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Restoring overwritten file on Win8.1 - Printable Version

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Restoring overwritten file on Win8.1 - Junes - 05-07-2014

Greetings everyone.

I have a rather delicate issue. Here it goes: I had a Microsoft Excel 2013 file that I had been working on for 8 hours today. When I was done, I wanted to overwrite the old file, which was on a USB drive, with the new, updated one from today. Due to my incredible stupidity however, I overwrote the new file with the old file from the USB drive instead, leaving me with 2 old versions of the file and 8 hours of work lost.

I tried two things:

- Win8 File Restore: You save your older versions of files on an external hard drive to prevent such things from happening. Unfortunately, the next older version is the one from a couple weeks back, although I had been saving the file multiple times during my work today. I suspect that this is due to the file simply being overwritten by the one from the USB drive, which had indeed not been changed for weeks. So where's my older version of the file saved on the laptop, but stupidly overwritten by another one of the same name and content (apart from the progress I made today)?

- System Restore: Unfortunately, my last restore point was yesterday, which was when a program was last installed. And yesterday the file was in the same state as those couple weeks ago. I need a version from today before my overwriting the file though. Is there some genius way to do this?

I can handle many software issues, but I've run out of ideas on this one. If anyone has an idea, I'd be immensely grateful.


RE: Restoring overwritten file on Win8.1 - Tunicle - 05-07-2014

I am presuming that when you click the file tab you do not see a little box titled manage versions?

You have tried right click on file in explorer and restore previous from drop down? or right click properties then versions tab?


RE: Restoring overwritten file on Win8.1 - aakopa - 05-07-2014

Check your temp, it could have your file.


RE: Restoring overwritten file on Win8.1 - Junes - 05-07-2014

(05-07-2014, 07:02 PM)Tunicle Wrote: I am presuming that when you click the file tab you do not see a little box titled manage versions?

You have tried right click on file in explorer and restore previous from drop down? or right click properties then versions tab?

Both these features do not exist on Win8 anymore.

(05-07-2014, 07:05 PM)aakopa Wrote: Check your temp, it could have your file.

This might be possible indeed. Mind telling me where I can view/access the temp files?


RE: Restoring overwritten file on Win8.1 - Tunicle - 05-07-2014

(05-07-2014, 07:13 PM)Junes Wrote: Both these features do not exist on Win8 anymore.

That seems a bit retrograde of MS, sorry had not realised gone after win7.

A quick Google suggests File History but that seems to have to have been enabled prior to overwriting.


Good luck.


RE: Restoring overwritten file on Win8.1 - Connor - 05-08-2014

This applies to vista only (it says) but it might be worth a try, or at least a look. Don't forget to back up your files and only install trusted stuff.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-vista/demo-restore-an-old-version-of-a-file