You delete a site collection, but the content database still holds references to it. You cannot detach the database because SQL reports "foreign key constraints" pointing to nowhere. SP utilities can force an export of the healthy data while ignoring the broken pointers.
The utility will output logs similar to this: sp recovery tool utility
Vendors like Dell EMC (Unity/VNX), NetApp, Pure Storage, and HPE Primera all have their own branded versions of an SP recovery utility, but the underlying principles remain universal. You delete a site collection, but the content
Since this tool resets the drive's firmware, it often wipes the data. Use standard recovery software first if you need to pull files off. The utility will output logs similar to this:
Before you download any software, it is crucial to understand what makes the SP Recovery Tool Utility unique. Most "recovery" tools on the market (like Recuva or EaseUS) are . They assume the drive is mechanically sound and simply scan for deleted file signatures.
The is not something you will use every day, or even every year. But when an SP goes dark during a critical patch window or a post-outage reboot, this utility becomes the most important piece of software in your datacenter.