How to Use Stellar Phoenix Linux Data Recovery — Step-by-Step TutorialStellar Phoenix Linux Data Recovery is a graphical and command-line tool designed to recover lost or deleted files, folders, and partitions from Linux-based systems and storage media. This step-by-step tutorial guides you through preparation, installation, scanning, recovery, and verification so you can retrieve data safely and efficiently.
Before you begin — important precautions
- Stop using the affected drive immediately. Continued writes may overwrite recoverable data.
- Work from a different system or boot from live media when recovering data from your system disk.
- Prepare a recovery destination on a separate physical drive (external HDD/SSD or a different internal drive) with enough free space. Never recover files to the same drive you’re scanning.
- Have backups where possible. Recovery tools can’t guarantee 100% retrieval, especially after extensive overwrites.
System requirements and supported file systems
- Typical system requirements: modern Linux distribution with 2+ GB RAM and adequate disk space for recovery destination.
- Stellar Phoenix supports common Linux file systems such as ext2, ext3, ext4, ReiserFS, XFS, and FAT/NTFS for cross-platform media. It also supports recovery from HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, and RAID configurations (software RAIDs).
Installation
There are several distribution methods depending on the product version you have (GUI or CLI, and package format). Below are general steps for installing a Debian/Ubuntu .deb package and running a GUI installer. Adjust accordingly for RPM-based systems or standalone binaries.
- Download the Stellar Phoenix Linux Data Recovery .deb package from the vendor.
- Open a terminal and navigate to the download folder.
- Install dependencies (if needed):
sudo apt update sudo apt install -y gdebi-core - Install the package:
sudo gdebi stellar-phoenix-linux-data-recovery.deb - Launch the application from your desktop menu or via terminal:
stellar-phoenix
If you have an RPM package:
sudo rpm -ivh stellar-phoenix-linux-data-recovery.rpm If a standalone binary is provided, make it executable and run it:
chmod +x stellar-phoenix ./stellar-phoenix Launching and choosing scan options
- Start the Stellar Phoenix application. For headless servers, use the CLI equivalent.
- On the main screen, select the drive, partition, or connected media you want to scan. If the device is not listed, ensure it’s attached and recognized by the OS (check with lsblk or fdisk -l).
- Choose a scan type:
- Quick Scan: faster, for recently deleted files.
- Deep/Full Scan: thorough, finds files after formatting or partition loss (takes longer).
- For partition recovery, choose the “Scan for Partitions” or similar option to detect lost partitions and their file systems.
Running the scan
- Click “Scan” (or run the CLI scan command).
- Monitor progress; deep scans may take hours depending on drive size and health.
- If the drive shows read errors, enable any available “Ignore bad sectors” or “Skip bad sectors” options to continue scanning other areas.
CLI example (approximate syntax — consult the product manual for exact flags):
stellar-phoenix --scan /dev/sdX --deep --output /path/to/save/session Previewing and selecting recoverable files
- After scan completion, Stellar Phoenix lists recoverable files and folders. Use the preview pane to verify file contents (works for many file types like images, documents).
- Use filters and search to quickly find specific filenames, extensions, or file sizes.
- For partition recovery, inspect discovered partitions and their file trees before mounting/recovering.
Recovering files
- Select files/folders you want to recover. Prioritize critical items first to reduce recovery destination usage.
- Click “Recover” (or use the CLI recovery command) and set the destination to a separate drive.
- Wait for the process to finish; the software will show progress and estimated time.
- After completion, verify recovered files by opening a sample of each file type.
CLI example (approximate):
stellar-phoenix --recover /path/to/scan/session --select "/home/user/Documents/*.docx" --destination /mnt/recovery_drive Recovering partitions and disk images
- To recover a lost partition: run a partition scan, select the lost partition you want to restore, and recover its files or save the entire partition as an image.
- Creating a disk image (bit-for-bit copy) is recommended for failing drives: image the drive to a healthy storage medium, then run recovery on the image to avoid further damage to the original disk.
Example imaging workflow with ddrescue (recommended for damaged drives):
sudo apt install gddrescue sudo ddrescue -f -n /dev/sdX /mnt/recovery_drive/sdX.img /mnt/recovery_drive/sdX.log # Then scan sdX.img with Stellar Phoenix stellar-phoenix --scan /mnt/recovery_drive/sdX.img --deep Post-recovery verification and organization
- Check recovered files for integrity (open documents, play media).
- Sort and organize recovered data into folders (by type/date/project).
- Create a new backup strategy: use automated backups, versioning, and offsite/cloud copies to minimize future loss.
Troubleshooting common issues
- If the drive is not detected: verify cables, use lsblk/fdisk, and check dmesg for kernel errors.
- If many files are corrupted: the drive may have physical damage — image it with ddrescue and work from the image.
- If file names are missing or scrambled: file system metadata may be damaged; rely on file-type scanning and content previews to recover usable data.
Alternatives and complementary tools
While Stellar Phoenix is a user-friendly commercial option, consider complementary tools depending on the situation:
- TestDisk & PhotoRec — free, powerful CLI/console tools for partition and file recovery.
- ddrescue — for creating images of failing drives.
- extundelete — for ext* file system undelete operations.
Comparison (quick):
| Tool | Strengths | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stellar Phoenix | GUI, previews, partition recovery | Commercial license |
| TestDisk/PhotoRec | Free, robust | CLI or text UI, steeper learning curve |
| ddrescue | Imaging failing drives | Use before recovery on damaged disks |
Final notes
- Recovery success depends on how much of the original data has been overwritten and the physical condition of the drive.
- Always recover to a separate drive and consider disk imaging for suspicious hardware.
- If data is extremely valuable, consider professional data recovery services — they can work in cleanrooms and use advanced techniques not available to consumer tools.
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