How to recover an overwritten text document

kufr · 13 Nov 2020

I was updating my desktop folder where I kept an important text document file and I accidently over wrote it with an older file which was not updating and was from 2016. I had a lot of important text from the past 4 years in the text document file. Is there any way I can restore that file I tried the previous version option in properties option. It says that there are no previous versions available.

Also tried system restore and Recuva but the file was not recovered. Can anyone tell me how can I get that over written file back please.

Samuria · 13 Nov 2020

The chances are very slim as its been overwritten not just deleted

Berton · 13 Nov 2020

Have to agree, chances of recovery of an original file after changes to it have been saved are pretty much nil, those changes turn it into an original. Over the years the increasing size of storage drives has been dictated to some extent in need for saving copies of important files "just in case".

f14tomcat · 13 Nov 2020

Here are 2 types of backup for you to look over. I strongly suggest you establish some form of regular backup of your files and/or system so this does not happen again.

Here on Tenforums we preach Backup. It's the most important thing you can do for your system health.

Enable or Disable File History in Windows 10

Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

FreeBooter · 13 Nov 2020

ShadowExplorer allows you to browse the system restore points for Windows Vista / 7 / 8 and 10. This utility can be helpful to restore deleted files.

ShadowExplorer.com - About

dalchina · 13 Nov 2020

Also tried system restore

Note that using System Restore points will not affect user data files - only system files.

As f14tomcat says- as it was important to you, how is it that you don't have a backup copy?

Prepare for the worst- disk failure- theft of your PC. Employ a backup regime where the backups are stored safely and separately.

kufr · 14 Nov 2020

Thank you guys for the reply. I did have backups for the file but unfortunately the newer file and its back was over written by an older 2016 copy of it by mistake by me.

Ztruker · 14 Nov 2020

Definitely give ShadowExplorer a try.

SIW2 · 14 Nov 2020

If you don't have it in a shadow copy or some kind of backup image you are out of luck

Worth checking the shadows. I would use shadowcopyview for that. https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shadow_copy_view.html

OldNavyGuy · 14 Nov 2020

Try the following -

Download the free tool ShadowCopyView from Nirsoft.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shadow_copy_view.html

Look for a shadow copy that hopefully was made before the file was overwritten.

Highlight it, and select Go to Root Directory in the File menu on the toolbar.

In the lower pane, navigate to that folder, and see if the file is there.

If so, select the file, right click, and select Copy Selected Files To.

Select a destination, and click the Do It button.

You might also try Nirsoft's other recovery tool PreviousFileRecovery -

https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/previo..._recovery.html

In addition to doing frequent disk image backups, you might also look into a tool to backup files and folders between disk images.

Karen's Replicator is a free tool -

Karen's Replicator the Backup Utility for Windows v3.7.6 Released May 25, 2020 | Karen's Power Tools