Discover the Best PC Inspector Alternative for File Restoration

When PC Inspector falls short of your file restoration needs, finding a robust alternative becomes essential. This guide highlights the best PC Inspector alternatives, each vetted for their effectiveness in recovering various file types including documents, photos, videos, etc. from hard drives, SSDs, SD cards, and more.

Aria

By Aria / Updated on September 19, 2025

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About PC Inspector File Recovery

When it comes to free data recovery tools, PC Inspector File Recovery has been around for many years and is often one of the first names users come across. It’s a lightweight program designed to restore deleted files, lost partitions, and corrupted drives. It mainly focuses on recovering deleted files from Windows file systems (FAT12/16/32 and NTFS). Its last major update was around 2005.

PC Inspector

Over the past few decades, it has helped countless users recover their precious files. However, it has become somewhat inadequate for today's more complex data loss scenarios and higher demands for data recovery volume. In that case, you may need to look for a PC inspector alternative.

The Pros and Cons of PC Inspector File Recovery

It is crucial to understand its advantages and disadvantages before deciding whether to use it or choose an alternative. Like most freeware, PC Inspector has its strengths and limitations.

👍 Pros:

Free to use: For users with a zero budget, it is the first choice to try.

Cover some simple scenarios: For cases where files were accidentally deleted recently and there haven't been many new write operations, the recovery success rate is quite good.

Deep scanning capability: Even if the partition table is lost or the hard drive is damaged, there is a certain chance to find the lost files.

👎 Cons:

Limited compatibility: It is mainly suitable for older versions of Windows and is not fully optimized for Windows 10/11.

Outdated interface: The interface is relatively obsolete and not intuitive enough, making it difficult for new users to get started.

Lack of support for modern large hard drives and file systems: Support for exFAT and GPT partition tables is very limited or non-existent. When it comes to data recovery from hard drives larger than 2TB, performance may be unstable.

Insufficient support for file formats: While it can recover common files, its support for special file types such as multimedia formats and compressed packages is limited.

Lack of updates: Its last update was 20 years ago, with features remaining at the level of early versions.

How to Use PC Inspector File Recovery

Although PC Inspector File Recovery is an older tool, many users still try it for basic data restoration. Here’s how you can use it:

Step 1. Go to the official PC Inspector File Recovery website, download and install it on your Windows. Make sure you install PC Inspector on a drive different from the one containing your missing data.

Step 2. Launch the program and choose your preferred language, then select the Recovery Mode that fits your situation.

  • Recover deleted files: If you deleted the files by your own, choose this option.
  • Find lost data: If you accidentally formatted the drive or system crashed, choose this option.
  • Find lost drive: If you can't find the drive in File Explorer or the drive become inaccessible, choose this option.

Choose a Recovery Mode

Step 3. From the list of available drives, select the one where your lost files were located. The program will scan the selected drive for lost files.

Scanning Drives

Step 4. Once scanning is complete, you’ll see a list of recoverable files and folders in "Deleted" folder.

Choose Files from Deleted Folder

Step 5. Choose a different drive (not the original one) as the destination folder to avoid overwriting, then click checkmark to recover your files.

Save Recovered Files

Because PC Inspector is an older tool, recovery success can vary. If you’re on Windows 10 or 11 and need a more reliable option, you may want to consider a modern alternative to PC Inspector File Recovery.

The Best PC Inspector Alternative—MyRecover

One of the most recommended alternatives is MyRecover, a professional yet easy-to-use recovery solution. Unlike older freeware, MyRecover is updated regularly and uses advanced algorithms to ensure higher recovery success rates. With it, you can recover data from hard drives, SSDs, SD cards, and even crashed systems, making it a strong PC inspector alternative for Windows users who need reliability.

Why Choose MyRecover?

Here are some reasons why MyRecover stands out as a PC Inspector File Recovery alternative:

Intuitive interface – Simple graphical interface for easy file recovery requiring no technical expertise.

High recovery success rate – Advanced deep scan for NTFS/FAT32/exFAT drives.

500+ Devices Support – Recover files from all types of devices like SSD, HDD, USB flash drive, SD card, cameras, game console drives and more.

Handle 500+ Data Loss ScenariosRecover from deleted partition, formatted hard drive, emptied Recycle Bin, system crash, virus attack, etc.

Supports over 1,000 file types – Including documents, photos, videos, audio, archives, and Outlook data files.

Smart scan modes – Choose from Quick Scan for recent deletions or Deep Scan for formatted/corrupted drives.

Smart Filtering – Recover files by type, date, or size with precision.

OS Compatibility – Work not only on Windows 11 /10, but also on Windows 8.1/ 8/ 7 and all Servers.

Step-by-Step Guide to Recover Data with MyRecover

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer from Microsoft Store, avoid installing it on the drive with lost files.

Download FreewareWin 11/10/8.1/8/7/Server
Secure Download

Step 2. Launch it and select the drive where the lost files were stored, then click "Scan". If the quick scan doesn't find the files you're looking for, you can click "Deep Scan" to locate more file fragments.

Select Drive to Scan

Step 3. Select "Path" tab, choose the files you would like to recover based on the original path of the lost files, then click "Recover" to return it. Similarly, you can also select "Type" and combine file types with their original paths to quickly find the files you want.

Choose Files to Recover

Step 4. Choose a destination folder (not the original one) to save the recovered files.

Choose Destination Folder to Save

Once the process is completed, the message "Files have been recovered successfully" will pop up. You can check the recovered files by clicking on the "Browse" button or the destination folder path.

Recover Successfully

A Quick Comparison of PC Inspector File Recovery and MyRecover

In short, MyRecover provides everything PC Inspector lacks reliability, speed, and ease of use. Clearly, MyRecover comes out ahead as the stronger PC Inspector alternative.

Features MyRecover PC Inspector
Modern and Easy Interface ❌(Outdated UI)
Recycle Bin Recovery
Preview File Content
Supports Multiple File Formats ❌(Limited)
Supports Various Storage Devices ❌(Limited)
Recover from Path and Type
Supports All Windows Systems ❌(Limited to Old Versions)

FAQs:

Q1: How can I recover my PC data?

For data accidentally deleted from your computer, you can first check the Recycle Bin or see if there is a backup available. If it's not in the Recycle Bin and no backups are accessible, MyRecover is recommended for higher success and ease of use.

Q2: Is there a free data recovery software?

Yes, Windows also offers a free command-line data recovery tool called Windows File Recovery. It is completely free but not very user-friendly for computer beginners. MyRecover also provides a free version, which is more suitable for both novices and professionals.

Q3: Can you retrieve data from a computer that won't turn on?

Yes, that's exactly where MyRecover stands out. The Professional version of MyRecover allows users to recover data from unbootable computers by creating a bootable disk.

Summary

While PC Inspector File Recovery remains a classic choice for basic recovery tasks, it shows its age with limited features and an outdated interface. If you’re looking for a more modern, comprehensive, and user-friendly solution, MyRecover is the ideal PC Inspector alternative. Download MyRecover today and experience a smarter, faster way to recover your files.

Aria
Aria · Editor
I've been specializing in the data recovery industry for years. I am dedicated to translating intricate software features and functions into plain - language explanations, enabling everyone to understand how to utilize the data recovery software effectively and retrieve their valuable data with confidence. My overarching professional objective is to bridge the gap between complex data recovery technologies and users of all skill levels. Through my work, I strive to eliminate the common anxiety associated with data loss, thereby providing a reliable method for safeguarding digital assets.