I was glad that Stellar Information Systems Ltd approached me for a review on one of their products. It is called Stellar Phoenix Access Recovery. As the name implies, it is an Microsoft ACCESS recovery product. In this review, I will give a walkthrough on the product and user experiences on it.
As a user of ACCESS, I do sometimes get into the situation of file corruption. But I normally backup the files and just replaced it with backups. With Stellar Phoenix Access Recovery, I am sure that I will be in a better situation.
First of all, I will use ACCESS 2003 on an XP Pro computer to do this review. It will be from the installation to user experiences. So, let’s begin.
Overview
Before I start my review, I think it is better to know what this software is all about. I copied their features here.
Stellar Phoenix Access Recovery helps you recover data not accessible due to corruption in Access databases, Tables, Queries, Forms, or Reports. Stellar Phoenix Access Recovery will help you repair and retrieve corrupted data from Access files in almost all data corruption situations like when you cannot open files and instead come across error messages such as:
- Unrecognized database format.
- Enter Password (even though no password has been given).
- The Microsoft Jet Database Engine cannot open the file.
- Microsoft Access has encountered a problem and needs to be closed.
Stellar Phoenix Access Recovery is the best solution you can use when you are faced with a data loss situation affecting your Access databases. Stellar Phoenix will scan for damaged .mdb files, repair and restore it to a default location or to a folder specified by you. You can repair entire database, an individual corrupted table, form, report or any other object where a corruption has occurred. Please download a free trial version to start the recovery process right away. Once you see the details of the repaired data, proceed to buy the software online to complete your data recovery.
So, if you have any of the above problems, this software may save you a lot of trouble.
Installation
The download from their website is fast. The file size is only 2.6 mb. Installation is easy. I did the standard installation and finished it in one minute.
Using Stellar Phoenix Access Recovery (Demo Version first)
First time running the program, I was asked to register the program or buy it and there is a limit to the evaluation period. Plus, the evaluation does not allow you to recover your ACCESS database.
Of course, I tried it without registering and a clear “Demo Copy” appears on the file.
The build of the software is as below.
The layout of the Stellar Phoenix Access Recovery is very simple and neat. One row of icons is all you need to use the software.
To repair a file:
- Click on first icon.
- Then Press the Play button to start repair.
- Click X to stop the process.
The rest are the standard “help”, “buy this product” and “about” icons.
It took me a few seconds to repair a more than 500 input data. However, as I have not enter the key activation, I am only allow to view the results.
After performing the report, I am able to download the log file. BTW, my file is actually OK. I am just testing it out. It is a log file with the file name “StellarPhoenixAccessRecovery.log”.
Click Here if you want to try it out.
Using Stellar Phoenix Access Recovery Software (Retail Version)
Now, let me use it with the activation code. You will be given the user name and activation code to input before you can use the full version of the software.
After you have enter the code, you get the full version unlocked. The procedure to repair after unlocking is the same as the unlock version. The only difference now is that it will help to save a copy of the repaired version to the folder.
Experiment
File use
An ACCESS file that is 24MB in size with tables, queries, macros and special customized file menu. Actually there seems to be no problem with this file (as what I first thought).
Experiment Conducted
- Start Stellar Phoenix Access Recovery software.
- Open file that needs to repair/recover.
- Press RUN
- Save Log File
Results
A copy version of the Access file is being made and this is the recovered file.
A log file is also saved if you go to Tools and save it. (I did that)
Here is the complete log file (PS: I removed some names and things as it is confidential).
Stellar Phoenix Access Recovery v3.1 ….. Repairs Corrupted MS Access Database File….. Log Report
Repair process started on Friday, June 19, 2009, 04:57:39 PM
File selected for repair : C:\Documents and Settings\Joe Teh\Desktop\ProjectA\TEST.mdb
Scanning file…
Total table(s) present : 13
Repairing Table….. TEST
Total field(s) present : 23
Total record(s) recovered : 76
—————————————-
Repairing Table….. Customers
Total field(s) present : 15
Total record(s) recovered : 40
—————————————-
Repairing Table….. Feedback
Total field(s) present : 1
Total record(s) recovered : 1
—————————————-
Repairing Table….. Newsflash
Total field(s) present : 3
Total record(s) recovered : 20
—————————————-
Repairing Table….. Parts_table
Total field(s) present : 6
Total record(s) recovered : 2744
—————————————-
Repairing Table….. Prob_table
Total field(s) present : 7
Total record(s) recovered : 128
—————————————-
Repairing Table….. Service_Table
Total field(s) present : 8
Total record(s) recovered : 4459
—————————————-
Repairing Table….. SVC_Attach
Total field(s) present : 2
Total record(s) recovered : 24
—————————————-
Repairing Table….. SVC_Table_Time
Total field(s) present : 4
Total record(s) recovered : 7836
—————————————-
Repairing Table….. SVC_Tbl
Total field(s) present : 2
Total record(s) recovered : 7943
—————————————-
Repairing Table….. Machine_Data
Total field(s) present : 8
Total record(s) recovered : 13
—————————————-
Repairing Table….. Eq_Listbak
Total field(s) present : 18
Total record(s) recovered : 547
—————————————-
Repairing Table….. Eq_List
Total field(s) present : 18
Total record(s) recovered : 549
—————————————-
Repairing Queries
—————————————-
Repairing Forms
Repairing Reports
Repairing Macros
—————————————-
Repair process completed on Friday, June 19, 2009, 04:57:52 PM
File saved at the location : C:\Documents and Settings\Joe Teh\Desktop\ProjectA\Recovered_test.mdb
Conclusion
The recovered/repaired file is reduced to 22MB. The initial file (before repair) used to take a long time to open. Now, it opens up almost immediately. I was actually quite surprised as I thought this file is OK except that it has a lot of data that may take longer time to recover.
Just a point to take note. If you have setup the file with the STARTUP function, it is reset to default again. And the customized menu (that I have it before repair) is also missing. But I think all these are not important as you are able to save the data in the file. Moreover, It took just 13 seconds to repair the file (see log file start/stop time). Amazing!
Should You Own Stellar Phoenix Access Recovery?
This software is a MUST HAVE if you are dealing a lot of ACCESS files. It will be a saver when files are corrupted (and you never know when).
I would recommend that you download the Trial version HERE and test it yourself. If it is good, buy it.
The recovery itself is already worth much more than the little price tag. Anyway, after installing, you can recover unlimited numbers of Access files. What is important is that you must love the software. So, don’t wait, download it, test it!