Since this is a portable product, Portable Recuva does not need to be installed, so there will be no changes made to your Windows registry entries. Plus, you can run the software directly from an external device.
Once you initiate Portable Recuva, you are welcomed by the Recuva wizard, in which you answer some simple questions to get you started (but there is also an advanced mode). This proves the software is designed for both beginners and power users.