How to Recover Overwritten Files

Try to Recover Overwritten Files via Disk Drill

To attempt to recover replaced files follow these steps:

1. Download and install Disk Drill for Windows.
   If the files you are trying to recover reside on your computer’s main hard drive, you should download the application to a different storage device. We recommend using a USB drive to avoid further file corruption before trying the recovery.
2. Launch the application.
3. Choose the disk or partition that contained the overwritten files you wish to recover from the list presented by the program.
4. Click the Search for lost data button to initiate the scanning algorithms that will search for recoverable files.
5. Review the list of files that can be recovered.
6. Select the items to be restored as well as a new storage location where they will be saved.
   Do not use their original location to minimize potential file corruption.
7. Click the Recover button to perform the recovery of the selected files.

Disk Drill employs advanced scanning algorithms that can perform a Quick or Deep scan of the storage media that contained the overwritten data. When using the tool to try to recover replaced files, you may have better success with a Deep scan. Even if it cannot completely restore the files you are looking for, it may be able to make fragments of the file available. Perhaps these can be used to recreate the original file.

Disk Drill works on all Windows versions including Windows 7, Windows 8, and the newest iterations of Windows 10. You can download it as freeware and use it to recover up to 500MB of data before making any financial investment in the tool. The tool at least gives you a chance to retrieve an overwritten file if at all possible. In other data loss scenarios, Disk Drill is an invaluable tool for data recovery.

Check The Possibility to Recover Replaced Files Without Software

You can try to recover overwritten files without software. Here are several alternative methods that may get your data back.

Try to Retrieve Overwritten Files Using System Restore

If the overwritten data consists of system files, you may be able to use Windows System Restore to recover it. Follow this procedure to roll back your system to a previous state and possibly recover your overwritten files.

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on System and Security.
3. In the System and Security window click on System.
4. Click on System Protection link.
5. Click the System Restore button.
6. Select the restore point you want to use.
7. Click Next and follow the prompts to start the restore.

Try to Recover Files That Were Replaced From the Previous Versions

If you have the Windows Backup service active on your system, you may be able to recover an overwritten file with a previous version. Follow these steps to attempt recovery with this method.

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the file or folder which contained the files that you wish to recover.
3. Right-click and select Restore previous versions from the menu.
4. Select the version you wish to recover from the list provided by Windows.
5. Click the Restore button to recover the file.

A previous version of your file must list in order for this method to be viable.

Recover Replaced Files From a Backup

You may be able to retrieve overwritten files from a previously made backup of your system. This requires that you are taking backups and that the file or files in question are included. It is best practice to make periodic backups of your machine using native OS tools or a third-party application.

Based on how you perform your backups, the recovery process will vary. If an important file has been overwritten, it’s worth the time to check your backups to see if it can be easily restored.

Your Important Files Were Accidentally Overwritten. How Could You Prevent That?

Exercising care when working with important files is the best way to avoid having them accidentally overwritten. One specific step you can employ is to preserve an important file in its original state by performing a backup of the data immediately before working with it.

Important files should be backed up frequently, including right before using them in any capacity that may expose them to deletion or being overwritten. This includes making updates or editing the data. You can never be too safe concerning critical data, and the length of time required to make that special backup will seem quite trivial if you need to fall back to the original file. Even just performing a ‘Save As’ command to create a second copy of the file adds an extra layer of protection for your valuable data.