How to Recover Deleted Files On Your Laptop

You can find deleted files in a specialized directory on your laptop.

It seems to be an unwritten law of the universe. As soon as you delete a computer file, you need it again. Perhaps your boss needs a copy of an old memo, you need to replace a record in your tax files or you need the phone number of that recently-deleted contractor after all. Whatever the reason, files that you delete on your laptop can often be recovered.

Instructions

1. Close all windows to view your computer's desktop. You can also click the "Show desktop" icon, if visible, on your computer's task bar near the bottom of the screen.

2. Double-click the "Recycle Bin" icon on your desktop to open your recycle directory. The icon typically resembles a trash can or a circular arrow to indicate recycling.

3. Scroll through the list of files to find the file you want to recover. Click the "Name" or "Date" tabs at the top of the directory to sort the files by name or date.

4. Right-click the file you want to recover and click "Restore" to return the file to its original directory. For example, a document file will be restored in your "Documents" directory and an image file will be restored in your "Pictures" directory.

References

• Microsoft: Recover Files From the Recycle Bin

Resources

• University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire: Working With Files