I have faced the frustrating experience of important documents getting erased after a Windows update multiple times. As someone who relies heavily on my computer for work and personal use, I understand how catastrophic losing important files can be. In this article, I will provide an in-depth guide on recovering erased documents after a Windows update.
Why Documents Get Deleted During a Windows Update
During a Windows update, the operating system updates system files and settings on your computer. Sometimes, these updates require changing file locations or deleting outdated files. If the update process determines a document to be outdated or unnecessary, it may delete it.
Here are some common reasons files can get erased during a Windows update:
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File corruption – An update may damage certain files, leading Windows to automatically delete corrupted data.
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Location changes – Windows may move your files to new locations without proper redirects left behind, making them seem deleted.
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Outdated files – Temporary files or previous versions of updated applications are removed.
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Driver updates – Updated drivers can sometimes make older files unreadable, prompting deletion.
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Buggy updates – Flawed updates may accidentally delete important system or user files.
Best Practices to Avoid Losing Files
While Windows updates aim to improve your computer, they do pose a small risk of deleting unsaved work or important documents. Here are some best practices I follow to avoid unexpected file loss:
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Backup regularly – Make copies of all critical files on an external hard drive or cloud storage.
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Disable automatic updates – Stop updates from installing without your approval via Windows Update settings.
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Close open files – Ensure all work is saved and applications are closed prior to updating.
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Pause OneDrive sync – Stop OneDrive from uploading file changes during an update.
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Update carefully – If asked to close files or restart your PC, save and close everything first.
How to Recover Deleted Documents
If you find important files missing after updating Windows, don’t panic. In most cases, you can recover erased documents using free recovery software or File History backups. Here are the most effective ways to get deleted files back:
Use Free Recovery Software
Specialized data recovery tools can scan your drives and retrieve deleted files. I recommend Recuva and Photorec– both are free options that have helped me restore erased documents in the past.
To use them effectively:
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Download and install the recovery program on another drive – not the one your files disappeared from.
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Scan the drive where deleted files were located. This finds recoverable files.
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Browse results and restore needed documents to a safe location.
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Avoid overwriting the original drive further until files are recovered.
Restore from File History
Windows File History automatically creates backups of files in libraries, desktop, contacts, favorites, etc. If File History was enabled before an update, you can restore erased documents from a previous point in time.
To restore files via File History:
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Go to Backup and Restore in Settings and select “Restore files from a current backup.”
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Navigate the File History timeline to a date before the files disappeared.
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Select the missing documents and click the green “Restore” button.
Use System Restore
System Restore lets you roll back Windows to an earlier state if an update causes problems. All files and settings from that point will be restored.
To roll back using System Restore:
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In Control Panel, access System Restore. Select “Choose a different restore point”
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Choose a restore point created before the update. Click scan for affected programs.
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Click next, then confirm you wish to restore Windows to the earlier state.
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Your files from before the update will be restored.
When to Cut Your Losses
Despite best efforts, some files may be impossible to recover after an update error. If professional recovery services cannot rescue deleted files either, it may be time to cut your losses. Consider it a lesson to strengthen your backup practices for the future.
While losing documents due to Windows updates is aggravating, proper precautions can minimize risk. Following this guide, you should be able to swiftly recover erased files using free tools. Just be sure to establish strong backup habits going forward.
