Data recovery is the process of recovering lost, deleted, corrupt or damaged files. Data recovery software is a software which helps to do the job without going to a professional. File shredding is exactly opposite. When you delete a file using the operating system, it only removes all references to the file. The data can still be recovered using the tools in the same operating system or a data recovery software. When you want to delete the file permanently without giving any chance to recover it by anyone, including a professional, you have to use a file shredder. In windows there is a file shredder named Delete File Permanently. There are other software packages also available for file shredding.

Data recovery software packages execute several functions like file recovery, partition recovery and file repair. These packages also do more functions like drive repair, drive access, sector cloning, network imaging and Hex editing. There are many data recovery software packages available in the market. When the data recovery fails with such software packages you have to take the storage device to a professional lab for recovery of the data. It must be borne in mind that a shredded file cannot be recovered by any means.