In most cases Disk Drill can recover any file types but successful recovery depends on many factors. The most important factor is the recovery mode used. Disk Drill features 3 scanning and recovery methods:
– undelete from the media protected with Recovery Vault or Guaranteed Recovery beforehand
This type of recovery is not only free but also is extremely precise. You can recover all protected files, no matter what type of files they are.
– undelete using the Quick Scan option
When running Quick Scan the engine of Disk Drill locates deletes files using the data from existing journal or file table. This method is fast and easy but not always effective because not all deleted files still exist in the areas of search.
– undelete using the Deep Scan option
Deep Scan is based on the search for file signatures that Disk Drill has in its database. It’s the most precise method and in most cases the only option in case your media was not protected with Recovery Vault or Guaranteed Recovery in advance. If you are using Deep Scan, make sure you’ve checked “Preferences -> File types”, this list contains all the file signatures known to Disk Drill.
So, when you need to recover deleted PDF files you have the following recovery options:
- Undelete PDF files from the protected partitions in case you have enabled Recovery Vault or Guaranteed Recovery before the data loss happened.
- Run Quick Scan and recover your PDF files in case the information about those files is still available in file table.
- Recover files with the help of Deep Scan. Now even PDF signature is supported, meaning that Disk Drill can locate those files even if nothing else works.
