Losing important data on a Windows system can be a frustrating experience. Whether it is due to accidental deletion, hardware failure, or a virus attack, losing data can have serious consequences. Fortunately, there are several methods and data recovery tools you can use to recover lost data on a Windows system. In this article, we will discuss the manual methods for Windows data recovery along with the Best Data Recovery Software for windows. You can use these methods to recover lost data on your Windows operating system.                                                                                                         

Manual Methods for Windows Data Recovery

There are a few manual tips that you can try to perform data recovery for temporary or permanent data loss situations.

Check the Recycle Bin

If you have accidentally deleted a file or folder, the first place to check is the Recycle Bin. The Recycle Bin is a temporary storage location for deleted files and folders, and you can easily restore them from there. To restore a file or folder from the Recycle Bin, simply locate it, right-click on it, and select the ‘Restore’ option.

Use File History

Windows 10 has a built-in backup feature called File History, which can be used to recover lost files and folders. File History automatically backs up your files to an external hard drive or network location, and you can use it as a data recovery tool to restore files that have been deleted or modified.

Step 1: Connect an External Hard Drive

Connect an external hard drive to your Windows 10 PC that you will use as the backup location for File History. Once connected, Windows should recognize the drive and prompt you to configure File History.

Step 2: Open File History Settings

Click on the Start menu and go to Settings. From there, select Update & Security.

Step 3: Backup Options

In the left-hand menu, click on Backup. This will take you to the Backup options screen.

Step 4: Add a Drive

Click on the Add a drive button to select the external hard drive that you connected earlier.

Step 5: Turn ON File History

Once you have selected the drive, click on the toggle switch next to the File History option to turn it ON. Windows will automatically start backing up your files to the external hard drive.

Step 6: Restore Lost Files

To restore lost files using File History, go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup. From there, click on More options.

Step 7: Restore Files from Current Backup

Under the More options menu, you will see the option to Restore files from a current backup. Click on it to open the File History restore tool.

Step 8: Select Files to Restore

The File History restore tool will show you a list of files that can be restored from your backup. You can browse through the list or search for specific files using the search bar.

Step 9: Restore Files

Once you have selected the files you want to restore, click on the Restore button. Windows will restore the selected files to their original location.

Restore from a Previous Version

If you have accidentally modified or overwritten a file, you can restore a previous version of it using the ‘Previous Versions’ feature. This feature is available in Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7, and it allows you to use Windows data recovery utility for restoring previous versions of files and folders.

Step 1: Access Windows Explorer and go to the folder from where you lost your files. To restore a previous version of a file or folder, right-click on it.

Step 2: Click on the ‘Properties’ option.

Step 3: Then go to the ‘Previous Versions’ tab.

Step 4: Select the previous version you want to restore and click on the ‘Restore’ button.

Use Shadow Copies

Shadow Copies is another built-in Windows feature that creates snapshots of the system at regular intervals. These snapshots can be used as a data recovery tool to recover lost files, even if they were deleted permanently.

Step 1: To access Shadow Copies, right-click on the folder where the lost files were located.

Step 2: Select ‘Properties’, then click on the ‘Previous Versions’ option.

Step 3: If any shadow copies are available, select the one that is closest to the time when the files were last seen and click on the ‘Open’ button.

Step 4: The files will be displayed in a folder, and you can copy them to a different location.

Use Data Recovery Software

If the manual methods do not work, you can use data recovery software to recover lost data on your Windows operating system. Data recovery software is designed to scan your hard drive and recover deleted or lost files and folders. There are many data recovery software available, both free and paid, and they vary in features and capabilities.

Advanced File Recovery

Advanced File Recovery is one of the best data recovery software developed by Systweak Software. It is designed to help users recover lost or deleted files from their Windows PC or external storage devices. In this review, we will discuss the features, pros, and cons of Advanced File Recovery.

Features:

  •       User-Friendly Interface
  •       Customizable Scan Modes
  •       Scan internal or external storage drives
  •       Compatible with Windows 11 and earlier versions
  •       Preview files before you recover
  •       Advanced Filter Options
  •       Pause and Resume Scan

Pros:

  •       High Success Rate in recovering
  •       Multiple Scanning Modes
  •       Superior Preview Function
  •       User-Friendly Interface
  •       Quick and easy Filter Options

Cons:

  •       Limited Free Trial
  •       Slow and Deep Scanning

Conclusion

Losing important data on a Windows system can be a stressful experience, but there are several data recovery tools you can use to recover lost data. The manual methods discussed in this article can help you in data recovery on Windows. It is important to act quickly and stop using your computer as soon as you realize you have lost data.