This is odd. After installing and running this program, it blew away top level juctions on my C Drive. No coincidence - it did it on 2 separate PCs. All my portable apps broke but were fine after I re-created the junctions. Lower level junctions remained in tact (eg I keep my iTunes library on a different drive). It also selected a drive (in addition to those expected in Program Files and on Desktop) without asking to create folders "stellarinfo", "stellar_ios_backup" and files "backscript$$.txt" and "backupscript.bat". My phone (iPhone 5) is not listed as supported and indeed it crashes during "scanning device" and crashes when I select some of the older 2013 backups. When I select the recent backup, it does not crash during "scanning", but only 2 of the possible 11 category checkboxes are available for recovery. I assume this will work better with an officially supported model. When it crashes, the 2 folders and 2 files I mentioned above are left on my D Drive (of course). When you exist the program cleanly, some of them are removed. Getting the feeling its a bit rough around the edges although I am trying it out with an unsupported model. Rather underwhelming for the "Worlds Best".

This program killed my Windows XP SP3! It deleted win.ini file, system.ini file (and most other files in the Windows folder!), files in the root folder and even some subfolders! I would not recommend this to ANYBODY! If this company ever puts out another giveaway, I will stay clear of it. You've been warned.

Now it's down to $29.99...maybe if I keep clicking the Key it will zero itself out. This pisses me off, big time!

I am getting this web page when I click to get the registration info: http://www.stellarinfo.com/media-tools/ios-data-recovery/buy-now.php

It wants $40.00 before it continues...not happy at all.

Beware: after installing this; did not immediately see, that to make space for back-ups it arbitrarily erased many files on my system; games and other files, on my system and program drive, have recovered what I could but won't know of other damage until reboot, if that is possible. No software is worth this much aggravation. Many thumbs down.

This piece of disaster has simply deleted all of my Desktop icons, + of all folders saved at the root of my partitions.

And even more damage: several files deleted, including resident e-mail messages, just by launching + quitting the app (to test it).

Therefore: "good" for trash, right away. Too bad, knowing that "Stellar Phoenix" was once a serious programmer...

These iOS software always require iTunes. :(

You Think! Referring to comment #7. It would make sense that you have I tunes on your computer if you are trying to fix I tunes files!

This software appears to work only with the iPhones listed; not for any other iOS devices. As a test, I downloaded, installed and registered the program without issue on Windows 8.0 64-bit. I have the required latest version of iTunes, but this software simply doesn't recognize an iPad Mini or an older iPhone 3G. It will find the latest iTunes backup for the tablet, but clicking on the file causes the program to crash. Had to uninstall the software, since I don't own a supported iPhone.

This software is great. Itunes has a mind of it's own and it is reassuring to have something other than itunes for data recovery.

I've used Stellar Recovery before and while it was able to locate lost or deleted files, it was the same as most of the other ordinary programs that are free anyway. My "trial" version required a credit card number, which they said would only be charged if I didn't cancel within 15 days. Well, I cancelled the next day, but they billed my credit card anyway. After multiple emails refusing refund from someone in India or Pakistan or someplace over there, I wound up calling my credit card company to block the charge. There was even a disagreement in that process since I was told that Stellar had already taken the money by direct withdrawal instead of a credit charge. I don't even know how that happens! Things just weirder after that. There's more to the story but to keep things short ... their products are no better than the free ones, and their business practices are about what you'd expect from a third world country. I lost my money through what I consider fraud on their part, and have absolutely no confidence in Stellar, or any company that operates in that manner.

#5 batsdude, you may not know of anyone, but there are others interested. for instance me.

i am wondering...there was one something like this a few weeks back that i was interested in. i didn't get to it soon enough to download, i'm wondering how this compares to that, if anyone has the experience.

do we need to have itunes in order for this to work?

thanks.

Will this program allow recovery for an iPad?

Now that I look at their website, I see that you MUST have iTunes installed. That's a deal breaker for me. I wish the vendors would state that in their listings for their software. They said on their website (but NOT in GiveAwayOfTheDay):

"Do I need to have ‘iTunes’ installed in my PC?
Answer: Yes, you need the latest version of ‘iTunes’ installed in your PC to recover the data lost from the iTunes backup files."

This program has two problems:

A. First, the minor problem: After you install it, the activation instructions say
"1. Select Activate Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery for iOS in Registration menu. Activation dialog box is displayed.
2. Now select I have a Registration Key and click OK. Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery for iOS dialog box is displayed."
That's NOT how to activate it. To activate, just click on the little key in the upper-left hand corner and fill in the User Name they give you, NOT your own name.

B. But the major problem is that IT DOES NOT WORK!!! In my case it never "sees" that I've attached my iPod Touch. The "Scan Device" button is grayed out. When I click on the "Scan Backup" button it clearly says "iOS device not found". I assume, but do not know for sure, that is because of
1. I do not have iTunes installed, although it never tells me that.
2. I have an iPod Touch 4 that is running the latest operating system available for that device which is iOS 6.1.6. Maybe it needs a newer version of iOS.

As an FYI: My iPod Touch "knows" it's been connected to my PC because it beeps when it's connected and the PC indicates that it's been connected. Also, it's recognized by other applications I use (i.e. CopyTrans Manager and CopyTrans Photo). My PC is running the 64-bit Windows 7.

I think that this ought to be in the iphone column. I don't have one, and don't know absolutely anyone who does to tell about it. Thanks anyway.

Clearly this is becoming a phone software give away of the day, and so longer of any interest for me.

why won't it work with the iphone 5?

AVG blocked several threats:

Unknown c:/backupscript.bat

Unknown c:/stellarinfo/disableecryptscript.bat

My profession is IT, for decades. I've used the advanced versions of Stellar Phoenix many times, and it's saved a lot of data. We do backups regularly, but sometimes the data loss occurs between backups. The difference between the consumer versions and the professional versions are minor...it's mostly just paying for the right to use it commercially. Stellar Phoenix has been truly stellar in my opinion.

I do not own an iPhone...it's just not my thing. However, if they are willing to put their name on this product, I have to believe that it is of similar quality to their Windows recovery products. I'll recommend it based upon their reputation.