Backup technology has taken a huge step forward in the past ten years. Disk space is getting cheaper, and now anyone can afford to buy a 1-2 terabyte external hard drive to set up a Time Machine backup, being able to return their Mac to any state in the last few weeks or even months.
However, in addition to restoring files from a backup, there are several other ways, thanks to which you can revert to previous changes to certain documents and files. This article will focus on recovery options for both Mac OS X and Windows. We will also talk about the options that cloud storage provides Dropbox, Google Drive and various applications like Evernote and Simplenote.
Time Machine and OS X versions
With the release of OS X 10.5 Leopard, users have new backup options. Instead of manually copying backups to an external drive whenever changes are made, Time Machine does it automatically and continuously. Backups are saved every hour, after which they are stored as follows: hourly backups are stored for a day, daily backups for a month, and weekly backups will be stored depending on the available disk space. The main reason why users refuse to use Time Machine is the need for an external hard drive. Apple offers an easy solution to this problem, Time Capsule is a hard drive router that lets you create over-the-air backups. It's convenient, but quite expensive (the 2 TB model will set you back $ 299).
Another file recovery option in OS X is Versions. This feature was introduced in OS X 10.7 Lion and allowed applications to keep revisions of document changes from the very beginning. The versions were a more convenient solution, since they did not require an external drive for their work, but not as versatile as Time Machine due to the fact that they work only with certain applications (text editors, simple graphic editors, etc.). If you need to restore a previous version of the PSD, then it is best to try to do it using Time Machine.
Time Machine File Recovery
It is very easy to recover files with Time Machine. It is enough to take a few simple steps:
- Launch Time Machine from Launchpad or folders Programs.
- If you have a folder open in Finder, Time Machine will show you it. Otherwise, the Desktop will be shown.
- Using the slider on the right, select the backup from the required date. You can view the contents of the disc as it was before.
- After you find the required file, select it and press the button Reestablish... You will be taken back to Finder where copying of the file will begin. This will show a beautiful animation.
Recovery via Versions in OS X
The use of Versions is very similar to Time Machine, with the only difference that they are more limited. Restoration of previous versions of documents in applications that support this function is as follows:
Open the File menu in the application and select the item Revert to object - View all versions.
You will find yourself in the Time Machine interface, where you need to select the version of the file you are interested in using the familiar slider.
After reviewing the changes and selecting a version, just click Reestablish.
Recover previous versions of files in Windows
If you are using a PC running Windows Vista, 7 or 8 - you also have the option to restore previous versions of documents and files. Windows 8 introduces a new File History tool that is very similar to Time Machine in OS X. If you've never used File History, you'll first need to set it up by choosing one of the external drives to store your backups. The recovery procedure itself should not cause you any difficulties:
- Open File History through search and select the file you want to recover
- Then, toggle between the saved states using the forward / backward buttons, select the desired revision.
- Highlight the required version, press Reestablish and specify the folder to save the selected file.
Windows Vista (Business, Ultimate) and all versions of Windows 7 have an easier way to restore previous versions of files. It is enough to open the folder containing the file in Explorer and right-click on it, select the item from the drop-down menu Restore previous versions... You will see a list of versions, along with the revision dates for each one. Select the required version and save it to the desired directory.
Alternatively, you can also use the free Shadow Explorer utility, which will allow you to view previous versions of files, just like in File History in Windows 8. It will also allow you to use this feature in your home version of Windows Vista.
Recover files in Dropbox
Cloud storage has become a fairly popular way to back up documents and files. Services such as Dropbox and Google Drive allow you to access your files from almost any device with a browser and an Internet connection. Dropbox gives users the ability to save all changes to files for free for 30 days. For those who have business accounts, the Plyushkin function is available, which provides the ability to store changes for an unlimited time. Regular account owners can purchase this feature for $ 4 per month or $ 39 per year.
Now let's see how it all works.
Web interface
- Open www.dropbox.com in your browser and log into your account.
- Go to the folder containing the required file and by right-clicking on it, select Previous versions.
- In the list of versions that opens, find the required edition and click Reestablish.
