During the course of an anti-virus sweep, the anti-virus software will occasionally delete an application or system object that it suspects is malicious. Virus-prevention software is not perfect, and security software might determine that a piece of software is harmful or corrupt, even when it is not. The security software will then remove the suspected object. The reason behind this is that it is better to be safe than to be sorry. If you have lost a file or application you need during a virus scan, don't worry. There are several ways of restoring deleted files.
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The best method for restoring deleted files is to never delete them in the first place. Usually, your software will prompt you to specify how it should deal with possible infections. You will have the option to delete the suspected object, quarantine it or entirely remove it from the system.
Whenever you are prompted, check to see what the object in question is. It could be software you recognize as being safe. Even if you do not recognize the name, it is always better to put it into quarantine rather than remove it entirely. It will no longer be associated with anything, and will therefore be unable to harm your system if it is dangerous. Later, if you find something missing, you can check the quarantine folder.
Search for the Object
Sometimes the answer to restoring deleted files is simpler than you might expect. If the file has not been thoroughly removed, it might appear when you perform a basic search. Every Windows operating system has a search feature built into it. If you know the name of the object you are looking for, try typing it into the search box located on your computer. You might be surprised to discover that it is not gone entirely, but only moved from its previous location.
Check the Quarantine
Anti-virus software doesn't usually fully delete anything without authorization. Even if it says it has removed a threat, this often means that it has removed the threat from the stream of system operations. When restoring deleted files, the quarantine is the most likely place to find missing files.
Every anti-virus application will handle this differently. Many of the best anti-virus software applications simply have a folder named quarantine that you can accessed directly. Others give the quarantine folder a different name, and you must go through the steps required by your protection software to access files within that folder. Consult your software manufacturer about restoring deleted files or for quarantine information to determine its particular method.
Use Data-recovery Software
Data is almost never fully lost on a computer. It can be overwritten, but even then, it has not been destroyed. If none of the previous steps have helped in restoring deleted files, then you will need to dig a little deeper. A number of excellent file-recovery software applications can perform a deep scan on your computer to help you with restoring deleted files. Digital Rescue Premium, Advanced Disk Recovery and Recover My Files are all highly recommended. They are powerful scanners that allow you to find deleted objects and restore them within the software interface.
Consult a Professional
Many tech professionals can comb through your computer using a variety of techniques. Restoring deleted files is a large part of what they do with their time. They are specially licensed for data retrieval and employ advanced hardware and software techniques. This should be your last resort because it will be expensive. Expect to pay a minimum of $99. Check your phone book for data-recovery specialists, and then research the business as much as you can before you entrust them with your computer. Also look for those that guarantee recovery.
When it comes to restoring deleted files, the paramount thing to remember is to not panic. There are numerous failsafes in place to protect your data from accidental deletion. If you follow the steps above, you can be almost certain that your lost material will be recovered.
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