Always save recovered files to a USB drive or external hard disk, not the original source drive. Conclusion

Preview images and documents to ensure they aren't corrupted before you decide to purchase a license. Safe Alternatives for Free Data Recovery

Best for recovering entire lost partitions or making non-booting disks bootable again. How to Maximize Your Recovery Success

A powerful, open-source tool that works on almost any operating system. It doesn’t have a flashy interface, but its recovery capabilities are top-tier.

If you cannot afford a premium license, there are several reputable, (open-source or freeware) alternatives that do not require dangerous cracks:

The moment you realize files are missing, stop writing new data to that drive. New files can overwrite the "space" where your old files still reside.