Windows 10: How do I retrieve an overwritten file without File History or System Restore?

Discus and support How do I retrieve an overwritten file without File History or System Restore? in Windows 10 Network and Sharing to solve the problem; I accidently overwrote an rtf: file from a thumb drive and lost the original file that was in Documents in Drive C on my computer... only to find out... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Network and Sharing' started by Eric Heatwole, May 26, 2023.

  1. ERIC HEATWOLE
    Eric Heatwole Win User

    How do I retrieve an overwritten file without File History or System Restore?


    I accidently overwrote an rtf: file from a thumb drive and lost the original file that was in Documents in Drive C on my computer... only to find out that File History and System restore were turned off on our PC; Is there anyway of retrieving my original file???

    :)
     
    Eric Heatwole, May 26, 2023
    #1
  2. ROBERT PAT VAUGHN
    Robert Pat Vaughn Win User

    File History Restore Not Working

    My apologies for my not explaining my problem clearly.

    File History would always list my external drive. It would not list the File History backup subfolder, "Computer Name", which contained my backup.

    I completed the 5 steps you recommended, and in step (4), using Windows Explorer, I opted to change the name to "File History.old" instead of deleting it. Had I deleted it, all my backup files that I want to reload onto drive C would have been gone.

    When I look at the external backup drive in Windows Explorer it now shows 4 folders, $RECYCLE.BIN, FileHistory, FileHistory.old and System Volume Information. Bottom line, FileHistory contains only the backed up data currently on Drive C as a result of step
    5, while FileHistory.old contains the data I wish to reload.

    Now when I go to Control Panel/File History/Select drive, and select the external backup drive, only the subfolder contained in FileHistory shows up. The subfolder contained in FileHistory.old, which contains the data I wish to restore, is still not listed.
    When I select "Restore personal files" it only shows folders associated with FileHistory.

    Thanks for your attention and help, but I am now resigned to copying and pasting the files that I need to restore. I totally yield to the higher power that is Microsoft.

    Again thanks,

    RP
     
    Robert Pat Vaughn, May 26, 2023
    #2
  3. BILL SMITHERS
    Bill Smithers Win User
    Restore AppData overwritten files

    If it is overwritten, it is overwritten.

    Your next step is to see ?date Recovery specialists, who are VERY, VERY expensive.

    A word of advice:

    You should always have your data backed up to at least two external media destinations (external hard drive, DVDs, flash drive) in case of system file corruption and/or hard drive failure

    And that includes backing up Favs and Bookmarks.
     
    Bill Smithers, May 26, 2023
    #3
  4. SHAWN BRINK
    Shawn Brink Win User

    How do I retrieve an overwritten file without File History or System Restore?

    Shawn Brink, May 26, 2023
    #4
Thema:

How do I retrieve an overwritten file without File History or System Restore?

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