Updated 22 April. 2023

Comprehensive PDB file recovery for macOS and Windows

PDB recovery

Best 5 data recovery software for PDB, Program Database

Disk Drill
Free version, Pro version $89
Free recovery: Free recovery - 500 MB for Windows
Download
rateDisk Drill
666762
TestDisk
Open Source
Free recovery: Freeware
Download
rateTestDisk
152488
ParetoLogic Data Recovery Pro
Paid $49.97
Free recovery: No free version
Download
rateParetoLogic Data Recovery Pro
15014
Lazesoft
Freeware
Free recovery: Freeware
Download
rateLazesoft
611
iBoysoft
$69.95
Free recovery: Free scan
Download
rateiBoysoft
35675

Summary review

windows icon Our Windows version Windows 11
time icon How long we tested 3 weeks
exam icon Number of tested tools 14

Top 3 factors to consider when choosing PDB recovery software

File preview

There’s a good chance that when you attempt to recover files from a particular storage medium, there will be a whole lot of recoverable files to sift through on the results page. That’s why it helps if the program is equipped with a preview feature that allows you to get a glimpse of a file before recovering it.

Scanning Speed

Just like how not all data recovery programs aren’t created equally in terms of retrieval rates, they also differ in the speeds at which they’re able to scan storage media, whether it’s a regular or deep scan. If it’s a big deal to you, you should look into how quickly the program can get through a recovery session.

Price tag

While there are a few genuinely free data recovery programs out there and some with a decent trial version, they’re often either overly complex, ineffective, or have recovery limits. So if you’re willing to invest, you should find a program that fits your price range. Also, consider whether you’d prefer a program with subscriptions or a one-time payment.

Simple steps to recover deleted PDB, Program Database on Windows & Mac

Step 1:

Install the program on any macOS or Windows computer

Step 2:

Fire up the application and point it at the disk where the files were lost

Step 3:

Begin the scanning process to find deleted files with the Recover button

Step 4:

Select the files that you want to retrieve and click the Recover button again to restore the data

3 best ways to prevent PDB files loss

1 Tip

Do routine maintenance on your computer/laptop. Neglecting your computer or laptop can lead to dust build-up, ventilation issues, and other hardware pitfalls. In turn, this could cause your device to abruptly fail, resulting in data loss. So make sure to always perform regular maintenance on your machine to ensure that it stays in tip-top shape.

2 Tip

Keep food and drink away from your work computer. This one goes without saying, but you’d be surprised by the number of people who keep food and drinks dangerously close to their laptop or computer. No matter how careful you are, uncontrollable circumstances may occur that could cause a spill onto your machine, potentially compromising your data.

3 Tip

Create an image at the first sign of storage failure. If you notice that your storage device is starting to fail, you should immediately create a backup image of the medium so that you can attempt data recovery later. That way, you can preserve whatever information is currently on the drive before it incurs further data loss.

FAQ

For Windows, if you deleted the PDB file using the Delete key or right-click > Delete command, then you should be able to find it in the Recycle Bin. On Mac, deleted X files are moved to the Trash before being deleted permanently. If your file is not present in either of these tools, you’ll need to utilize a free data recovery program.

When PDB files are deleted from a computer, they are not permanently erased just yet. So long as they’re not overwritten by new data, these files remain out of sight on the storage media and can be recovered through quality data recovery programs. Backup tools like File History, System Restore, and Timeline can also be used to recover lost data.

A quality data recovery program should allow for the retrieval of a wide range of different file types, whether they’re documents, images, audio clips, and others. Disk Drill is an excellent option that is capable of recovering PDB extension and you can easily filter out the results by typing the extension into the search bar at the results screen.