Undelete software for Windows XP

[WaiWai]

Undelete software for Windows XP

I would like to find a good and reliable undelete software. My requirements:
- unlike file recovery software, it should back up any files deleted by any means. This ensures deleted files can be 100% recoverable.
- it will save any changed files (eg .txt, .doc, .xls). This ensure you can recover files in case the file is accidentally overwritten when we fat-finger. We can still restore the older version.
- the deleted files and different version of saved files will be kept for a specific period before disposal

Does anyone know whether there is any good and reliable file backup/versioning software for Windows XP?

It doesn't matter even if it is shareware.
The more powerful or more feature-rich, the better.

Thank you.

 

[Tarrant64]

You make it sound like you need a document management system. What you are looking for will most likely not be cheap either, especially if you are looking to keep track of versioning.

Is this just for you, or a larger group of people?

I can't remember whether this is a feature of Vista Ultimate(highly doubt it), but the only other software(other than sharepoint and a few other business solutions) I know of is Mac OS X Leopard, which will be released on the 26th of this month. It has a "time machine" type feature which can do version control.

Best way to recover deleted files...don't delete them.

 

[WaiWai]

You make it sound like you need a document management system. What you are looking for will most likely not be cheap either, especially if you are looking to keep track of versioning.

Regarding the versioning, actually keeping 1 version is enough.
It is only to prevent the situation where you mis-save a file.

What document management system will you suggest?

Only use for a small group of people.

If the "versioning" feature is not available, what about a software which can undelete/recover my lost files.

Best way to recover deleted files...don't delete them.

Unfortunately you can't help yourself being fat-fingered.
Also some application may delete something unexpectedly without your consent.

 

[BernardP]

I have seen good comments about GetDataBack

Their web site is HERE

There are reviews and how-to's on the page

 

[WaiWai]

Originally posted by: BernardP
I have seen good comments about GetDataBack

Their web site is HERE

There are reviews and how-to's on the page

Thank you but I prefer a backup-type of file recovery, that is the system will automatically keep my deleted/changed files for a specific period before they are truly disposed.

 

[Nothinman]

Not for XP, but for Win2K3 and Vista you can tell ShadowCopy to keep revisions of files for you and just restore them out of explorer. But you really should be educating people to not delete things unless they're 100% sure they want the file gone.

 

[MrChad]

One option is to set up roaming profiles so that users' documents and settings are stored on a central server rather than on individual workstations. This will allow you to backup documents nightly.

I agree that a CMS is something you should look at. For a small company with not too many users, I've heard good things about Alfresco.

 

[Nothinman]

One option is to set up roaming profiles so that users' documents and settings are stored on a central server rather than on individual workstations. This will allow you to backup documents nightly.

Except that it only syncs when they logout and won't help with anything created/deleted between login/logout.

 

[SunnyD]

You realize that if the file has already been deleted - there is absolutely no way to guarantee that it is 100% recoverable right? As soon as you start writing any data to the disk there is the potential to overwrite some or all of the deleted file.

As others have said - you need some solution like a DMS, but don't expect it to fix your screw ups automatically.

 

[WaiWai]

You realize that if the file has already been deleted - there is absolutely no way to guarantee that it is 100% recoverable right? As soon as you start writing any data to the disk there is the potential to overwrite some or all of the deleted file.

Not if the software does what I suggest.
All deleted files will be kept for some period longer before they are disposed of.
At least keep 1 old version of the saved files. You can still recover it even if your current file becomes corrupt or you accidentally overwrite it.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
As others have said - you need some solution like a DMS, but don't expect it to fix your screw ups automatically.

Like I said, you need some sort of DMS like Docushare or some other similar craptastic software package. Hell, even VSS would work for what you want. But don't expect any of these software packages to automagically scour your hard drive and back stuff up for you.

You may want to try Google Desktop, and then see what kind of info it caches on their servers... :laugh:

 

[WaiWai]

As far as I know, Windows Vista has such a undelete feature built-in.

 

[0roo0roo]

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