Recover Files with Shadow Copies

Recovering Lost Files Using Shadow Explorer on Windows Vista

This guide, originally penned by a highly valued member of our online forum – whs – details a method for file recovery on Windows Vista. The "Previous Versions" functionality within Windows Vista represents a significant advancement in data protection for users. It provides an inherent safeguard against data loss through regular, automated backups.

However, a limitation exists: the home editions of Vista lack a direct user interface for accessing these backups, despite the feature being enabled by default. This is where ShadowExplorer proves invaluable. It’s a utility designed to function across all Windows Vista versions, granting access to these “Shadow Copies” – the system’s internal backups of your files.

File Recovery Process with Shadow Explorer

To begin, launch ShadowExplorer with administrative privileges. This can be achieved by right-clicking its entry in the Start Menu and selecting "Run as Administrator." (Note: Recent versions should launch with admin rights automatically, but this method ensures proper access.)

The main window will display a drop-down menu listing the available shadow copies for all your partitions and disks. Select the most recent shadow copy created before the data loss occurred. Confirm you’ve chosen the correct partition, typically “C:” for personal files.

Most user data resides within the User folder. Therefore, double-click on the “C:” drive, then navigate to and select “Users” in the left-hand pane.

Within the right pane, double-click the folder bearing your username. This is usually the last folder listed before “desktop.ini.” You will then see a comprehensive listing of your folders and files.

To retrieve a specific folder or file, right-click on it and choose the “Export” option. This will allow you to save the recovered data to a location of your choosing on your system.

A dialog box will then appear, prompting you to specify the destination directory for the restored files.

It’s important to remember that the Shadow Copies/Previous Versions feature shouldn’t be considered a replacement for a robust, dedicated backup solution. However, it can be a lifesaver in urgent situations. You can download ShadowExplorer directly from shadowexplorer.com.

Key benefits of using ShadowExplorer include: