How to Restore an Accidentally Deleted File from Backup in Windows XP

Backup tape

The Windows Backup utility is a program that comes with Windows XP and although it is simple, it's quite powerful and very helpful to save your files to a backup file. Restoring accidentally deleted files is exactly what Windows XP Backup is made to do. Using Backup to do this is as simple as can be and should only take a few minutes.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Open the recycle bin first to look for the deleted file. If you see the file you want, right click on the file and select restore. The file will go back to the location from where it was deleted.

2. Open the Windows Backup program by going to the "System Tools" folder and selecting Backup.

3. Select "next" when the backup wizard appears. The next screen gives you the choice to backup or restore files. Choose "Restore files and settings" and click "next" again.

4. Find the backup file. You will be presented with a window with two panes. On the right pick the backup file according to its backup date. On the left you will click on the plus sign (+) to open up the files folder, and then you will click the plus sign on each folder beneath that until you found the folder of the file you want. Now find the file in the folder, put a checkmark in the box next to the file and click "next."

5. Finish the backup process by clicking on "advanced" or "finish." Advanced will let you change the location to where the file is recovered. Click "next" and then you will be given the choice of whether or not you want to overwrite existing files.

References

• Microsoft