Restoring a File with Shadow Copy

Background

Restoring a Previous Version of a File

Restoring a Deleted File or Folder

Background

1. Any files stored on your N:, R: or Z: drives are backed up to tape nightly for disaster recovery purposes.  In addition, a service called shadow copies makes snapshots of your files at 7 AM and 12 noon each day.  These shadow copies record any changes made to files as well as allow recovery of deleted files and folders.  The shadow copies go back about two weeks depending on usage.

2. Shadow copies do not exist for the C: drive, U: drive or any other local drives and USB sticks.

Restoring a Previous Version of a File

1. Open your N:, R: or Z: drive
   

2. Select the file you would like to revert to a previous version, right click and choose properties
   

3. Select the Previous Versions Tab
   

4. If you have made any saved changes to this document, they will appear in the list. You may view and previous version copy it, or restore it over the previous version.

Restoring a Deleted File or Folder

1. Open your N:, R: or Z: drive
   

2. Select the folder where your deleted item resided, right click and choose properties (HINT, if you deleted a folder or file from the root of your N:, R: or Z: drive, open my computer, right click your N:, R: or Z: drive and choose properties)
   

3. Select the Previous Versions Tab
   

4. All previous versions of the folder will show up in this list. Select the snapshot you would like to restore from and choose view to navigate into the shadow copy
   

5. Use copy then paste to put the file somewhere, or open the document and select "File->Save as..." to save it somewhere else.