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Cal Poly Pomona

How to Recover Data by Using a Client Computer

This guide is for users who store files using I&IT's Win file services (e.g.: \\files.win.csupomona.edu\user\bbronco). It is also for users who store files on campus servers that provide the Win file service feature (check with your local tech to see if the Win file service is available for a particular server storage location).

If you accidentally delete a file from your computer, you can restore an earlier version of the file. Shadow Copy Restore is a component of the file storage technology in Microsoft Windows Server 2003. It enables you to prevent data loss by creating and storing shadow copies of files and folders on your network.

You can recover files on a server that uses the  volume Shadow Copy features. Shadow copies of a selected volume are made twice a day - once at 7:00 AM and again at 12:00 PM. Up to 30 days of shadow copies can be provided, depending on the change rate for files.

Before a client computer can access shadow copies, you must install the Shadow Copy Client.

Installing the Shadow Copy Client Software

Before you can begin independently recovering previous versions of your files and applications, the Shadow Copy Client software must be installed on your computer.

Note: Shadow copy client software does not need to be downloaded for computers that run Windows Vista. Vista allows you to restore deleted or previous versions of files and folders through its System Restore feature

The operating systems that require the Shadow Copy Client include:

For computers running earlier versions of Windows:

Computers running Windows 2000 Server (SP3 and above) and Windows 2000 Professional, visit:

http://www.petri.co.il/download_shadow_copy_client.htm (link will open in a new window).

For computers running XP:

To download the Shadow Copy Client software, click the following link:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/9/d/49d18272-7622-42f7-85a5-7b01609e8d64/ShadowCopyClient.msi (link will open in a new window).

Installation Instructions:

  1. To start the installation immediately, click Run or to copy the download to your computer for installation at a later time, click Save.
  2. The Shadow Copy Client software installation wizard will appear.
  3. Follow the Shadow Copy Client software installation wizard as it prompts you with steps.
  4. Click Finish when done.

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Using the Shadow Copy Client Software: Recovery of Files and Folders

If a protected file was created in an application that supports recovering previous versions of data, you can recover the file by using the application in which it was created.

Choose a category:

 

Recovering a Deleted File:

  1. Right click Start.
  2. Click Explore.

  3. Click on Tools.
  4. Click Map Network Drive.

  5. Navigate to the folder in which the deleted file had been stored:
    1. In the Drive box:
      1. Click the blue drop down menu arrow and select the drive letter in which the deleted file had been stored.
    2. In the Folder box:
      1. Click Browse.
      2. Find the folder in which the deleted file had been stored.
  6. Position the cursor over a blank space in the folder. If the cursor hovers over a file, that file will be selected.
    1. Right click the mouse.
    2. Click Properties.

  7. Click the Previous Versions tab.

  8. Select the version of the folder that contains the file before it was deleted.
    1. Click View.
    2. View the folder and select the file that will be recovered.
  9. Choose either Copy or Restore:
    1. To copy the old version to another location, click copy and paste the shadow copy to the desktop or preferred folder.
    2. Or, to replace the current version with the older version, click Restore.

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Recovering an Overwritten or Corrupted File:

Note: Recovering an overwritten or corrupted file is easier than recovering a deleted file because the file itself can be right-clicked instead of the folder.

  1. Right click the overwritten or corrupted file.
    1. Click Properties.

  2. Click the Previous Versions tab.

  3. If you want to view the old version, click View.
  4. Choose either Copy or Restore:
    1. To copy the old version to another location, click copy and paste the shadow copy to the desktop or preferred folder.
    2. Or, to replace the current version with the older version, click Restore.

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Recovering a Folder:

  1. Right click Start.
  2. Click Explore.

  3. Click on Tools.
  4. Click Map Network Drive.
  5. Navigate to the folder in which the deleted folder had been stored.
    1. In the Drive box:
      1. Click the blue drop down menu arrow and select the drive letter in which the deleted folder had been stored.
    2. In the Folder box:
      1. Click Browse.
      2. Find the folder in which the deleted folder had been stored..
  6. Position the cursor so that it is over a blank space in the folder that will be recovered. If the cursor hovers over a file, that file will be selected.
    1. Right click the mouse.
    2. Select Properties.


    3. Click the Previous Versions tab.


  7. If you want to view the old version, click View.
  8. Choose either Copy or Restore:
    1. To copy the old version to another location, click copy and paste the shadow copy to the desktop or preferred folder.
    2. Or, to replace the current version with the older version, click Restore.


      Note: Choosing Restore enables the user to recover everything in that folder as well as all subfolders. Selecting Restore will not delete any files.

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This page was last updated on June 15, 2009.

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