Summary
Learn how you can recover temporary deleted files on a computer using built-in OS tools, professional recovery software, and backups. This article offers step-by-step instructions and practical tips to effectively restore your lost files, ensuring you can retrieve them quickly and easily.
Table of contents
Accidentally deleting important files can be a nerve-wracking experience, but fortunately, there are effective methods to recover them. Whether it’s due to an unintended keystroke or a system glitch, understanding how to retrieve these temporary deleted files is crucial. To begin the recovery process, it’s essential to first comprehend where these files go and the possible locations they might exist in.
When files are temporarily deleted, they often don’t vanish entirely from your system. On a Windows operating system, these files usually move to the Recycle Bin . For macOS users, deleted files generally go to the Trash . These locations act as a safety net, holding the deleted files until you either restore them or choose to permanently delete them by emptying these folders.
But When you press Shift + Del on a Windows operating system to delete files, or perform similar actions that bypass temporary storage locations like the Recycle Bin or Trash, the files are marked for deletion immediately without being moved to the Recycle Bin. In this case, please try to use third-party data recovery apps to recover your deleted files as soon as possible.
Certain programs may automatically save files as temporary files and store them on your computer. If you accidentally delete files generated by these programs, you can often find the auto-save copies in specific locations.
For example, Windows OS generates temporary files with a .tmp extension, while Adobe Photoshop , AutoCAD , Microsoft applications like Word , Excel , and PowerPoint create temp files prefixed with symbols like $ and ~ . These files are typically stored in designated temp directories on your system drive.
You can locate these directories by navigating to System Properties > Advanced > Environment Variables , and examining the values set for the TEMP and TMP variables in Windows. This will point you to the default locations where temp files are stored. In macOS, temp files are often located in the /tmp or /var/folders/… directories.
Stay tuned for the next chapter, where we will provide step-by-step instructions on using built-in OS tools like Windows Recycle Bin , File History , and macOS Trash and Time Machine for recovery.
When you accidentally delete files, the first line of defense involves using built-in operating system tools to recover them. These tools include the Windows Recycle Bin , File History , macOS Trash , and Time Machine . Below, you’ll find step-by-step instructions on how to use these tools effectively:
Step 1: First, check the Recycle Bin (Windows). Navigate to the Recycle Bin on Windows by double-clicking its icon on the desktop. For macOS, click on the Trash icon in the dock.
Step 2: Look through the contents for the deleted files. If found, right-click on the desired file and choose Restore (Windows) or Put Back (macOS). This will return the files to their original locations.
Step 3: If the files are not in the Recycle Bin or Trash , use File History (Windows). For Windows, open File Explorer and navigate to the folder where the deleted files were originally located.
Step 4: Right-click on the folder and select Properties from the drop-down menu. In the Properties window, click on the Previous Versions tab.
Step 5: Here, you will see a list of previous versions of the folder with their timestamp and size. Select the version you want to restore and click on the Open button. This will open a window showing the contents of the selected version. Copy and paste the deleted files to a new location on your device.
Tips: For tech enthusiasts, consider using the command-line tool WINFR(Windows File Recovery) to retrieve deleted files.
Step 1: First, click on the Trash icon in the dock.
Step 2: Look through the contents for the deleted files. If found, right-click on the desired file and choose Put Back (macOS). This will return the files to their original locations.
Step 3: If the files are not in the Recycle Bin or Trash , open Time Machine by clicking on the Time Machine icon in the menu bar or through System Preferences . Navigate to the folder where the deleted files were located.
After following these steps, you should be able to recover your temporarily deleted files using the built-in OS tools. In the next chapter, we will delve into Method 2: Using Professional Recovery Software , where we explain how to use specialized software like Renee Undeleter to retrieve deleted temporary files, including their pros and cons. Stay tuned for more detailed information.
When built-in OS tools fail to recover your temporarily deleted files, professional recovery software like Renee Undeleter can serve as a more robust solution. Such software is designed to deeply scan your storage devices and recover lost data, including temporary files. Below, we will guide you through using Renee Undeleter effectively to retrieve your deleted temporary files.
Step 1: Download and install Renee Undeleter from the official website. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup process.
Step 2: Launch Renee Undeleter after installation. You will be presented with various recovery options such as “ Fast Partition Scan “, “ Whole Disk Scan “, “ Whole Disk Scan “. Choose the option that best suits your needs. For general purposes, “ Fast Partition Scan ” is often sufficient.
Step 3: Select the drive where your temporary files were located before they were deleted. Click on the Next button to initiate the scanning process.
Step 4: Wait for the scan to complete. Depending on the size of your drive and the recovery mode selected, this may take some time. Once the scan is completed, a list of recoverable files will be displayed.
Step 5: Browse through the list of recoverable files. Use the search bar or filters to quickly locate your deleted temporary files. Once found, check the boxes next to these files.
Step 6: Click on the Recover button. Choose a different drive or location to save the recovered files to avoid overwriting any potential data on the original drive. Confirm your selection and click OK to start the recovery process.
After exploring the use of professional recovery software, it’s time to delve into another effective method for recovering deleted temporary files. Stay tuned for the next chapter, where we describe how to use freeware solutions like testdisk to recover lost temporary files.
Tips: Ensure you save recovered files to a different drive to avoid data overwriting.
Step 1: Download and install Testdisk on your computer. It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.
Step 2: Launch Testdisk and select the hard drive or partition from which you want to recover data.
Step 3: Choose the “ Analyse ” option to scan the selected drive for lost or damaged partitions.
Step 4: After the scan is complete, Testdisk will display a list of found partitions. Use the arrow keys to select the partition you want to recover and press “ Enter “.
Step 5: Select the “ Advanced ” option and then choose “ List ” to see the files and folders in the selected partition.
Step 6: Use the arrow keys to select the files and folders you want to recover and press “ C ” to copy them to a safe location.
Step 7: Once the recovery process is complete, you can close Testdisk and access your recovered data.
Tips: Ensure to run Testdisk with elevated permissions for better access to all system files.
Stop Using the Affected Device Immediately
One of the most crucial steps in securing a successful file recovery is to immediately stop using the affected device. Continued use can lead to overwritten data, making recovery more challenging. As soon as you realize you’ve lost important data, disconnect the device from the internet and any other networks. This helps to prevent automatic updates or any background processes that might compromise your recovery efforts.
Get Professional Help for Complex Cases
For particularly complex or important files, consider consulting a qualified *drive recovery technician*. Their expertise can significantly enhance the chances of a successful recovery. Professionals have access to specialized tools and software that can recover data in scenarios where general consumer software might fail.
Implement Regular Backups
To avoid future data loss, create a consistent backup schedule. Regularly backing up your data to a separate storage device provides a safeguard against similar events. Options include using * external hard drives *, * cloud services *, and * network-attached storage (NAS)* systems.
Avoid Free Disk Recovery Software
While some free software programs might be tempting, they often come with limitations. For critical data loss, consider using professional data recovery services or opt for paid software with more advanced features. Always avoid using disk recovery software from untrusted sources.
Prevent Overwriting the Drive
Along with saving new files, avoid any actions that could overwrite the lost documents, such as formatting or installing software on the affected device. Overwritten data is significantly harder to recover.
By understanding where temporary files go when deleted and employing methods like built-in OS tools, professional recovery software, and backups, you can effectively recover lost data. Remember to act quickly and use best practices to maximize recovery success. With these strategies, you can ensure that accidentally deleted files are not permanently lost, safeguarding your valuable data.
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