How to Recover Files After Reinstalling Windows 10

Have you been through the Windows installation process again recently. Just found your PC completely empty after that? Reinstalling Windows 10 can be a boring task, and if not done properly, it may lead to mistaken deletion of important files.

Fortunately, there are several ways to recover missing files after the reinstallation process. In this article we will guide you on how to do so.

Part 1: Is it possible to recover data after reinstalling Windows?

When you reinstall Windows, previous versions of your installation are usually stored in a folder called “windows.old”. If you deleted this folder, you will need to restore it to retrieve your files.

However, if you mistakenly chose to delete all your files during Windows installation, you will need to recover data on all drives to restore your lost files.

It is important that you do not use your PC to save new files before recovering deleted files from your hard drive. This is because erased files are still in the partition, but the operating system marks their address as empty, allowing new information to be rewritten.

Part 2: How to recover files after reinstalling Windows

As mentioned earlier, there are three simple ways to recover deleted files in Windows 10. Let’s talk about how each one.

Method #1: Use data recovery software

There are several Freemium data recovery software options online. For display purposes, we will use WinfrGUI as an example. Winfr GUI is a great data recovering program, especially for those who are not familiar with the process. It has an easy-to-use interface and a simple data-recovery process. Follow these steps to use it:

• Download WinfrGUI from the official website.

• Install and open the application after the download is completed.
• When WinfrGUI is enabled, click “Continue”
• Enable data protection on the next screen by opening it and clicking on “Start”.
• Select the Windows installed drive and click “Find missing information”.
• WinfrGUI will scan your drive for recoverable data. Keep in mind that scanning a complete partition or entire hard drive may take a long time. However, you do not need to wait for the scan to be completed before accessing the recovered files. While scanning is running in the background, you can click on “Review Found Items” to check the recovery items.
• The software will present a list of files found. You can filter them by file type using the left bar or search for specific files using the search engine.
• WinfrGUI also allows you to view files by floating on them and clicking on the eye icons that appear.
• The software divides file types according to their chances of recovery. (High, Average, Low, or unknown). In my test, WinfrGUI was able to recover files even with low recovery chances.
• You can filter files by factors such as size, deletion time and recovery opportunity.
• Set a recovery target to another partition or drive and click OK.
• All of your files will be recovered and stored in the selected location.

Method 2: Using Windows Backup and Restore

Windows provides an integrated backup and recovery tool called File History which allows you to recover lost files. However, this feature must be enabled before data is lost. If you enable File History, please follow the following steps to restore your data:

• Find and enable the Control Panel app
• Move to the file history and click on “Restore your files with the files history”.
• Select the most recent backup of your file
• Your computer will take a long time to restore files on your drive. Once it’s done, all your data will be restored to its previous state.

Now let’s deal with frequently asked questions about recovering deleted files after reinstalling Windows 10.

Recover Files After Reinstalling Windows 10: FAQ

How to recover data after installing Windows?

If you want to recover all your files after reinstalling Windows on your PC, you can use one of these three ways:

• Windows Backup & Recovery Features
• System Return Point
• Data recovery software like WinfrGUI

Where are my files after updating Windows 10?

Sometimes after installing a Windows 10 update, files may disappear. This can happen due to an accidental security update or unexpected update. The good news is that your files are not permanently deleted and you can recover them after updating Windows 10 by recovering updates or using a third-party data recovery tool such as WinfrGUI.

Is it possible to recover files after cleaning the Windows 10 installation?

Once you clean up the Windows installation on your PC, all your files will be deleted during the installation process. Here are some ways you can recover files after Windows 10 factory reset.

• Use Windows File History (requires a backup)
• Use data recovery software
• Professional Data Recovery Service

Is it possible to recover data after Windows 10 reset?

Recovering files after reinstalling Windows can be challenging, but it can be done easily with good data recovery software like WinfrGUI. If you’ve ever backed up your files using the built-in Windows backup tool, you can use it to recover your data.

Conclusion

While it is recommended to back up your files regularly to prevent file loss, you are not entirely lucky if you lose files after reinstalling your operating system. Data recovery software such as WinfrGUI has a simple but effective way to recover lost data from all types of storage drives. By following the methods described in this article, you can safely recover all your important data.