One of the worst situations any computer user has to face is when a file—be it a Word document, an image, or a PDF—looks perfectly fine at first glance, but when you try to open it, the program tells you it's damaged in some way. The most effective way to avoid this is redundancy (read as "backups until you're exhausted"), but if that's not an option and you've come to this article wondering how to repair corrupted files, it's possible (although very unlikely) that one of SecureRecovery's tools might get you out of trouble...
Why so much pessimism? The answer is simple: it's justified It's a different story when you accidentally delete a file or a partition decides to 'disappear': the information is still there, just not visible. A corrupted file is usually worse, and in most cases, users end up on their knees. I've seen faces turn into color palettes when they realize their Excel spreadsheet they've been working on for years refuses to open, and they don't have a single backup. Hardware fails, and so does software, a detail many people learned the hard way.
How to Repair Corrupted Files with SecureRecovery
Why? Because the majority of software dedicated to repairing corrupted files is trialware with preview functionality but no saving. In other words, look but don't touch. A (partial) exception is the utility package from FileRepair, where you'll have to download each tool individually depending on the file you want to repair. For example, if the troublesome file is a Word document, the tool is Word File Repair, which once installed is called SecureRecovery for Word. Obviously, FileRepair's portal only offers SecureRecovery installers, but what matters is whether it can actually repair anything. Well... it depends. Even if you're lucky, the repair is not complete because SecureRecovery wants you to pay for the license.
Alternatives? I'm afraid there aren't many. Stellar File Repair Toolkit follows the analysis and preview model. Hetman File Repair does exactly the same. First, the real ability to repair corrupted files is doubtful, and second, license prices are outrageous. You might find a solution with one of these three programs, but the most effective and economical thing is not to end up in this position. Back up your files.
(Editor's note: If you know of a file repair tool that is legitimately free and unrestricted, leave a comment and I'll look into it soon.)
