, custom signatures, and File Organizer. Ultimate Personal and Ultimate Corporate include the Professional features, a bootable WinPE recovery environment, and a Linux-based Active@ LiveCD. A free evaluation version is limited to restoring files up to 65 KB, so fuller recovery work requires a paid edition.
The standout capability is its combination of virtual RAID reconstruction, disk-image recovery, and multiple recovery paths. QuickScan, SuperScan, and LastChance modes provide different approaches, while signature scanning and custom signatures help address file types beyond ordinary filesystem recovery. Bootable media supports recovery from non-bootable systems, and the disk editor allows inspection of raw disk sectors. Choose Active@ File Recovery if you need a Windows-based toolkit covering deleted files, damaged volumes, disk images, and RAID 0, 1, 5, or Span reconstruction. Choose an alternative if you require a non-Windows platform or do not need its broader recovery feature set.
Active@ File Recovery pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Reconstructs RAID 0, 1, 5, and Span arrays virtually
- Supports disk images, custom signatures, and three scan modes
- Ultimate editions include bootable WinPE and Linux-based recovery media
- Where it doesn't
- Runs only on Windows
- Advanced RAID recovery requires a Professional edition
- The evaluation restores files only up to 65 KB
Active@ File Recovery fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update