Restore images after reinstalling Windows 10
Restore images after reinstalling Windows 10
Hi William,
The reinstallation might have affected more than just the Windows folder. Files in the Program and Program (x86) directories could have been removed or altered. Recovering your images will depend on how the system was saved before the install. If you try to restore them, be careful—corruption is possible if the backup wasn’t intact. You might need to back up your files elsewhere first.
You might still retrieve them, though I believe the "keep files" feature only retains items in your personal folders and deletes everything else, including installed software. It’s important to keep backups of things you don’t want to lose—having at least three is wise. Store one at home, one in your bank account, and another in the cloud. This way, even if two fail, you’ll still have access to your data.
A few items were visible on the old windows.old, but not what I needed. I realize I was foolish storing the files in the user folder. Luckily, I created a backup, though I later deleted it for an arbitrary reason.
It's hard to confirm if your images got damaged during transfer. Do you use an SSD or a traditional HDD? If you're on an SSD with TRIM turned on, recovery won't work no matter what. TRIM changes how the system treats deleted files compared to regular drives. Standard HDDs notify the drive when parts are marked as available for deletion, allowing some recovery if files aren't overwritten. With SSDs, the situation is different because they use flash memory instead of spinning platters. The odds that your files remain are low, but not zero. I wouldn't store any data on that device—try to keep it empty for better chances.
If you need more details about TRIM and its impact, you can check this link: https://www.easeus.com/datarecoverywizar...ftware.htm
For recovery steps:
1. Use a third-party data recovery tool (e.g., https://www.easeus.com/data-recovery).
2. Save the software to another drive.
3. Run the analysis and look for your files.
4. Restore them if possible before it's too late.
Keep in mind, TRIM makes recovery much harder on SSDs. Good luck with your recovery efforts.