Finder
- Open the Dropbox folder in Finder and navigate to the file whose previous versions you want to restore.
- Right-click and select Previous Versions (keep in mind that Pages documents will not work with this feature, as they are displayed as folders, not files).
- You will be taken to the Dropbox site, and the rest of the recovery scenario is already familiar to you.
Google drive
Many people find Google Drive more practical than Dropbox because it is more affordable. In addition, it is a product of Google, a company that is a great guarantor of safety and uptime. Google Drive is just as easy to use as Dropbox, but it has some useful benefits. The service also allows you to store versions of file changes, although not as long as Dropbox - Google Drive keeps previous versions for 30 days or 100 changes, but they can be overwritten. Old versions of files also take up space in your account, so they will be deleted if there is a lack of free space.
You can use previous versions of files as follows:
- Open the Google Drive website and log into your account.
- We find the file that needs to be restored, right-click and select the item Version control.
- Open the required version of the file and click on it to download.
File versions in applications
Many of the files we save never end up in Finder or File Explorer, but instead remain inside applications. If the application syncs with iCloud, the versions of the files may be in the Time Machine backup, you already know how to access them. Each application behaves differently, so check if they have the option to restore previous files. Many web applications now offer a history function that you can use to roll back changes.
For example, Evernote has a Note History feature, though only for Pro accounts. To access it, open a note and click on the Note History link in the Info panel. A list of all previous versions will open with the date of the change and the time of creation, which you can view inside the history window and even copy text from previous versions of notes. You can also restore the previous version of the note back to notepad.
Other web apps including LucidChart, Simplenote, WordPress and many more automatically save versions of your spreadsheets, notes, posts and other documents you are working on, and each one has its own tools to view and restore previous versions.
Conclusion
None of us are going to intentionally remove information from a document, but it is very easy to do it and sometimes it happens. If this happens, do not be upset, as there is a high probability that your data has not been completely deleted. There are now many tools that allow you to restore previous versions of your documents and files. I hope our tips will help you if you ever need to recover your lost files.
As you know, after the release of Windows 10, Microsoft offered to switch to it completely free of charge and even without a boot disk or flash drive. To do this, it was only necessary to click on the corresponding icon that appeared in the lower right corner. Many people immediately took the opportunity to try out Microsoft's innovations. But the bottom line is that not everyone liked them.
That is why this article will tell you in detail how to restore a previous version of Windows. This process can be divided into several stages and carried out by various methods, up to cardinal ones. Therefore, it is better to enlist, so to speak, instructions and do everything according to it in order to avoid irreversible consequences.
Rollback through the system
Perhaps few people know, but after upgrading to Windows 10, you are given exactly one calendar month to refuse and return everything back. Right now, we will consider the option when, after installing the OS, you did not like it, and the allowable rollback period has not expired.
Many people probably noticed that as soon as Windows 10 appeared before their eyes, a daddy called Windows.old was formed on the hard drive, or to be more precise, on the C drive. The familiar persons are aware of why it is needed, and we will now enlighten those who do not know.
That is to say, just in case, the operating system retains its previous version just in order to return, if necessary. This older version remains in the Windows.old folder. It is stored there for exactly a month. That is why it was said above that a rollback from Windows 10 to Windows 7 can be carried out in the event that the deadline has not expired. How can this be done?
Now let's move on directly to how to restore the previous version of Windows:
You should have a desktop in front of you. Press Win + I at the same time. The Options section will open.
We need the fourth line on the list - "Recovery".
Now before your eyes there are various variations of further actions. We are only interested in the item "Back to Windows 7".
Feel free to press the "Start" button. After that, you will be asked about why you decided to restore the previous version of the OS.
Indicate any option to choose from and move on. The possible consequences of the rollback and recommendations will be shown before your eyes. Ignore it.
It remains to wait for the completion of the progress, and after a while the seventh Windows will be your main OS.
As you can see, restoring a previous version of Windows is not all that difficult. However, now the simplest scenario was presented, and it is also possible that an attempt to restore a previous version of Windows may go wrong. Therefore, we move on to the next method.
