Windows 10’s latest tweak is a game-changer for getting back your lost files Surface User
Windows 10’s file recovery tool is being changed to make it easier to use, and therefore more accessible to a wider number of users who might need this emergency measure if they’ve accidentally deleted an important file.
This is only available for Windows 10 testers at the moment, but it’s expected to be rolled out to the general computing public ‘early in 2021’, so might arrive fairly soon (note that you’ll need to be running Windows 10 May 2020 Update or newer).
The Windows File Recovery tool has been around for a while in preview versions of the OS – since mid-2020, in fact – but with this new update, Microsoft is making it more user-friendly.
Note that the utility does use the command line – not the friendliest piece of the Windows UI jigsaw, it has to be said – but the adjustments made here go a long way to pushing forward on the ease-of-use front.
The refreshed version of the utility offers two simplified recovery modes, Microsoft explains, one of which is the ‘regular mode’ that allows for fast file recovery on NTFS drives. This should be fine for those cases when you’ve not long ago emptied the recycle bin, then subsequently realized that you actually wanted to keep one (or more) of the files you binned.
Deep recovery
There will also be an ‘extensive mode’ that applies to other file systems (not just NTFS), and will perform deeper file recovery operations, after longer periods of time have passed since you mistakenly blitzed the file, and it may have been fully overwritten by other data. (Remember that even when you ‘delete’ a file on a drive, the data still remains – effectively discarded and hidden from the OS, but still there – until it’s actually overwritten by a new file coming onto the drive, which is likely to happen in the longer run).
The extensive recovery facility can also attempt to tackle thorny problems like corrupt drives (or indeed memory cards and other storage types).
As well as these changes, the updated Windows File Recovery tool comes with various performance improvements and bug fixes, so should run smoother all round.
Microsoft observes that there has been a lot of interest in the app, which isn’t surprising given that it’s handy to have an integrated option for quickly retrieving deleted files.
You can download Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store here, although as mentioned the new version isn’t ready yet – but hopefully will be in the next couple of months.
Perhaps eventually, the file recovery tool will move from the command line and actually get a graphical user interface of some kind, which would obviously be a distinct boon on the usability front.
Via Windows Latest
Windows 10’s file recovery tool is being changed to make it easier to use, and therefore more accessible to a wider number of users who might need this emergency measure if they’ve accidentally deleted an important file. This is only available for Windows 10 testers at the moment, but it’s…
Recent Posts
- Razer’s Kishi Ultra gaming controller brings haptics to your USB-C phone, PC, or tablet
- Amazon’s Fallout has been renewed for season 2
- Quordle today – hints and answers for Friday, April 19 (game #816)
- NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Friday, April 19 (game #47)
- The Meta Quest 2 gets a permanent price cut to $199
Archives
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- December 2011