How to Recover Lost Files After Windows Updates

by Amy H. Editor

“Did someone experience the file loss after the installation of Windows update or earlier updates? Actually, when the update has been installed, all files that I used to store in the pictures and documents folders under this PC have been removed. Or maybe their location has been changed but I can’t find any of the needed files anywhere. I desperately need help!”

There are a lot of file loss when Windows updates, all of which are deleted by users themselves. When re-installing Windows, if you choose to upgrade, the system will keep your files, applications, or settings. If the installation is completely new, the system will save the previous user folder to the Window.old folder of the C disk. After updating the system, you will only need to find the location and drag out the file.

In this way, the file loss should not exist. But what if the file is actually lost? It may be that the user deleted the file when the system was updated or formatted the hard disk. If not, then the ghost is used. The ghost will copy all of the previous disk contents to your C disk, so the file is lost when the system is updated.

For this reason, if we use the backup function of Windows and start the backup before the system updates, then we can restore the computer to a certain state and retrieve the relevant files. Or before the system is updated, transfer the important files of the system disk C to other hard disk partitions, which can also avoid data loss.

The trouble is that you didn’t do none of these backup measures in the early stage. But It's not unsolvable. Most files can be retrieved with the help of third party data recovery software. Here is how to do it:

1. Install and run RePicvid Free Photo Recovery. Select "All File Types" in the software interface (please do not install the software to the C disk to avoid data coverage). After the interface switches, select C disk and click "Scan" in the lower right corner to enter the file scan status.

2. Wait for the scan to complete, then please select the file type that you want to restore. You can preview all files on this type in the C disk. Click “Recover” to set the file store location and restore the file.

Tips: if not register the software, you can only restore photos for free. Please register to activate the whole recovery functions.