Image recovery
The method that will be presented now is extremely rarely used, but not because it is not effective, but because it is little known. Still, it is worth mentioning, as this is another way how you can restore a previous version of Windows. How long it lasts is difficult to say, it all depends on how you prepared, but everything is in order.
It is worth mentioning right away that we will now consider a rollback from Windows 10 to Windows 7, although this method is also suitable for other versions of operating systems. And the main thing that you need to know is that the image recording must be carried out at a time when you still have Windows 7:
If you are facing a serious problem on your computer, then the best and easiest way to return it to an earlier, happier time remains - System Restore. This way, you will protect your personal files even after they have been removed by the recently modified registry, drivers and software that can only cause computer pain are removed.
You may encounter many problems while using the device. If the system has problems, it will not be able to boot successfully, and you will not use the applications. In this situation, reverting Windows to an earlier date will help you return it to its previous state. In addition, there are other reasons that can cause unexpected changes on the computer. You can uninstall an incorrectly installed program or driver. However, if this does not solve the problem, try to restore the system to an earlier date. For a start, it's a good idea to get your computer up and running properly.
How do I restore a device to a specific date?
The first step is to create a system backup. Then, when you need to perform a restore, you can use it directly. Other versions also have a snap-in that can create copies of the image and restore the last working state of the OS. Open this tool, create a backup and save it to a local or external hard drive. If something goes wrong, you can use it to get your computer back up and running.
However, many users find that the built-in Windows tool is very difficult to use and creates a large system backup image. To fix this problem, try running a third-party utility.
Video - System Restore in Windows 7. Create a restore point
Restoring your computer to an earlier date using AOMEI Backupper
AOMEI Backupper is a powerful program that allows you to back up and restore your system, partition, disk, file / folder. In addition, it has many other tools that create bootable media, sync two folders, etc. The free version of the program is for Windows 10/8 / 8.1 / 7 / Vista / XP PC users. So, to restore the system to an earlier date, download AOMEI Backupper Standard.
Step 1. Run the utility. On the left click "Restore". Then click on the "Path" button to select the image file for data recovery. Click Next.
Step 2. A window will appear to remind you to restore the system. Click "Yes" and select a backup time. Click on it and click Next.
Step 3. You will be taken to the Operations Summary page. Confirm the information if there is no problem, and then click "Start Recovery".
When the progress reaches 100%, click "Done".
If you want to restore only some drivers, not all, then try downloading the tool Driver Easy... It allows you to select only those components that are needed for backup and recovery, and thus save a lot of space for storing other important files and programs. In addition, with Driver Easy you can find and update all the drivers you need for free.
AOMEI Backupper Allows you to perform universal recovery, which returns the operating state of the system from one computer to another. However, this function only exists in the paid version of AOMEI Backupper Professional, which means that you need to update the existing program.
Attention! The choice of recovery increases the likelihood that the process of getting the system back online will not be successful. In this case, follow the steps gradually. To do this, first select a recent restore point and then go to older ones. When you select an old backup, all software and hardware updates installed "in the time interval" are deleted, when they no longer work and require reinstallation after the system restore operation is completed.
Video - How to run system restore on Windows 10
Using System Restore
Let's assume that you have enabled the function to return the system to a working state (we will discuss how to do this below). To return the settings to an earlier date, follow these steps:
Step 1. Click on the Windows icon (or Windows Search on Windows 10) on the taskbar and type "Recovery" in the search box. Select Recovery Control Panel.
Step 2. Click "Start System Restore" and the "Next" button. You will see the recovery dates and times. It can only be one point, but usually there are more. Select the point that you think was created before starting the PC. Click Next.
Step 3. Press "Finish" to confirm your choice. The system will return the computer to the last working state.
Recovery using safe mode
There are times when, due to a serious problem with Windows, it is not possible to successfully start System Restore. Fortunately, you can still do this by booting the OS in Safe Mode.
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How to enable system restore
As mentioned earlier, Windows 10 requires the activation of the recovery feature. To avoid the unpleasant surprise of missing restore points when you need them most, follow these steps:
- Type in Windows 10 "Create a restore point" in the search box. Click on the output and select the restore setting.
