Stellar Data Recovery is a Windows program for retrieving deleted files and data from formatted, corrupted or inaccessible storage. It searches internal drives, attached storage and missing partitions, then lets you preview and select files to save elsewhere. The Windows product range also includes disk imaging, recovery outside a working Windows installation, media repair and RAID recovery, with those functions divided between editions.
What Stellar Data Recovery can scan
The first selection determines what to look for: everything, or categories such as documents, email files, photographs, audio and video. The next selection identifies a connected drive or a particular location. Stellar Data Recovery supports HDDs, SSDs, flash drives and memory cards using NTFS, exFAT, FAT16 or FAT32.
A missing drive letter does not necessarily end the search. The Can’t Find Drive option searches for lost partitions so their contents can be scanned. Selecting a physical disk instead of a logical volume searches the storage device as a whole, which is relevant when a partition is missing, unallocated or reported as RAW.
Optical recovery covers CD, DVD, HD DVD and Blu-ray media, including scratched, corrupted or partially written discs. This recovery route can retain the filenames and folder structure stored on the disc.
Quick Scan and Deep Scan
Quick Scan uses available file-system information to locate deleted files. Deep Scan examines storage more thoroughly when that information is damaged or the initial search does not find the required data. Its signature-based search recognizes patterns associated with particular file types, including camera RAW photographs.
Stellar Data Recovery’s signature search can identify file content when its original directory entry is missing. It also changes the information available in the results: content may be found even when the filename and folder structure cannot be retrieved. Data already overwritten by new content cannot be recovered through a deeper scan.
From scan results to saved files
Found files appear in a folder tree, with list, icon and detailed views for inspecting the results. A filename search and filters for file size or modification date narrow the selection. Supported files can be opened in a preview window before recovery; a separate Hex View displays their underlying data in hexadecimal form.
Scans can be paused or stopped, and scan information can be saved for later recovery. After selecting the required files, the user saves them to a different drive. Scanning reads the source storage without modifying its original data.
Limits by edition
The free offering allows recovery of up to 1 GB. Standard removes that recovery allowance and includes recovery from internal and external drives, lost partitions and encrypted drives. The ability to inspect scan results and previews is separate from the amount of data an edition permits the user to save.
BitLocker
BitLocker recovery requires the encrypted volume to be unlocked. Stellar Data Recovery accepts the drive password, a recovery key or a BitLocker startup key file. Once unlocked, the volume can be scanned and its results previewed like those of an ordinary drive.
This function retrieves files from an accessible encrypted volume; it does not replace the credentials needed to decrypt it. The recovery range also supports BitLocker-encrypted disk images.
Disk imaging and bootable recovery
Professional adds a Create Image function, which copies drive data into an image that can become the recovery source. Subsequent scanning and file extraction can use that image rather than repeatedly reading a failing disk or one containing bad sectors.
Professional also provides bootable recovery media for a PC that cannot start Windows. This runs the recovery process outside the installed operating system so files can be retrieved despite a startup failure. Its Drive Monitor utility displays SMART information, including drive health, temperature and performance, alongside alerts about deteriorating storage.
RAID arrays
Technician adds recovery from failed RAID storage. It virtually reconstructs an array from its member drives so the combined volume can be searched for files. Supported configurations include RAID 0, 5 and 6, SHR and nested arrays, across hardware or software RAID using HDDs or SSDs.
Media repair
Professional includes repair tools for damaged photographs and videos. Photo repair accepts one file or a batch, including batches containing different image formats. It addresses corruption that can leave images discolored, distorted or partly unreadable.
Video repair covers formats such as MP4, MOV, AVI and MKV, including footage encoded with H.264 or HEVC. Its repair operations address problems such as frozen frames, missing audio and audio synchronization errors.
