How to Recover Deleted Files from Dell Laptop

Recovering deleted files from a Dell laptop can often be a lifesaver, especially when important data is accidentally erased. Here’s a detailed guide on various methods you can use to recover your files, from simple software solutions to more advanced recovery techniques.

How to recover deleted files from Dell laptop?

Once you find you accidentally deleted the files on the Dell computer or just simply lost it, you’d better not write any new data to it because it will overwrite the deleted/lost files on your hard drive. Then, you can follow the methods below to find them back.

Method 1. Recover recently deleted files from the Recycle Bin

If you've accidentally deleted files, quickly press Ctrl + Z to undo the deletion and recover them immediately. Check the original folder to ensure the files are back in place. Alternatively, you can restore recently deleted files from the Recycle Bin, provided the bin hasn’t been emptied or the files weren’t deleted using Shift + Delete.

Step 1. Navigate to the desktop and double-click the recycle bin icon.

Step 2. Select the specific files you want to recover.

Step 3. Right-click on any selected files and select the "Restore" feature to retrieve them quickly.

Method 2. Recover deleted files via Backup and Restore

The Backup and Restore feature, introduced with Windows 7, allows you to recover deleted files if you have a backup available. This tool is essential when you need to retrieve files from a Dell laptop or any other system that supports the feature. Here's how you can use it to restore your files effectively.

Step 1. Start the journey by navigating to Control Panel > System and Security. Identify and access backup and restore features relevant to Windows 7.

Step 2. In the area of backup and recovery capabilities, a critical step beckons. Select "Recover my files".

Step 3. Make your selection by selecting "Browse Files", providing the opportunity to pinpoint and specify specific files for recovery. Click Next to continue.

Step 4. Define the specified destination for the recovered files and decisively click on the "Recover" button to initiate recovery.

Method 3. Recover missing files with File History

File History, introduced in Windows 8, offers a simple way to back up and restore files on your Dell computer. To use this feature, ensure that File History or System Protection is enabled; otherwise, these benefits won’t be available.

Key Features of File History:
» Automatically backs up copies of files from the Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, Desktop folders, and OneDrive offline files.
» Allows you to save backups to an external drive, such as a USB, or to a cloud storage service.
» Lets you restore original documents that have been deleted, lost, or corrupted. Additionally, you can recover overwritten files, like Excel documents, by restoring their previous versions.

Step 1. Open "Control Panel" by typing it in the search bar and then click "System and Security".

Step 2. Select "Restore your files with File History" under the "File History" tab.

Step 3. Click the "Restore personal files" button.

Step 4. If you directly click "Restore", the deleted files will be sent to their original location. If you right-click "Restore", you can save them in your specific location.

Method 4. Recover deleted files using Windows File Recovery

Released in 2020, Windows File Recovery is a free utility designed to recover lost files from local storage devices, including HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, and SD cards. Please note that it does not support recovery from cloud storage or network file shares.

How to use Windows File Recovery:

To start recovering files, use the basic command format below, replacing the mode and switches as needed:

winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]

✍ Important:
▸ This tool can recover various file types, such as Word, Excel, PPT, PDF, ZIP, MP3, JPG, and PNG.
▸ It only functions on Windows 10 build 19041 or newer.
▸ Ensure the source drive (where the lost files were originally stored) differs from the destination drive (where recovered files will be saved).
▸ Supports two basic recovery modes (Regular & Extensive) and two advanced modes (Segment & Signature), compatible with four file systems: NTFS, FAT, exFAT, and ReFS.

Step 1. Go to Microsoft Store to Get Windows File Recovery.

Step 2. Run Windows File Recovery as administrator, then input the command line based on syntax: 

winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]

For example, if you need to recover zip files from the Recycle Bin under C: drive to E drive, you need to input commands like:

winfr C: E: /extensive /n \C:\Recycler\*.zip

Step 3. Wait for the recovery to complete. Then a folder named "Recovery_(date and time)" will be generated automatically in the destination.

Method 5. Recover permanently deleted or lost files with data recovery software

If you're looking for a simpler way to restore deleted files on your Dell laptop, AOMEI FastRecovery offers an intuitive alternative. Unlike command-line recovery tools, AOMEI FastRecovery features a user-friendly graphical interface that makes the recovery process easy, allowing you to retrieve deleted or lost files from HDDs, USB drives, SD cards, and other storage devices.

Key features of AOMEI FastRecovery:
✡ Supports the recovery of over 1000 file types, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, photos, videos, emails, webpages, and compressed files.
✡ Retrieves deleted files with their original path, filename, and format intact.
✡ During the scan, you can search for specific files by entering filenames in the search bar or let the software automatically perform Quick Scan and Deep Scan to identify all deleted and lost files.
✡ Compatible with NTFS, exFAT, FAT32, and ReFS file systems on Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Windows Server versions.

AOMEI FastRecovery simplifies file recovery, making it a versatile and efficient choice for data retrieval on Windows systems.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool starts to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first to find your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovery to end.

Conclusion

Recovering deleted files from your Dell laptop is possible with the right approach. From checking the Recycle Bin to using advanced recovery software like AOMEI FastRecovery, you have multiple options to try before seeking professional help. Regular backups and preventive measures will help you avoid future data loss, ensuring your important files are always safe.