- When System Properties opens, select Configure.
- The System Protection window will appear. You can see that the restore feature is disabled by default. Check the radio button next to Enable system protection. You will also see a slider. Move the pointer along the slider by 5%. Then click "Apply" and "OK".
- After confirming the action, you will be returned to the system properties window. Now you can create your first restore point. Click "Create".
- In the dialog box that opens, create a name for the restore point.
- From now on, any time significant changes are made, system backups will be created.
Read about what data is stored in the Windows.old folder and how to recover it from there... How to delete the Windows.old folder to free up disk space. Upgraded Windows 7 or 8 to the new Windows 10? Old folder appears on your computer and is taking up a lot of space? You can delete it, but not in the same way as you delete regular folders.
The Windows.old folder is not new to Windows 10. But before Windows 10, this folder could be seen if you bought a new version of Windows and installed it by updating the previous version.
Content:
What is the Windows.old folder?
This folder appears when you upgrade one version of Windows to a newer one starting from Windows Vista. The Windows.old folder contains all files and data from the previous version of Windows that was installed prior to the upgrade. It can be used to revert (rollback) to a previous version of Windows in case the new version does not work. To recover data after reinstalling Windows.
If you need to find a specific file that was incorrectly copied during a Windows update, you can also "rummage" in the Windows.old folder and find it.
Essentially, the Windows.old folder contains an older version of Windows. From Windows system files to installed programs, from user account settings to simple files, it's all here. The new version of Windows keeps this information in case you want to revert to the old version of Windows or if you need to find a file.
But, don't hesitate too long. Windows will automatically delete the Windows.old folder to free up disk space after a month.
How do I revert to a previous version of Windows?
Getting back to Windows 7 or 8.1 with Windows 10 is very easy. After installing Windows 10, you can simply open the Settings app, select Update & Security, and click Recovery. In this section, we will see the item Return to Windows 7 or 8.1, depending on which version of Windows you were upgrading from.
After we click the "Start" button, Windows will restore the previous version of the operating system using the Windows.old folder as the source.
Before Windows 10, you could do that too. For example, here is an instruction from the official Microsoft website on how to restore Windows 7 to a previous version of Windows using the Windows.old folder. Windows 10 is much easier.
But again, as noted in the Windows settings, this feature is only available for a month after upgrading to Windows 10. Windows will automatically delete the Windows.old folder a month later in order to free up disk space. So you have a month to decide whether you want to continue using the new version of the system or not and evaluate whether all the files you need were copied correctly.
How to recover individual files from Windows.old folder
If you need to recover individual files from an old Windows installation, you can recover them from the Windows.old folder. To do this, you just need to open the Windows.old folder in the file explorer: C: \\ Windows.old. Your personal files will be located in C: \\ Windows.old \\ Users \\ USERNAME.
But keep in mind that even on the official Microsoft website it is indicated that, if you wish, you can restore all files from the Windows.old folder or (Attention!) Some of them. To prevent data loss, Microsoft strongly recommends that you back up your files and settings to an external drive before restoring, resetting, updating, or reinstalling Windows.
That is, there is a risk of data loss when updating Windows and / or downgrading from Windows 10 to a previous version. Moreover, Microsoft does not provide for the recovery of data lost in this way using standard Windows tools.
In this case, the only option for data recovery can only be third-party software. If any data or files disappeared during Windows update or recovery, regardless of their type or extension, scan the C: drive using Hetman Partition Recovery from Hetman Software, and restore them to a convenient location or to a storage medium.
How to delete the Windows.old folder to free up disk space
The Windows.old folder can take up a lot of disk space. This will be 12 GB at best. But its volume can reach 20 GB or even more. It all depends on the size of your previous version of Windows.
Try deleting the Windows.old folder in the same way you would any other folder and you will get an error message. You can work around the error message by changing the permissions of the Windows.old folder. But this is not the correct way to delete this folder.
