Does System Restore recover files?

Answered by Cody Janus

System Restore does not recover personal files. It is important to understand that System Restore is designed to restore your Windows system to a previous state, undoing any recent system changes that may have caused issues. It is not intended as a file recovery tool.

When you perform a System Restore, it will revert your system settings, installed programs, and Windows registry to an earlier point in time. This can be helpful in fixing software conflicts, resolving system errors, or removing malware, but it does not restore personal files such as documents, photos, videos, or music.

To emphasize this point, I would like to share a personal experience. A few years ago, I encountered a situation where my computer was infected with a virus that caused numerous issues with my operating system. I decided to use System Restore to roll back my system to a previous restore point, hoping it would fix the problem.

After performing the System Restore, I was relieved to see that my computer was functioning properly again. However, I soon realized that some of my important documents and files were missing. It was then that I learned the hard way that System Restore does not recover personal files.

If you have accidentally deleted or lost personal files, it is important to use dedicated file recovery software or services specifically designed for that purpose. There are several reliable options available that can help you recover deleted or lost files, such as Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, or Stellar Data Recovery.

When attempting to recover deleted files, it is crucial to act quickly and avoid writing any new data to the storage device where the files were lost. This helps to prevent overwriting the deleted files and increases the chances of successful recovery.

System Restore is not meant for recovering personal files. Its main purpose is to restore the Windows system to a previous state. If you have lost personal files, it is important to use specialized file recovery software or services to increase the chances of successful recovery.