Can You UN-erase a File or Folder?

backup

I've often recovered deleted files from the Windows Recycling Bin.

Bob, you say: "If something new is written to that space before you have a chance to 'undelete' it, you won't be able to undelete the file" but don't talk about the implications of this statement.
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I presume that, as soon as you realize you have lost something, you should stop using the disk and download the program on another machine, perhaps to a USB stick? It would be a shame if, in looking for a means to recover the file, you irreparably corrupted it.

I have used both PhotoRec and TestDisk (cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk). It runs from the command line so may be a tad intimidating for some. Works well in my experience.

I trust the Macrium Reflect backup program. I've got it set to backup my entire system once a week, and incremental backups daily. AND the backups are saved to an external hard drive and can be recovered entirely in just a matter of minutes.

This is the sort of software that should be included in Windows OS..

Just like Ted, I trust the Macrium Reflect backup program (I use the free version here). I have it configured to perform a full system image backup on the first day of the month and a differential image backup daily. I have it keep two full system images and thirty differential system images so I can recover any file, in the state it was in on any of the previous thirty days.

By implementing a good backup paradigm, I get much more than simple file recovery. If something bad should happen to my system, I can get everything back, so my system is in the state it was in at the start of the current day, in under an hour.

I have never been in a situation where I 'had' to recover my system using Macrium Reflect, but after installing it, generating my first full system image, and creating my Macrium Reflect recovery boot USB stick, I performed a full system recovery, just to make sure I understand how to use the software, and also to make sure it works as advertised. It does.

As a side note, I boot my Windows 11 system using my Microsoft account and biometrics (finger-print scanner) to log in. Since I use my Microsoft account to log into my computer, I can sync my files with OneDrive. If I ever have to re-format my hard drive and re-install Windows, after my system is back up and running, all my files are available from OneDrive.

I sync my desktop pc with OneDrive. I have two laptop pcs, and they are not configured to sync with OneDrive, but I can access any file on OneDrive from them because I also use my Microsoft account to log into them. Having my files synced to OneDrive has proven to be very convenient for me.

Ernie

First, there are archives of files that I want to keep, and I have several backups in different locations. Next, I have used Recuva to undelete files that I have accidentally deleted in the past. Also, there are certain files that are confidential, and after serving their purpose, I intentionally want to delete them. For that, I use Privazer, and then I use Recuva t0 confirm that the file has been securely deleted. Between properly backing up and doing secure deletion of files, I feel I can't go wrong.

I have had success with Recuva on two separate occasions. One was with a USB drive my boss used at work and the other a file I deleted on my home computer. In the case of my home computer it was several weeks before I had realized my mistake but Recuva was still able to find it and re-install it.

I've used WinHex to recover files. It will recover files by using header info to find it. One time I recovered several hundred jpg files searching only for the jpg identifier in the header of the file. Some were only partially recovered as the disk sectors in the chain had apparently been overwritten.

Try a little appreciated built-in Windows tool: System Recovery. But not the classic, restore points - it's "previous versions."
Right-click the folder where the deleted folder was in. Select 'Properties' and in the dialog, click the 'previous versions' tab. Also works on files to recovery older versions of a file that has been edited.

But have many have noted, "where's your backup files?" A line from my computer maintenance presentation: "If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you'll find an excuse."

My SSD disk probably died. It is not reachable in Windows explorer, nor my computer sees it in boot menu.

Is it possible to get some of the files on the disk and how?

Hello, Is there any way to recover files after re-installing Windows 2 times, with a clean install both times? My Nephew lost a very important file he forgot about.