how to retrive back deleted files

[168kmh]

recently I copy my tumbdrive and paste it in my computer. It did prom me if I wanted to over write the old file, I click yes.

 

but today I realise that i have a important file in that old file. how do i retrive back my old files? I'm using Vista, dun know where is the " move to previous date" and will it work or not.

 

those file are important to me.

[hmmm]

try reboot to earlier date ah

[168kmh]

Originally posted by hmmm@May 14, 2007 12:42 am

try reboot to earlier date ah

the problem is i'm using vista. dun know where is the reboot. Thanks for the fast reply.

[168kmh]

need to restore to 1 or 2 mths agao. so far i can see is that i could only retore 5 days ago which is useless . . .

[Guest enHANZed]

try posting at hardwarezone forums

[AKUTERRER]

Check out this link on how to use System Restore ->

 

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/...ils/backup.mspx

 

Can also run the System Restore from Command Prompt ->

 

C:\Windows\System32\rstrui.exe

[redbeacon]

System Restore works only if you have enabled it on your drive. Moreover:

 

When a rollback is performed, files with certain executable extensions are restored and newly-created folders are removed, but items in the My Documents (or the "Documents" folder in Windows Vista) folders are always left untouched. This can affect users who prefer to store their personal files outside of My Documents (or "Documents"), as System Restore cannot determine if such files and folders are supposed to be there. Microsoft recommends that if a user is unsure as to whether their files will be affected by System Restore, that they should keep those files under My Documents (or "Documents")...

 

...which means System Restore can help heal Windows if it's damaged and it can't boot. However, it does not touch your files outside of the "Documents" folder.

 

Bottom line in the worse-case scenario, if your favourite file wasn't in the "Documents" folder in the start despite the fact that System Restore was switched on, your favourite file wasn't backed-up and when you inadvertedly overwritten it, System Restore can't do anything to bring it back.

 

HowToGeek - Windows Vista System Restore

[DeusExMachina]

System restore, IIRC, only covers the OS critical part of your HDD... such as your system files, config, registry and bla bla bla. You're talking about your personal data file here, right?

 

 

You may not be able to recover an over-written file.

 

U may be able to recover data from a deleted file maybe.... provided there has not been much activity since the deletion.

 

 

When the computer deletes a file, it does not actually delete or wipe out the information (in bits) on that sector or part of the HDD platter where the file previously existed.

 

It simply indicates in the file allocation table (or the index) that, that part of the HDD where the deleted file was, is "cleared" and can be written over for other data. So if you've just deleted the file, you can undelete it rather easily. But if you continue to run the system, copying files in and out, bla bla bla, eventually that sector of the HDD will be overwritten by other data.

 

In the case of an overwrite... well... it is most prob gone since the data where your old file was has been overwritten by the new data which you replaced it with.

 

 

I'm not an expert in data recovery. Just an educated observation. There may be recovery methods provided by experts that may be able to perform that miracle though....

[redbeacon]

Originally posted by DeusExMachina@May 19, 2007 01:31 am

System restore, IIRC, only covers the OS critical part of your HDD.....

 

 

...You may not be able to recover an over-written file. In the case of an overwrite... well... it is most prob gone since the data where your old file was has been overwritten by the new data which you replaced it with.

I've dealt with distraught people who had to part with their data -- but that's against the fact that there's a high chance of data recovery right after the [Del] button is pressed.

 

Anyways, personal accounts aside -- you're right about how data gets deleted.

File deletion has the same concept of trash in a trash bin. Here's an analogy:

 

Moving a file to your Windows Recycle Bin is like the simple household chore of throwing a piece of paper into your trash bin. You can retrieve that piece of paper that you did not mean to throw away...The same concept is engineered into Windows, or just about any operating system in the market today.

 

Emptying a file (or even emptying the entire Recycle Bin) is like when your maid wraps your trash in the trash bin and disposes that into the green garbage collection bin.

 

So, how does one retrieve his piece of paper that way? A lot of people would not know or shun the idea of retrieving that paper from that load of dirty trash from the large garbage collection bin. But for those who are desperate, they could...and that's where software such as Un-delete and the likes of Data Recovery Software comes about.

 

The longer one waits, the sooner the trash collection day would come. When it does, the garbage collection truck comes, dumps the trash into the back of the truck, activates the trash compacting mechanism to compact the trash, and leaves the premises.

 

Likewise, and reinforcing from what DeusExMachina have described (see quote above), the "deleted file" stays there in the hard drive. It's still there all right, but it's waiting for its demise -- waiting for a new file to be overwritten over it.

 

Just a little insight of how file deletion takes place.

[redbeacon]

To the threadstarter: Have you considered any data recovery tools yet?

 

One more thing: do you still use your computer after that mishap? If so, your favourite file is compromised.

 

If you die-die need the file, stop using your computer and if possible, extract your hard drive and get a hold of another computer + a data recovery software to pull out your deleted file.

[AKUTERRER]

Try GetDataBack ?

 

Data retrieving software.

Used it before and find it quite useful.