File Recovery

Identify EFS encryption, locate a legitimate certificate and private key or recovery agent, preserve the original profile, and avoid confusing file recovery with decryption.

Find Word AutoRecover and backup copies, distinguish ASD from WBK, open candidates safely, and verify the recovered document before replacing the original.

Read Excel’s repair log, identify missing formulas or worksheet content, restore a healthier workbook, and validate calculations before using repaired data.

Determine whether a PowerPoint video is embedded, linked, missing, or incompatible; preserve originals and recover a working presentation without losing media.

Preserve the original PST and SCANPST backup, inspect Lost and Found, copy recovered items to a new archive, and check missing messages and attachments.

Do not open and resave zero-byte files or continue downloading to the affected drive. Compare file paths, timestamps and copies in Windows.old, another user profile, cloud version history, File History and backups. If valid copies are absent, scan the stable source read-only and recover earlier versions to another physical disk.

Do not approve repairs on the only PPTX. Duplicate the presentation, unblock the copy if Windows marks it as downloaded, use PowerPoint repair and compare AutoRecover or cloud versions. Recover an earlier PPTX to another folder when needed, then verify slide order, notes, images, fonts and media before replacing the original.

Stop importing and sending mail to the affected PST. Copy the data file, confirm its size and free disk space, then use Outlook cleanup or archive only after a verified backup exists. Check server mail and backups first; repair a copy with SCANPST and recover an earlier PST elsewhere if folders or messages are missing.

Do not rename or delete the CHK files and do not run CHKDSK again. Copy FOUND.000 and the affected source, check File History and backups, then inspect CHK signatures on the copy. Recover original files from a disk image when possible and verify file type, content, dates and names before reorganizing them.

Stop installing apps and downloading files to the affected drive. Check Windows.old, the correct user profile, cloud synchronization, File History and verified backups. If files are still missing, scan the affected volume from a healthy Windows environment and recover selected data to another physical disk before continuing setup.