If you have ever accidentally deleted a file or deleted the contents of a file, you know that it can be incredibly frustrating. It’s even more frustrating when it’s something you have been working on for days, weeks, or even months. Fortunately, deleting a file may not be the end of the world.
The first place to look is in the Recycling Bin. Many small files will be right inside and can be retrieved rather easily. You can right click on the file and then hit “restore.” The file can then be found in its original location.
If you are not doing a full computer backup and are using windows 10, you may be in luck. If you set up the file history setting onto another drive, your files may be there.
Type “restore files” in the search box on the taskbar, and then select “restore your files” with File History.
Look for the file you need, then use the arrows to see all of its versions.
When you find the version you want, select “restore” to save it in its original location. To save it in a different place, press and hold (or right-click) “restore,” select “restore to,” and then choose a new location.
If you are an experienced user and you are not using any backups, there is software that can be downloaded called Recuva. You can purchase this program to scan the hard drive of your computer for any recently deleted files. Sometimes, this may be able to recover a lost file; that is, if you have not deleted many things in succession and it was relatively early after you deleted the files.
To eliminate the headache of accidental deletions, our best piece of advice is to always have at least one backup for your files. Whether is be a cloud backup (preferred) or a local backup, you never know when you just might need to restore a lost file.
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Anthony has been in the MSP business since before the acronym existed. Managed IT once started as break-fix solutions and some light phone support.
Since then, he has seen the industry flourish into a landscape of platforms, cloud servers, software tools and AI . Tailoring network configurations and software stacks to the specific needs of each business.
In his current role, he focuses on proactive planning, ensuring clients can avoid potential issues altogether. This involves meticulous planning for enhanced business continuity, allowing swift resolution of any unforeseen challenges. What initially began as addressing "fires" through break-fix solutions has evolved into a proactive approach, ensuring that such issues are prevented from arising in the first place.
