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SPECIFICTION
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partrevive

github.com

Free plan WindowsLinux
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Spec score 8.4 #9 of 33 in Partition recovery software

What it is

partrevive is a free, MIT-licensed utility for finding and recovering lost or deleted partition tables. It scans disks for filesystem signatures, then checks candidate filesystems through read-only loop devices and mounts to distinguish live data from ghosts. Commands cover scanning, verification, planning, file rescue, table restoration, automatic recovery, undo and disk imaging; a Tkinter interface guides users through scanning, verification, planning and restoration. The project lists NTFS, FAT12/16/32, exFAT, ext2/3/4, btrfs, XFS, F2FS and Linux swap as detected formats. It reports LVM2 and LUKS but does not rebuild them. GPT is the default restore format; MBR is available with `--mbr` and is limited to four primary partitions. Imaging uses ddrescue in two passes with a mapfile, and recovery can use a disk image. Before writing, restore and auto save the current table and check SMART health; restore prompts by default and refuses a mounted target. The single-file Python 3 program requires root and Linux system tools on PATH. The project is described as early, and fragmented or overwritten filesystems may mount incompletely.

Spec sheet

Purpose
partrevive scans raw disks for filesystem signatures, verifies candidate partitions read-only, and helps rebuild a lost partition table.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
The repository states that partrevive is MIT licensed.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Maker
The maintainer profile identifies the maker as Ned Heller and lists Bay Area as the location.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Dependencies
The single-file Python 3 program uses the standard library and requires root plus sgdisk, blkid, losetup, mount, partprobe, and blockdev on PATH.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Disk images
A disk image file can be used as the device input, and the image command uses ddrescue in two passes with a mapfile.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Disk imaging
The image command uses ddrescue in two passes with a mapfile, and the tool can recover against a disk image file.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Download and requirements
The project is a single Python 3 file using the standard library and requires root plus sgdisk, blkid, losetup, mount, partprobe, and blockdev on PATH.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Filesystem support
It detects NTFS, FAT12/16/32, exFAT, ext2/3/4, btrfs, XFS, F2FS, and Linux swap; LVM2 and LUKS are reported but not rebuilt.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
GUI
An optional Tkinter GUI presents a guided scan and verify, plan, and restore workflow.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limitations
LUKS and LVM2 volumes are flagged but not sized, mounted, or included in the proposed partition table.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Maturity
The README describes the project as early and reports testing recovery of a deleted GPT on a 240 GB SATA SSD.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Partition formats
It restores GPT by default and can write an MBR table with --mbr, limited to four primary partitions.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Project maturity
The README describes the project as early and says it has been tested on a 240 GB SATA SSD recovery involving Windows partitions over stale Linux partitions.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Read-only verification
Its verify command checks candidates using read-only loop devices and mounts, classifying filesystems with data as live and unmountable candidates as ghosts.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Recovery steps
Its commands support scanning, verification, planning, rescuing files, restoring a table, undoing a saved table, and imaging a failing drive.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Recovery workflow
The CLI provides scan, verify, plan, rescue, restore, auto, undo, and image commands.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Safety
Restore backs up the existing partition table, prompts before writing by default, refuses to act on a mounted target, and can be undone from the saved backup.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
SMART check
Before writing, restore and auto check SMART health and refuse a failing drive unless --force is supplied.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Verification
It creates read-only views of candidates and mount-tests them to distinguish live filesystems from stale ghosts.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Write safety
Only restore and auto write the partition table; the tool saves the existing table first and restore refuses to operate on a mounted target.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

MIT licensed Free Single-file Python utility · requires root and Linux system tools Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every partrevive plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Read-only verification helps distinguish live filesystems from ghosts.
  • Supports recovery from disk image files.
  • Saves the existing table before writing.
  • Checks SMART health before writes.
  • Includes a GUI and command-line workflow.

Limits

  • Requires root and several Linux system tools.
  • LVM2 and LUKS are reported but not rebuilt.
  • Fragmented or overwritten filesystems may be incomplete.
  • Project is described as early.

Who it suits

partrevive may suit Linux users who need to investigate or recover a lost partition table and are comfortable running a root-required command-line tool. Its Tkinter front end also guides users through key recovery steps.

Verdict

partrevive offers a broad recovery workflow with safeguards around partition-table writes, but it requires root and external system tools. Treat mounted recovered filesystems as potentially incomplete and check recovered data.

Where Specifiction places it

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