File Corruption & Recovery

How to Recover Lost Excel Data Streamer Test Data After a Crash

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to recover unsaved data from an Excel Data Streamer workbook that crashed during a long-duration test before 'Stop Data' was clicked.

Product: Microsoft Excel (Data Streamer Add-in)
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Recording data continuously over an extended 96-hour test using the Excel Data Streamer add-in.
Observed behavior: Excel crashed around hour 88. Because the user did not press 'Stop Data', no prompt to save the recorded data appeared, resulting in a recovered workbook but missing test data.

Before you start

Do not restart your computer or clear your temporary files just yet, as preserving the current system state maximizes your chances of locating residual cache files.

Solution 1Recommended

Check Excel AutoRecover and Document Recovery

Attempt to recover the workbook state from Excel's built-in AutoRecover feature, which periodically takes snapshots of your files.

While Data Streamer holds live incoming data in memory, Excel's AutoRecover might have captured a snapshot of the workbook right before the crash. This is the most reliable first step to check for missing data.

Open Document Recovery

Launch Microsoft Excel. If the application closed unexpectedly, the 'Document Recovery' pane should automatically appear on the left side of the screen.

Check Recovered Files

Click on the listed recovered workbooks to see if any streamed data was captured in the last AutoSave snapshot.

Access Manage Workbook

If the pane does not appear, click on 'File' > 'Info' and locate the 'Manage Workbook' section.

Recover Unsaved Workbooks

Click 'Recover Unsaved Workbooks' and browse the default folder for any recent .xlsb, .asd, or .xlsx files related to your test.

Solution 2

Search Windows Temporary Files

Check your system's temporary folders for any residual cache files created by Excel or the Data Streamer add-in before the crash occurred.

Solution 3

Check Hardware Logging and Implement Preventative Measures

Review alternative data logs and apply best practices to prevent total data loss in future long-duration tests.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Looking for a Stable Office Suite? Try WPS Office

While specific COM add-ins like Data Streamer are tied to Microsoft Excel, WPS Office provides a fast, highly stable, and free alternative for analyzing and processing massive datasets after your tests are complete. Its lightweight design reduces the risk of crashes during heavy data processing.

1. Download WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free from the official website.
2. Open Your Data Logs: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and click 'Open' to load your saved .xlsx or .csv test results.
3. Analyze Results: Use built-in charts and pivot tables to analyze your sensor data with full Microsoft Office compatibility.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats, including .xlsx, .xls, and .csvLightweight architecture minimizes system freezes and application crashesBuilt-in smart backup capabilities to protect your valuable test dataFree to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate user interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Data Streamer store data before I click Stop Data?

Data Streamer holds the incoming stream in your computer's RAM (volatile memory). It only writes this data permanently to the worksheet when you actively click 'Stop Data'.

Does Excel AutoSave protect live Data Streamer data?

No. AutoSave primarily captures the static state of the workbook. It does not continuously capture the live stream of data coming through the COM add-in, which is why a crash usually results in data loss.

How can I prevent data loss during long data streaming sessions?

Avoid running a single continuous stream for days. Stop and save the data in smaller intervals (e.g., every 12 hours) to ensure progress is safely committed to your hard drive, then restart the stream.

Document & File Issues