GNU ddrescue
Developed by GNU ProjectFree Linux tool that copies data from a drive with bad sectors, saving the good areas first.
Links open the official website of GNU Project. Data Recovery Mumbai is not the developer of this software.
What is GNU ddrescue?
GNU ddrescue copies a whole disk or partition to an image or another disk, reading the easy areas first and coming back to bad sectors later. A map file lets you stop and resume. Recovery tools are then run on the copy, not on the weak original.
Use it only on drives that are detected and spin normally. If a drive clicks, beeps or is not detected, more reading can destroy it — that needs a clean-room lab.
Best for
- Drives with a few bad sectors
- Making an image before recovery
- Technicians on Linux
Quick facts
- Developer
- GNU Project
- Category
- Data Recovery
- Platforms
- Linux
- Licence
- 100% Free
- Website
- gnu.org
What GNU ddrescue can do
Smart cloning
Copies good areas first, bad areas later.
Map file
Stop and resume the copy at any time.
Image or disk
Clone to an image file or another drive.
Retries
Retry bad areas a set number of times.
Free software
Part of the GNU project.
Using it in 3 steps
-
1
Select the drive
Choose the disk, partition or folder where the files were lost.
-
2
Scan
Run a quick scan first, then a deep scan for formatted or RAW drives.
-
3
Save safely
Save the found files to a DIFFERENT drive, never the one you are recovering.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free and very reliable
- Resumable
- Protects the original drive from repeated scans
Cons
- Linux / command line only
- Not for clicking or physically failed drives
System requirements
- Runs on: Linux
- A separate drive with enough free space to save the recovered files
- Check the official website for the latest version and full system requirements
Professional recovery in our Class 100 clean-room lab
| DIY software | Data Recovery Mumbai | |
|---|---|---|
| Deleted / formatted files | ||
| Clicking / dead hard disk | ||
| Burnt PCB / firmware fault | ||
| Dead SSD / RAID / server | ||
| Free diagnosis, no data – no charge | — |
GNU ddrescue FAQ
Questions we often hear from customers who tried this software first.
GNU ddrescue is a product of GNU Project. Data Recovery Mumbai is an independent data recovery lab and is not affiliated with the developer. All trademarks belong to their owners. Information is for guidance; check the official website for current features and prices.