Find Deleted Files on Computer

Uncovering the Unseen: Discovering Deleted Files on Your Computer

Windows File Recovery Options

If you have accidentally deleted files on your Windows computer, don’t worry. Microsoft offers various options to help you recover your deleted files.

1. Use the File History Backup feature: This feature automatically creates backups of your files and folders. To restore a deleted file, navigate to the folder where it was originally located, right-click on it, and select “Restore previous versions.”

2. Check the Recycle Bin: Deleted files are often moved to the Recycle Bin first. To restore them, double-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop, locate the file, right-click on it, and select “Restore.”

3. Utilize the Command Prompt: Windows has a built-in command-line recovery program called “Windows File Recovery.” To use it, open the Command Prompt from the Start menu, type “winfr,” followed by the drive or folder location, and press Enter.

Recovering Deleted Files from the Recycle Bin

Recovering deleted files from the Recycle Bin is a simple process in Microsoft Windows. To restore your deleted files, follow these steps:

1. Locate the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop or in the taskbar. Double-click on the icon to open it.

2. Once the Recycle Bin window is open, you will see a list of all the deleted files. To restore a file, simply select it and click on the “Restore” button in the toolbar. You can also right-click on the file and choose “Restore” from the context menu.

3. If you have deleted a large number of files or want to restore everything in the Recycle Bin, you can click on the “Restore all items” option in the toolbar.

4. Alternatively, you can use the search bar in the Recycle Bin window to locate specific files. Simply type in the name or part of the name of the file you want to recover and press Enter.

5. If you can’t find the file you’re looking for in the Recycle Bin, it may have been permanently deleted. In this case, you can try using a data recovery software like Disk Drill or Daossoft Data Recovery to retrieve your files.

Restoring Missing Files or Folders

If you’ve accidentally deleted important files or folders on your Windows 10 computer, don’t panic. There are steps you can take to recover them.

First, check the Recycle Bin. Deleted files are often sent here before being permanently removed. If you find your files, simply right-click on them and select “Restore” to return them to their original location.

If your files aren’t in the Recycle Bin, you can try using the File History feature. Search for “File History” in the taskbar and open the File History control panel. From there, you can navigate through previous versions of your files and restore them to their original location.

If neither of these options work, you can use third-party data recovery software like Disk Drill or Daossoft Data Recovery to scan your hard drive for deleted files. These programs can often recover deleted files even if they’re not in the Recycle Bin or File History.

python import os


def find_deleted_files(directory):

    deleted_files = []
    for root, dirs, files in os.walk(directory):

        for file in files:

            file_path = os.path.join(root, file)
            # Check if the file exists but is marked as deleted

            if not os.path.exists(file_path) and os.path.isfile(file_path):

                deleted_files.append(file_path)
    return deleted_files
# Usage example

directory_to_search = "/path/to/directory"

deleted_files = find_deleted_files(directory_to_search)

if deleted_files: print("Deleted files found:") for file_path in deleted_files: print(file_path) else: print("No deleted files found.")

Recovering Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 10 or 11

Recovering permanently deleted files in Windows 10 or 11 can be done using a few different methods.

First, check the Recycle Bin or Trashcan on your PC. If the file was recently deleted, it may still be there.

If it’s not in the Recycle Bin, you can try using the File History Backup feature. This allows you to restore previous versions of files and folders.

Another option is to use the built-in shadow copies feature. Shadow copies are automatic backups created by Windows, and they can be accessed through the “Previous Versions” tab in a file or folder’s properties.

If none of these options work, you can try using a third-party data recovery tool. There are many available online, such as AsiaVision’s recovery service, that can help you recover deleted files.

For advanced users, there is also a command-line recovery program called “recovery tool” that can be used to recover deleted files.

Utilizing Third-Party Recovery Utilities

When you find yourself in a situation where you need to recover deleted files on your computer, third-party recovery utilities can come to the rescue. These tools are specifically designed to help you retrieve lost data efficiently. Here’s how you can make use of them:

1. Identify the right utility for your operating system. Whether you’re using Windows 7, Windows 11, Mac OS, or any other version, ensure that the recovery utility you choose is compatible.

2. Download and install the third-party recovery utility on your PC or laptop.

3. Launch the program and follow the on-screen instructions. Many recovery utilities offer a user-friendly wizard that simplifies the process.

4. Select the location where your deleted files were originally stored. This could be your hard disk, a shared drive, a shared folder, or any other place you suspect the files might be.

5. Begin the scan. The recovery utility will search through your selected location and try to recover everything it can find.

6. Once the scan is complete, carefully review the results. You may be able to preview the recovered files, so keep an eye out for relevant media, pictures, or documents.

7. Select the files you want to recover and proceed with the recovery process. The utility will guide you through the necessary steps to restore your deleted files.

Using Microsoft’s Windows File Recovery Tool

If you’ve accidentally deleted important files on your computer, don’t worry! You can use Microsoft’s Windows File Recovery Tool to help you recover them. This tool is available for Windows 10 and higher, including Windows 11.

First, make sure you have enough free hard disk space to recover the files. You can check this by going to “Settings” > “System” > “Storage” and looking at the available space.

Next, open the Windows File Recovery Tool. You can find it in the Microsoft Store or by searching for it in the Start menu.

Once the tool is open, you’ll need to specify the location where the deleted files were originally stored. This can be your internal hard drive, an external storage device, or a shared drive on your network.

Finally, follow the on-screen instructions to start the recovery process. The tool will scan the specified location for deleted files and give you a list of results. You can then select the files you want to recover and choose a safe location to restore them to.

Free Recovery Software Options (Recuva and Glarysoft File Recovery)

Download and Install Recuva or Glarysoft File Recovery

Open your preferred web browser
Navigate to the official website of Recuva or Glarysoft File Recovery
Locate the download page
Click on the download link
Wait for the download to complete
Locate the downloaded file
Double-click on the file to start the installation process
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software

Launch the Recovery Software

Locate the installed software on your computer
Double-click on the software icon to open it

Select the Drive or Location to Scan

Within the recovery software, you should see a list of drives or locations
Choose the drive or location where the deleted files were originally stored

Choose a Scan Type

Depending on the software, you may have different scan options such as quick scan, deep scan, or specific file scan
Select the appropriate scan type based on your needs