Backup and Restore: restore files in Recycler (Win7 Enterprise x64)

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

  1. Posts : 15
    Win 7 x64 Enterprise
       #1

    Backup and Restore: restore files in Recycler (Win7 Enterprise x64)


    Hi:

    I have a Win 7 Enterprise Pro x64 laptop. Most of the files in my recycler/recycle bin mysteriously disappeared a few days back (I am guessing some OS quirk since desktop.ini also seems to have been modified then, though everything is still running smoothly).

    So I want to get those files back. In my weekly backup to an external HDD using Win 7's built-in Backup and Restore I thought I have the recycler backed up:
    Control Panel > Backup and Restore > Options > Change Backup Settings > Select where you want to save your backup > Where do you want to back up?: Let me choose > What do you want to back up?: Computer, Local Disk (C:, $RecycleBin is checked (my HD is partitioned and I also have the D: $RecycleBin selected here)

    But when I select
    Control Panel > Backup and Restore > Restore my files > Browse for files (or Browse for folders)
    I get a explorer like screen which lists in the title bar,
    Backup on <location> > Backup of C:
    and lists all other folders I checked off in the Backup in the last paragraph but not the $RecycleBin folder.

    Note that I have "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" selected and "Hide protected operating system files" unchecked in folder options (so for example ProgramData is listed in the folders in the last paragraph). I also am able to restore other files from my backup so I am rather sure the backup is not corrupted.

    Is there someway to find and restore the recycler files or is this just not something which is possible? Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!

    PS I have tried directly recovering using the file recovery program Recuva. Most of the files I want are listed a too damaged to be restored.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 15
    Win 7 x64 Enterprise
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Sorry to bump this but hoping someone might have a suggestion on this (or even to tell me that it is not possible to restore files from the recycler)
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #3

    Hello MonkeyMan,

    One possibility for what happened is if the Recycle Bin has reached it's max storage size, it will automatically permanently delete the oldest deleted files to make room for new deleted files.
    Since you have backups, do you have a backup available before the files were deleted that you may be able to recover them from?

    Hope this may help some, :)
    Shawn
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 15
    Win 7 x64 Enterprise
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Thanks for the response Brink!

    Yes I am guessing you are right that I hit the recycler cap (which I had never known about). I upped it so going forward I will hopefully not encounter this again.

    And my question was exactly about what you mentioned. When I did the backup, I had the recycler folder checked off. But when I try to restore those files, that folder is not listed (see my original post). Do you know how to make it appear or if they are somehow hidden away somewhere?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #5

    Are you talking about $RECLYCLED on C or D or?? Is system restore enabled on all disks you're talking about? If so... do you have restore points prior to start of problem? Don't do a system restore... just answer

    Right click on C:\$RECYCLED ->previous versions, and go back in time for that folder. Eventually on D and E... as well.

    Previous Versions - Restore Files and Folders
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #6

    Even if checked to be included in the backup, I've never seen the $Recycle.Bin folder listed in a backup.

    Instead, you might look in your backups for the files in the folders (if available) they were in before being deleted to the Recycle Bin to see if you may be able to restore them that way.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 15
    Win 7 x64 Enterprise
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Brink: Thanks! Unfortunately I do not even have a list of all files that there were in the recycler so that may be hard to do. Strange that it even allows you to check it off when you select which files to backup and then it does not back them up! Ugh wish there was a way to get it from those backups.

    Kaktussoft: Thanks for the suggestion but I unfortunately do not have restore points enabled
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #8

    Well, I suppose that if you know what folder(s) the files were in before you deleted them, and if the folder(s) were included in the backup, then you could go through Windows Backup to flip through the files in those backed up folders to see if you may spot them.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #9

    MonkeyMan123 said:
    Brink: Thanks! Unfortunately I do not even have a list of all files that there were in the recycler so that may be hard to do. Strange that it even allows you to check it off when you select which files to backup and then it does not back them up! Ugh wish there was a way to get it from those backups.

    Kaktussoft: Thanks for the suggestion but I unfortunately do not have restore points enabled
    So you deleted files... and now you want them back... why did you delete them? Why are restore points not enabled? It can save you a lot of problems in case of bad installers or bad patches!
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #10

    Just a question if I may.
    Does Indexing have to be activated in order to find the files/folder?
      My Computer


 
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:14.
Find Us