You can use Windows Disk Cleanup or a third-party program to delete the Windows.old folder. In Windows 10, open the Start menu, search for Disk Cleanup and launch the application. You can also open this application by right-clicking in the "This computer" folder on the C drive, and choosing "Properties" from the pop-up menu, then clicking the "Disk Cleanup" button.
Press the button "Clear system files". The list of files to delete will also show "Previous versions of Windows", and "Disk Cleanup" will show how much space these files take. Select this option and click Clean Disk, the old version of Windows will be removed. This function can also be used to clean up the system drive and other unnecessary files.
You do not risk anything by deleting the Windows.old folder. If you are satisfied with the new version of Windows and do not want to return to the old version of the operating system, and you are also sure that all the files you need have been copied from the Windows.old folder, you can safely delete it.
Windows will still automatically delete the Windows.old folder one month after the update. All computers that have upgraded to Windows 10 will still be able to use the space occupied by the Windows.old folder, even if their users do not know about such a folder and are unaware of its existence, as well as the possibility of using the Disk Cleanup function.
In this article, I will tell you about a way to automatically save the latest changes to your files in Windows 7 once a day, in case you accidentally delete some necessary document or, for example, change it and save it without leaving an old copy. This method consists in preserving previous versions of files using the built-in function in Windows "System Protection", that is, by creating restore checkpoints.
In the case of deleting files from the computer, the "Recycle Bin" usually helps, in which the file is placed before the final deletion. From there, you can always restore the file and continue working with it. However, there are several nuances here:
Firstly, the volume of the basket is limited (it is configured by the user himself) and some large files will not always be deleted immediately, past the basket.
Secondly, the trash can be emptied as a result of careless work in any programs to optimize the system, or you yourself can empty the trash, and then remember that there was something important there :)
Thirdly, in Windows, the Recycle Bin is sometimes buggy, and when you open it, you may sometimes not see any files, although they actually are in it.
Therefore, completely relying on the Recycle Bin in the sense that it will save all your files from accidental deletion is definitely not worth it ... Well, in the end, the Recycle Bin will not save your file in any way if you accidentally changed it, then saved and after some time, you suddenly needed an original copy of the same file (for example, if you made the wrong changes and you need to take the original file and start over). After saving the file, there is no way to bring back its standard copy.
To have additional protection of your files from loss or unwanted, unnecessary changes, in Windows 7, you can use the "System Protection" function. This feature is part of the system restore tool. Windows has a special program that constantly monitors the state of the system, monitors its changes and saves important changes in the form of restore checkpoints. Thanks to these restore points, Windows can be restored to one of the previous states, for example, the last day, week, month (depending on which restore points were created).
Learn more about how to restore Windows to a previous state in a separate article.
In Windows 8 and 10 there is a simple and convenient "Backup Service" function for setting up a full backup of your selected files and folders to another hard drive at a specified time. This is described.
In addition to the fact that the system protection function monitors the system parameters and records the change in special restore checkpoints, it can also track changes in files, which are also recorded in checkpoints, which allows us to then view the history of each file.
There is an important point. You can only see previous changes if a Windows restore checkpoint was created prior to these changes. For example, you deleted a file from your desktop and up to this point a restore checkpoint was created. This means that you can then look at the previous versions of the files in the desktop folder and see the file you deleted there. If a restore point was not created before the file was deleted, you cannot restore it.
The same goes for changes to files. For example, you made some change to a file, saved it, and then wanted to restore the original version of that file. This can only be done if a recovery checkpoint was created before the changes. Those. you will get 2 versions of your file: the one that was saved when creating the checkpoint and the file you modified.
The function of saving previous versions of files is not a full-fledged backup, because, firstly, checkpoints will be created on the same disk where the original files are stored. This means that in the event of a sudden failure of the hard disk, you will lose files along with their saved previous versions. Secondly, in case of a system failure, you can only restore the previous versions of your files by restoring the system to a working state!
Configuring preservation of previous versions of files
To enable the preservation of previous versions of files, go to the "System Protection" section.
This feature can be quickly accessed through Windows Search by typing "Create a restore point" there. In the search results, you need to open the found variant of the same name:
More details on how to use search in different versions of Windows are described.
