Affordable Tools for Recovering an Unmountable .img File

Dealing with a failing hard drive can be a daunting task, especially when it contains precious photos and memories. Recently, I had the challenge of rescuing about 50GB of photos from a deteriorating drive, and I managed to recover an impressive 99.9% of my data using a tool called gddrescue on Linux. After this successful recovery, I ended up with a .img file saved on a new, functioning hard drive.

However, I soon encountered a hurdle: I was unable to mount the .img file on either Windows or Linux. I looked into alternatives and found a solution using Recovery Explorer, which allows the creation of a virtual filesystem to extract data. Unfortunately, the cost of around €40 to access this service made me reconsider my options.

Now, I find myself wondering if there are other tools available that can help me achieve the same outcome at little to no cost. If you’ve faced a similar situation, I’d love to hear about any free or more affordable programs you might recommend for accessing unmountable .img files. Your insights could prove invaluable in navigating this Data Recovery process more budget-friendly! Thank you in advance for your suggestions.