Occasionally we have all deleted a computer document by mistake, thinking that the file is no longer needed or that another copy exists, only to discover that we have made a horrible mistake!!

Well fear no more because I have a great tip for recovering deleted files even after you have empted your recycle bin!

Believe it or not recovering deleted files is actually a fairly easy task if you have the correct tools - and this is exaclt what I have for you!

Restoration is a free program by Brian Kato that restores deleted files that have been removed from your Recycle Bin.

Top Tip:

If you want to recover a file that you have deleted (and emptied your recycle bin) simple download the program in the link below: http://www.aumha.org/downloads/restoration.exe Once downloaded double click the program and choose a location on your hard drive for it to sit. Next double click on the Restoration.exe icon (It looks like your recycle bin). Now click the "Search Deleted Files" button and you'll see a list of files slowly appear - you thought you'd lost them didn't you!!?? If you find your file simply click it once and then click the "Restore by Copying" button to save the recovered file back to somewhere safe!

A few words of warning - this is by no means a sure fix. Depending on when you deleted the file it is very possible that you will not be able to recover it!

This is becasue of the way that file deletion occurs on Windows computers.

When you delete a file it is not physically removed from your hard drive. There is no real need for this, it takes time and increases wear on your hard disk drive, what actually happens is that each deleted file is simply marked as "unwanted".

Windows will now effectively ignore that file, it won't count it as used disk space, and it won't show up in any directory or file list. Indeed, if Windows or a Windows program requires disk space it may well just write straight over the file marked and "unwanted". If this happens then your file is truely gone forever.

However, if you have plenty of free diskspace and you only just deleted the file then the chances are that it will still be there somewhere - if you can get access to it.

To maximise your chances of recovering a file, keep plenty of free diskspace at all times, and once you realise you have made a mistake, stop using your computer immediately! Do not start, stop or make any changes to any program - the very next mouse click could loose you the data! Simply run the recovery tool...

Good luck - I hope you get back what you have lost!!

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Follow up... If you want something a little more comprehensive - ie. recover deleted files from all locations including external drives and memory cards, not just your recyce bin try CardRecovery - $40 for a full licence - its an excellent program easy to use, very effective.

And it could well just save your life for under $40!! Again - Good luck!

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Top Tips Forum - Friendly Help and Advice
Technology, your Computer, the Environment, Money and Finance, Sports, Health and Fitness and Much More.