You can also open the desired section manually by going to Start\u003e Control Panel\u003e\u003e System and Security\u003e System\u003e System Protection.
In the "System Protection" window from the list (1), select the local disk for which you want to enable the ability to save previous versions of files and click "Configure".
At the top of the window, select one of the options: keep both system settings and previous versions of files, or only previous versions of files (1).
In the first case, when creating the next checkpoint, Windows will save not only your files, but also the system settings, which will allow you, in the event of any failures due to incorrectly configured settings, to return the system to the state when these failures did not exist.
Below, using the slider (2), you need to specify how much space as a percentage of the total space on the selected local disk will be allocated for storing previous versions of files and system parameters (if you chose the 1st option above).
Remember that if the allocated free space for storing checkpoints runs out, the old checkpoints will be deleted.
Click “Apply” and “OK” to save the changes.
If there are several disks, then you will need to separately select each disk from the list and enable the preservation of previous versions of files!
How can I view previous versions of files?
If you are viewing previous versions of a file, the window displays a list of versions of the selected file, indicating the dates of changes. To see the changes in the file, you need to select it and open it by double-clicking (or the "Open" button below). Thus, you can look at different versions of the desired file and find the one where the changes you need are made.
To restore the selected version of a file, the easiest way is to drag it with the mouse from this window to the desired folder. The file will be restored immediately. If you click "Copy", an explorer will open, where you can select a folder to restore the file. And if you click "Restore", the file will be restored to the same folder where it was previously, and if the same file (of a different version) is already located in this folder, then it will be replaced by the version you are restoring.
If you are viewing previous versions of a folder, then the window will accordingly display all the changes saved in restore points in this folder.
Likewise, by opening different versions from this window, you can find the one you need and restore.
How do I change the checkpoint schedule?
By default, checkpoints where changes to your files are saved are created in Windows 7 every time you turn on your computer and at 0:00 every day.
This means that changes to your files will be saved twice in the specified periods. That is, if your file, for example, is changed during the day and you want to return these changes, then you will not be able to do this, since you will not initially create restore points by midday.
You can always change the schedule for creating recovery points to your own. For example, the initially set time 0:00 may be meaningless for many, because not everyone already uses a computer at this time of day. And if the computer does not work at the specified time, then the checkpoint, respectively, will not be created.
In order to change the schedule, you need to use the program built into Windows - the task scheduler.
Open Task Scheduler by typing the word "Scheduler" in a Windows search:
On the left side of the Scheduler window, open the following path: Task Scheduler Library\u003e Microsoft\u003e Windows\u003e SystemRestore.
A job named “SR” appears in the center of the window. Right-click on it and select "Properties".
You can view and change the current schedule for creating recovery checkpoints on the "Triggers" tab (1). It is better to leave the task "At startup". But the task "Daily" can be changed by specifying a different time for creating points. Select “Daily” (2) from the list ”and press“ Change ”(3).
In the settings window that opens, change the time after the word "Start" to your convenience.
It is best to choose the time when your computer is most likely to be turned on. Click “OK” to save the changes.
You can manually create a restore point at any time, if necessary. To do this, in the "System Protection" window you already know, click the "Create" button.
And in the window that opens, specify any name for the checkpoint and click "Create" again.
In a few seconds, the point will be created!
Through the task scheduler, you can configure the autostart of any programs on a schedule, for example, when you turn on your computer. This is discussed in a separate article.
Conclusion
As a result of the performed manipulations, you will have a checkpoint every day at the time you specify, and as a result you will receive a backup copy of your files for every day. However, do not confuse this method of saving previous versions of your files with full-fledged backups, because a full-fledged backup is always done to a separate hard disk so that files are not lost even if your main disk fails. In Windows 7, unfortunately, there is no way to configure the quick creation of previous versions of files using a scheduled backup to another hard disk. In this Windows, is there just such a simple option with recovery checkpoints, which was described in this article, or the ability to create an archive with the necessary data, which is already a reliable backup method and will be discussed in a subsequent article.
