Locate the Recycle Bin: On your Windows 10 desktop, find the Recycle Bin icon. It's usually represented by a trash can symbol.
Open the Recycle Bin: Double-click on the Recycle Bin icon to open it.
Find the Deleted Folder: Scroll through the contents of the Recycle Bin to locate the folder you want to recover. You can use the sorting options or search function if you have a large number of items in the Recycle Bin.
Restore the Folder: Right-click on the folder and select "Restore" from the context menu. Alternatively, you can select the folder and click on the "Restore this item" button in the Recycle Bin toolbar. The folder will be restored to its original location.
Notes: If the Recycle Bin has been emptied or the folder was deleted using the Shift + Delete combination (which bypasses the Recycle Bin), this method won't work.
Use File History
Prerequisites: File History must have been enabled on your computer before the folder was deleted. By default, File History is not enabled, so you need to have set it up previously to use this method.
Steps:
Open File History Settings: Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app. Then, go to "Update & Security" > "Backup".
Restore Files: Under the "Looking for an older version of a file?" section, click on "Restore files from a current backup". This will open the File History window.
Navigate to the Deleted Folder: Use the timeline on the right side of the File History window to navigate to a point in time before the folder was deleted. You can click on the arrows to move backward and forward in time. When you find the correct version of the folder, select it.
Restore the Folder: Click the "Restore" button to restore the folder to its original location. You can also choose to restore the folder to a different location by clicking the arrow next to the "Restore" button and selecting a new path.
Notes: File History provides a convenient way to restore files and folders to a previous state, but it depends on regular backups being made. If the backup interval is long and the folder was deleted recently, you may not have a recent enough backup to recover the most up-to-date version of the folder.
Employ System Restore
Prerequisites: System restore points must have been created on your computer before the folder was deleted. Windows 10 automatically creates restore points, but you can also create them manually.
Steps:
Open System Restore: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type "rstrui.exe" and press Enter. This will open the System Restore window.
Choose a Restore Point: In the System Restore window, click "Next". You'll see a list of available restore points. Select a restore point that was created before the folder was deleted. You can click on "Scan for affected programs" to see which programs and files will be affected by the restore.
Confirm and Restore: Click "Next" and then "Finish" to start the system restore process. Your computer will restart and restore the system to the selected restore point.
Notes: System Restore not only restores files and folders but also reverts system settings and configurations to the state they were in at the time of the restore point. This means that any changes made to the system after the restore point was created will be undone.
Use Third-Party Data Recovery Software
Panda Data Recovery is a renowned data recovery tool that offers a comprehensive solution for retrieving lost or deleted data.
Features
Wide Compatibility: It works seamlessly with a variety of storage devices, including internal and external hard drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), USB flash drives, memory cards, and even optical discs. This makes it suitable for recovering data from laptops, desktops, cameras, and other portable devices.
Versatile File Recovery: The software can restore a vast array of file types. It includes documents like Word, Excel, and PDF files, multimedia files such as photos, videos, and audio, as well as emails and databases. This wide range of support ensures that users can recover almost any type of important data.
Advanced Scanning Algorithms: Panda Data Recovery utilizes sophisticated scanning algorithms to perform deep and thorough scans of storage devices. It can quickly identify and locate deleted or lost files, even in cases where the data has been partially overwritten or the file system is corrupted.
User-Friendly Interface: The software features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface. Even users with limited technical knowledge can easily operate the tool. The step-by-step recovery process guides users through the entire data recovery procedure, from selecting the storage device to previewing and restoring the recovered files.
General Steps:
Download and Install the Software: Go to the official website of the data recovery software and download the appropriate version for Windows 10. Follow the installation instructions to install the software on your computer.
Launch the Software: Open the data recovery software after installation.
Select the Recovery Mode: Most data recovery software offers different recovery modes, such as "Deleted File Recovery", "Lost Partition Recovery", etc. Select the mode that is suitable for your situation. In this case, you'll likely choose "Deleted File Recovery".
Select the Drive or Location: Choose the drive or partition where the folder was originally located. The software will then scan the selected drive for deleted files and folders.
Preview and Recover: After the scan is complete, the software will display a list of recoverable files and folders. You can preview the contents of the folder to make sure it's the one you want to recover. Select the folder and click the "Recover" button. Choose a location to save the recovered folder.
Notes: Free versions of data recovery software often have limitations, such as the ability to recover only a certain number of files or a limited file size. You may need to purchase the full version to unlock all features.
Seek Professional Data Recovery Services
When to Consider: If the above methods fail to recover the deleted folder and the data is extremely important, you may need to consider professional data recovery services. This is especially recommended if the deletion was caused by a hardware failure, such as a damaged hard drive.
How to Proceed:
Research Service Providers: Look for reputable data recovery companies. You can ask for recommendations from friends, colleagues, or online forums. Check the company's reviews, certifications, and experience in the field.
Contact the Service Provider: Reach out to the data recovery company and describe your situation in detail. They will provide you with an estimate of the cost and the chances of successful recovery.
Send in the Device: If you decide to proceed, you'll need to send your hard drive or other storage device to the data recovery company. They will use specialized equipment and techniques to attempt to recover the data.
Notes: Professional data recovery services can be expensive, and there's no guarantee that they will be able to recover all of your data.
