Have you ever faced the problem of files being overwritten? If yes, then this is the right place to tackle it. Overwritten files waste old data and can lead to errors or corrupted files or loss of valuable information. Some people intentionally overwrite their files or folders to permanently delete old data. However, some people do it by mistake. That is why many people wonder how to recover overwritten files.
The simple answer is that you can follow different methods or workarounds to recover old data, even if it has been modified. However, this applies in certain cases. Moreover, some of the easy tools available in the market also help you to recover your previous data. Here we will look in detail at every possible solution to this problem.
Part 1: What to do before you learn how to recover overwritten files
It is important to know what overwritten files mean and why it happened. An overwritten file means that old data is mistakenly replaced with newly written data. This leads to data loss and a person may or may not be able to recover those files depending on a number of factors which we will discuss later. However, some file modification scenarios are as follows:
- You made some new changes to your file just to test the effect, but you accidentally saved the new version.
- You have two files with the same name, and you accidentally saved the file with the same name, allowing the computer to replace the old file with the new one.
- In addition to human error, you can change files or folders due to many program errors or viruses.
- Last but not least, if your operating system stops working properly, it can lead to files being modified, especially if such an error occurs during saving new files.
Part 2: Are overwritten files recoverable?
People often ask the question on online query platforms like Quora “Is it possible to recover overwritten files?”. In fact, it is very difficult to recover overwritten files if you are not in the habit of backing up your files regularly.
However, even if you don’t have this habit, you don’t have to worry about it. There are also some effective methods to recover overwritten files. All you have to do is follow some simple steps and your job will be done. The ideal procedure depends on whether you’re running Windows or Mac, so we’ll describe methods that are appropriate for both systems.
Part 3: Recover deleted files in Windows 10
The methods for retrieving changed data in Windows are different from the files you have on your Mac. So we will talk about them separately. Following are alternative options to recover deleted files in Windows 10:
3.1 Recover overwritten files with data recovery tool
Still looking for an answer to the question how to recover modified files? Then be sure to try Tenorshare 4DDiG, a data recovery tool. This tool is widely used to recover deleted files from Windows 10. The software offers a user-friendly interface, so anyone can use it with a little practice. Moreover, the data retrieved with the help of this useful tool remains safe due to its privacy policy.
This helpful guide also teaches you how to recover overwritten files or follow the steps below:
Step 1: Visit the official website and download this useful tool on your system.
Step 2: Now launch it and you will get clear instructions on each step. Follow them as they are.
Step 3: Select the scan button and start the search process. During this process, you can view files in two different views.
Step 4: In the search results, select the file you want to recover and select the Recover option in the bottom right corner of the page. Don’t forget to put the recovered files in the new partition
Note: Restoring these overwritten files does not require a backup. Alternatively, you would follow the same steps if an external hard drive was included in the recovery of overwritten files. Select the drive in the step before starting the scan.
3.2 How to recover overwritten files with system restore
With the help of system restore, you can also get your old data. Follow these steps to enable it:
Step 1: Type “System Restore” into Control Panel’s search box and select “Create a restore point”.
Step 2: Click the “System Protection” tab, then click the “System Restore” button.
Step 3: Select a restore point and click “Next” then “Finish”.
Step 4: Wait for the process to complete and your computer will reboot.
Note: This method is only useful if you have a backup in your system.
3.3 Recover overwritten files by restoring the system from previous versions
Another way to restore data is to use system restore from previous versions. According to this workaround, here are the steps you need to take to recover the changed files:
Step 1: Go to File Explorer and search for the file or folder you want to recover.
Step 2: Right click to open the menu and select the option “restore previous versions”.
Step 3: Your window will give you a list of the old version of the selected file; select the version you need to use.
Step 4: At the end there is a restore button, click on it and in few seconds you will get the original form for your data.
Note: Again, this method needs a backup; otherwise you can’t get a list of old versions of your file.
How to restore overwritten files from backup
The recovery process will be much easier if you have a backup system in the form of an external hard drive. All you need to do is connect your hard drive to the system and perform these simple steps:
Step 1: Go to system settings then select Update & security option.
Step 2: Backup option will appear, click it
Step 3: Now restore your files to the computer with the help of an external hard drive as backup.
Part 4: Recover deleted files on Mac
On the other hand, you also have three options to recover overwritten files on Mac.
4.1 How to recover overwritten files with Time Machine
You can restore overwritten files on your Mac with Time Machine, a backup tool that helps restore important data lost due to overwriting. Here are the steps to do that:
Step 1: Connect the Time Machine backup disk on your computer.
Step 2: Browse to the location containing the files you want to recover. With the help of the timeline, you can easily find the required file.
Step 3: Now select Enter Time Machine from the Time Machine menu.
Step 4: Select the Restore button once you have selected the correct file.
Note: This method is only useful if you have time machine backup configured. Otherwise, choose other options to recover your lost data.
4.2 Recover overwritten files with autosave
With the help of AutoSave functions, you can also retrieve the corresponding files without Time Machine. In this function, the changes you have made to the file are saved as the old version. So you can recover your old data with these steps:
Step 1: Create a file with your overwritten filename in the same location.
Step 2: Open the file and select “File” from the menu.
Step 3: You will see an option titled “Revert to”, select it and then select “Explore All Versions”.
Step 4: A list of all versions will appear, then select the version you want.
Step 5: Choose where the file is located and select Restore. You will be allowed to retrieve your old data because you now have access to the old version of the file.
4.3 Recover overwritten files with 4DDiG
The third option you have is to use a tool called 4DDiG, as mentioned earlier. This data recovery tool is not just for Windows; Mac users can also use it to recover their data. Following are the main features it offers to Mac users.
- You’ll get quick results as scanning the appropriate files doesn’t take long.
- The probability of recovering your old data is quite high with this tool.
- You don’t need to use SIP to recover files on your Mac.
- It handles all Mac based devices including USB, digital camera, etc
- You can run this tool on many applications such as T2, M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max and MacOS Ventura chips
Conclusion
All the details above teach you how to efficiently retrieve modified files without delay. Whether you want to retrieve data on Windows or Mac, we’ve rounded up all the possible ways. If you’re not in the habit of backing up your files or forget to back up your files from time to time, don’t miss out on the benefits of using a 4DDiG tool that’s suitable for both Mac and Windows files.
Categories: How to
Source: newstars.edu.vn