Recovering Lost Files Using Your Operating Systems Shadow Copies

What are Shadow Copies?

Shadow copies are copies of files and folders on your computer’s hard drive that Windows automatically saves at certain points in time. They allow you to restore previous versions of files and folders that have been accidentally deleted, overwritten, or corrupted.

Windows creates shadow copies using a built-in utility called the Volume Snapshot Service (VSS). This runs as a background process and takes snapshots of your files and folders at regular intervals. It also takes a shadow copy when certain events occur, like when you install a new application.

The specifics of how shadow copies work depend on your version of Windows:

• On Windows XP, they are called Previous Versions.
• On Windows Vista and 7, they are called Shadow Copies.
• On Windows 8 and 10, they are called File History.

Although the names differ, they serve the same essential purpose – to help recover lost and changed files.

Why Shadow Copies are Useful

Here are some of the key benefits shadow copies provide:

• Restore overwritten files – If you accidentally save changes to a file, you can restore the previous version from a shadow copy.

• Recover deleted files – If you delete a file and realize you still need it, shadow copies often still have a copy for recovery.

• Rollback to earlier versions – If a file becomes corrupted, you may be able to restore a previous working version from a shadow copy.

• Protection against malware/ransomware – Malware may be able to destroy your current files and folders, but shadow copies provide read-only snapshots that can’t be directly affected.

So in summary, shadow copies give you an easy way to roll back changes and recover from problems like accidental deletion, corruption, or malicious software. They enable self-service file recovery without needing IT support.

How to Access Shadow Copies to Recover Files

The exact method for accessing shadow copies depends on your version of Windows. Here’s an overview of the process on common Windows versions:

On Windows 10

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder where the file was deleted or changed.
2. Right click in the blank space of the folder and select Properties.
3. Click the Previous Versions tab.
4. Select one of the available previous versions and click Restore to recover that copy of the file or folder.

On Windows 8

1. Right-click on the folder where the file was deleted or changed.
2. Select Restore previous versions from the context menu.
3. An earlier version of the folder will open as a separate window. Browse to find the lost file(s) and copy them back to the main folder.

On Windows 7

1. Open the folder containing the lost file.
2. Click on the toolbar button labeled Previous Versions.
3. Select a previous version from the list and click Open. This will open a read-only copy of that version of the folder.
4. Copy the lost file(s) out of this read-only version back to the original location.

The key point is that each version of Windows has a built-in way to access those shadow copies and restore files from an earlier point in time. So if you accidentally lose a file, check the shadow copies before panicking!

Tips for Using Shadow Copies Effectively

Here are some tips to use shadow copies successfully:

• Run regular file backups in addition to relying on shadow copies. Shadow copies don’t replace comprehensive backups.

• Shadow copies require the volume where the files are located to be formatted with the NTFS file system. They won’t work on USB drives or network shares formatted as FAT32.

• The number of shadow copies retained depends on the storage space allocated to storing them. You may need to increase the space on busy systems.

• On Windows 10 and 8, enable File History for continuous protection rather than intermittent shadow copies.

• On Windows 7, schedule regular automated shadow copy creation using the Volume Shadow Copy service properties.

• Test restoring files from shadow copies occasionally to verify the process is working. Don’t wait until you have an actual emergency.

So in summary, enable shadow copies on local NTFS volumes, schedule regular creation, allocate sufficient storage, and practice recovery. Then they can help recover from unexpected file loss, accidental changes, and other problems.

Conclusion

• Shadow copies provide point-in-time snapshots to recover older versions of changed, deleted or corrupted files.

• They are built into Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 10, with names like Previous Versions, Shadow Copies, and File History depending on the OS.

• To restore a lost file, navigate to the folder in File Explorer, access the properties or previous versions view, and select an earlier shadow copy containing the file.

Used proactively, shadow copies serve as a convenient, automated backup system for self-service file recovery. Enable them and periodically practice restoring files for maximum effectiveness.