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I can't find my older Recovery Point save in Windows 11

Anonymous
2023-11-13T19:23:40+00:00

I have a big problem. I moved a lot of photos and videos from one of my hard drives to the OneDrive folder in Windows 11 File Explorer thinking the files would sync automatically. I then restored/hard reset my PC without giving the option to keep files and reinstalled Windows 11 by downloading it from the internet.

I thought the files were saved in the cloud, so I didn't choose to recover from a Windows backup and chose I wanted a hard reset with the same name as my computer (PC-Daniel). My big surprise and disappointment was that there were no new files in the OneDrive folder in File Explorer.

So, having a panic attack and not knowing where the option was in settings to find the previous saved restore points, I reset the computer by reinstalling Windows 11 again but with the option to keep all my files, thinking that another one was going to appear time the window to use a previous Windows backup. But that window never appeared and I found out that the previous restore point was deleted and I can't access it. What I can do? I have used several file recovery programs and they does not restore anything.

I NEED TO RECOVER MY PHOTOS AND VIDEOS, PLEASE.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Recovery and backup

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-11-13T19:25:42+00:00

    If you can't find your older Recovery Points in Windows 11, it's possible that they have been automatically deleted or that the system hasn't created them. Here are some steps to check and potentially recover your older Recovery Points:

    **1. Check for Available Recovery Points:**

    1. Type "Create a restore point" in the Windows search bar and select the corresponding result.
    2. In the System Properties window, under the "System Restore" tab, click on the "Configure" button.
    3. Check the option that says, "Turn on system protection." This will enable System Restore if it's currently turned off.
    4. You can use the "Max Usage" slider to allocate more space for storing older recovery points. The more space allocated, the more recovery points you can keep.
    5. Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the settings.

    **2. Check for Deleted Recovery Points:**

    If you previously had Recovery Points but can't find them, they might have been deleted due to space constraints. To check if they are still available:

    1. Go to the "Create a restore point" window as mentioned above.
    2. Under the "System Restore" tab, click the "Open System Restore" button.
    3. In the System Restore window, you should see a list of available restore points. If older ones are missing, it means they have been deleted.

    **3. Check for Backup Solutions:**

    If you have previously set up backup solutions like File History or third-party backup software, you might have older backups that could be used for recovery.

    **4. Contact Microsoft Support:**

    If you cannot find your older recovery points and you believe they should be available, it's a good idea to contact Microsoft Support for assistance. They may be able to help you recover lost recovery points or provide guidance on your specific issue.

    It's important to note that older recovery points can be automatically deleted as new ones are created to free up disk space, and the availability of recovery points depends on the amount of storage allocated to them. Additionally, some changes, such as upgrading your operating system, can clear previous recovery points. Therefore, it's a good practice to create backups and recovery points regularly to ensure you have a safety net for your system.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-11-13T19:28:14+00:00

    or if that does not work:

    1. **Check OneDrive Online:** First, check your OneDrive account online. Go to the OneDrive website at (https://onedrive.live.com) and log in with your Microsoft account. You might find your files there if they were successfully uploaded to the cloud before the reset.
    2. **Check the Windows.old Folder:** When you performed a reinstallation, Windows typically creates a "Windows.old" folder that contains the files from your previous installation. You can check this folder to see if your photos and videos are there: a. Open File Explorer. b. Navigate to your system drive (usually "C:"). c. Look for the "Windows.old" folder. Your files might be in a "Users" folder within it.
    3. **Use a Data Recovery Tool:** If you can't find your files in the "Windows.old" folder or on OneDrive, consider using a data recovery tool. You mentioned that you've already tried some, but it's essential to use a reliable and reputable data recovery tool like Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, or Stellar Data Recovery. a. Install one of these tools and run a deep scan on the drive where your files were previously located. b. Be patient during the scan, and once it's completed, review the results and recover any found files to a different location to avoid overwriting them.
    4. **Contact OneDrive Support:** Reach out to Microsoft's OneDrive support for assistance. They might be able to help you recover your files from the cloud or provide guidance on your specific situation.
    5. **Backup and Prevent Future Data Loss:** It's crucial to regularly back up your important files to avoid such situations in the future. Use cloud storage, external hard drives, or other backup solutions to keep your data safe.

    Please note that data recovery success can vary, and it's crucial not to use the affected drive for anything else until you've attempted recovery. Overwriting data can make it more challenging to recover lost files. If all else fails, consider consulting with a professional data recovery service, as they may have more advanced tools and techniques for retrieving your files.

    4 people found this answer helpful.
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