FIGURE B

PHOTORECOVERY lets you preview "lost" photo files. Click picture for a larger image.

Now, it's time to save those photos. If you're using the PHOTORECOVERY demo version, you'll need to order the full version now. It's downloadable at http://www.lc-tech.com. If you're already using the full version, here's the catch -- you've already saved them.

The downsides
Here's where we get into some of the disadvantages of PHOTORECOVERY. Don't get me wrong, it's a great program overall. It does exactly what it promises. But the interface is a little counterintuitive.

There's no Save command and there's no prompt that pops up and asks you where you want to save the photos. By default, the program creates a folder on your hard drive called "Recovered" and stashes the files it finds there.

To choose a different folder for storing the lost files, you have to select Options, as seen in Figure C, and find the folder of your choice.

FIGURE C

The save mechanism for PHOTORECOVERY is a bit counterintuitive. Click picture for a larger image.

It's a minor hoop to jump through, but when a software interface is designed with huge, almost kiosk-like, buttons I expect it to be simple enough for a 5-year-old to operate without any fuss.

There's a second downside, if you're a cheapskate like me. PHOTORECOVERY costs about $40. That's a lot of money to spend on a software application that -- with any luck -- you'll only need to use once or twice, ever.

But ask yourself: How much are those photos -- those priceless memories -- worth to you? Do the math and PHOTORECOVERY ends up looking like a bargain. We give PHOTORECOVERY four recovered images out of five.

OUR RATING: 4 of 5

For more than 20 years, David Gewirtz, the author of Where Have All The Emails Gone? and The Flexible Enterprise has analyzed current, historical, and emerging issues relating to technology, competitiveness, and policy. David is the Editor-in-Chief of the ZATZ magazines, is the Cyberterrorism Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals, and can be reached via email at david@zatz.com.