It started like any other day—I was working on an important project, juggling multiple files, and making sure everything was saved. But then, disaster struck. While trying to free up space on my hard drive, I accidentally deleted an entire folder containing critical documents, images, and a few work-related videos. Panic set in immediately. I frantically checked the Recycle Bin—empty. It felt like my hard work had just vanished into thin air.
After a few deep breaths, I turned to the internet for solutions, and that’s when I discovered Stellar Windows Data Recovery Software. The glowing reviews and promising features gave me hope, so I decided to try it. Here’s my firsthand experience with the software and how it helped me recover my lost files.
Page Contents
System Requirements: Ensuring Compatibility
Before diving into the recovery process, I ensured that my system met the requirements for Stellar Data Recovery:
- Operating System: Windows 8, 8.1, 10, or 11 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Processor: Intel-compatible (x86, x64)
- RAM: Minimum 4 GB (8 GB recommended)
- Hard Disk Space: At least 250 MB for installation
- Display: 1024 x 768 resolution with 16-bit color or higher
Fortunately, my system aligned perfectly with these specifications, paving the way for a smooth installation.
The Recovery Process: A Step-by-Step Experience
Step 1: Installation and Launch
The installation process was straightforward, guided by clear prompts. Upon launching the software, I was greeted by an intuitive interface that eased my anxiety.
Step 2: Selecting the Data Type to Recover
The software prompted me to choose the types of files I wished to recover—documents, photos, videos, emails, or all data. Given the mixed nature of my lost files, I opted for the comprehensive “All Data” selection.
what to recover
Step 3: Choosing the Location
Next, I specified the drive from which the data was lost. The software provided options ranging from common locations like “Desktop” and “Documents” to specific drives and even lost partitions. I selected the drive where the deleted folder had resided.
recover from
Step 4: Scanning Options
Stellar Data Recovery offered two scanning modes:
- Quick Scan: A rapid scan suitable for recently deleted files.
- Deep Scan: A thorough, sector-by-sector scan ideal for formatted or severely corrupted drives.
I initiated a Quick Scan, which was completed swiftly but didn’t locate all my lost files. Undeterred, I proceeded with a Deep Scan. Although more time-consuming, it proved comprehensive, unearthing the entirety of my missing data. The time it took was approximately 50 minutes to 1 hour.
Step 5: Previewing and Recovering Files
One standout feature was the ability to preview recoverable files before restoration. This allowed me to verify the integrity of each file. Satisfied with the previews, I selected the desired files and initiated the recovery process, choosing a different drive to prevent potential overwriting. In a matter of minutes, my invaluable data was restored.
Stellar Data Recovery
Special Features: What Makes Stellar Data Recovery Stand Out?
- Enhanced RAW Recovery
The latest version, v12.0, boasts an enhanced RAW recovery feature, supporting a broader array of file formats. This improvement facilitates deeper and more effective recovery results, especially beneficial for complex data loss scenarios.
- Personalized Themes
To enhance user experience, the software offers three distinct themes: Dark, Light, and Vibrant. This customization ensures a comfortable interface tailored to individual preferences.
- Pause and Resume Scan
Recognizing that deep scans can be time-intensive, Stellar Data Recovery introduces a ‘Pause and Resume’ feature. This functionality was introduced in their latest version, v12.0 which provides flexibility, allowing users to halt a scan and resume at their convenience without restarting the process.
- Comprehensive File Type Support
The software adeptly recovers various file types, including:
- Photos: JPEG, TIFF, PNG, BMP, GIF, RAW, and more.
- Videos: WMV, AVI, MP4, MOV, and others.
- Documents: DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, PDF, etc.
- Emails: PST, OST, EML, and more.
- Audio: MP3, WAV, WMA, AAC, among others.
- Versatile Storage Device Support
Beyond internal hard drives, Stellar Data Recovery extends its capabilities to:
External Hard Drives: HDDs and SSDs.
- USB Flash Drives and Memory Cards: SD, microSD, etc.
- Optical Media: CDs and DVDs. (For some you may need to go for their higher version, I opted for their basic ‘Standard’ version)
- Digital Cameras and RAID Volumes: Advanced recovery options are available in higher editions.
- Disk Imaging for Secure Recovery
The software can create image files of failing or corrupted disks, enabling data recovery without further jeopardizing the original media.
Pricing: Options to Suit Diverse Needs
Stellar Data Recovery offers multiple editions to cater to varying requirements:
- Free Edition: Recovers up to 1 GB of data, ideal for minor data loss incidents.
- Standard Edition: Priced at $59.99, this edition provides unlimited data recovery for personal use.
- Professional Edition: At $89.99, it includes all Standard features plus advanced options like disk imaging and recovery from unbootable and crashed systems
- Premium Edition: For $99.99, users gain additional functionalities such as photo and video repair.
- Technician Edition: For $199, supports the creation of virtual Raid and helps in raid 0, 5 & 6 data recovery
- Toolkit Edition: For $299, it includes all the features of the previous edition plus the advanced option of NAS data recovery, Virtual Drive Recovery and it even recovers data from Linux and Mac Drives (HFS, HFS+, ext2, ext3, ext4)
My Honest Review: Performance and Effectiveness
Source: mspoweruser.com
After going through the recovery process, I can confidently say that Windows Data Recovery Software of Stellar is a lifesaver. Here’s how it performed in key areas:
Speed and Efficiency
- The Quick Scan was incredibly fast and useful for recently deleted files.
- The Deep Scan took longer but recovered almost everything, even files from a formatted section of my drive.
Success Rate
- Out of all the files I lost, the software successfully recovered 90% of them, which is an impressive rate.
- Even the files I had lost weeks ago on my drive were retrieved.
Pros and Cons: My Takeaway
Pros:
- User-Friendly Interface – Even if you’re not tech-savvy, the simple navigation makes it easy to recover files.
- High Recovery Success Rate – It restored files I thought were gone forever.
- Multiple File Formats Supported – It recovered documents, images, videos, and even some archived files.
- Preview Before Recovery – Saved time by letting me choose exactly what to restore.
- Supports Multiple Storage Devices – Worked on my laptop SSD, external HDD, and USB drive.
- Disk Imaging for Safer Recovery – Prevents data loss due to failing drives.
Cons:
- Deep Scan Takes Time – It’s effective but requires patience, especially for larger drives.
- Corrupted File Problem – Some of the files recovered were corrupted and of no use, and it can’t be repaired by any software, but my most files were recovered so I am satisfied.
- Variant Confusion – Although it had many variants of a single data recovery software, it confused me, first I thought to go for the highest variant but then due to price and requirement I thought for the first time I should try the basic version, I would be happy if they had any value edition version, which is both price and recovery effective.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?
As someone who has personally gone through the frustration of data loss, I can confidently say that Stellar Data Recovery is an absolute must-have. It’s reliable, easy to use, and—most importantly—it works.
If you’ve ever lost important files and thought they were gone forever, don’t panic. With this tool, there’s a good chance you can get them back. My experience with this software turned what could have been a disaster into a minor inconvenience, and for that, I highly recommend it!
