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

Layback Bear said:

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

No! Only used for contents of the files

Thank you Kaktussoft.

MonkeyMan123 said:

Brink:
These were primarily files on my desktop or my browser temp folder (I use these a bit like a cache sometimes). The files are not there for long so it will be hard to get them from the (weekly) backups. Really my only hope is if the Recycler is in fact backed up: it seems a bit weird that this is not possible.

Kaktussoft:
Yes in restrospect having restore points on would have been nice! A guru at work told me that they were not really needed if one was backing up along with a system image of c:\ in the backup (which I also do).

So it seems I may be SOL. Before I give up can anyone definitively state that even if the recycler is checked off to be backed up in Backup and Restore that this does not in fact happen?

You also have an image of C with most likely the files in recycle bin?

MonkeyMan123 said:

Brink:
These were primarily files on my desktop or my browser temp folder (I use these a bit like a cache sometimes). The files are not there for long so it will be hard to get them from the (weekly) backups. Really my only hope is if the Recycler is in fact backed up: it seems a bit weird that this is not possible.

Kaktussoft:
Yes in restrospect having restore points on would have been nice! A guru at work told me that they were not really needed if one was backing up along with a system image of c:\ in the backup (which I also do).

So it seems I may be SOL. Before I give up can anyone definitively state that even if the recycler is checked off to be backed up in Backup and Restore that this does not in fact happen?

You are able to open the $Recycle.Bin folder, and that's why it lets you check the $Recycle.Bin folder to be included in the backup.

Unfortunately, since users do not have permission rights to access the subfolders by default in the $Recycle.Bin folder, the subfolders will not be included in a Windows Backup.

It's a catch 22.


They will be included in a system image since it's for the whole drive.


System Image - Extract Files Using Disk Management

Sure thing. You could use the method in the tutorial below to manually extract (copy and paste) any found needed files without harming the system image. :)

System Image - Extract Files Using Disk Management

MonkeyMan123 said:

Brink:
Thanks again!
After I attach the VHD and navigate the to recycler folder (C>$Recyle.Bin>Recycle Bin) in the Virtual Drive it is for some reason showing something that is very close to the current contents of the recyle bin. Strange thing is the modified date of the folder on the virtual drive is when I made the backup.
Can you let me know what I am doing wrong?

PS I see now that the *.vhd file got a new time stamp after I exited. I had not selected the read-only option but did not delete or do anything to any of the files

What is the drive letter of attached VHD? In my sample I use Q
Browse to Q:\$RECYCLE.BIN
Be sure to enable showing system files and hidden files! Hidden Files and Folders - Show or Hide (2 and 4)
Now you see the recycle bin of you and of other users. But "recycle bin" is just a collection of files deleted on currently connected disks!!

So: C>$Recyle.Bin>Recycle Bin shows exactly the same as D>$Recyle.Bin>Recycle Bin

Best thing to do is:

1. Detach the vhd, so you can't access it. To be 100% sure detach the external disk completely.
2. Restore files you want to keep from recycle bin.
3. Empty the recycle bin.
4. Attach the vhd. (read only)
5. Look in recycle bin as you do normally. You can restore whatever you want

when done: Close all applications accessing the vhd so all explorer windows. Detach vhd. A simple reboot is fine as well.