XClose

Information Services Division

Menu

Filestore@UCL: Restore a deleted file or folder in Windows 10 or Desktop@UCL

This guide will show you how to view or restore a file on your Filestore@UCL N: drive and S: drive that may have been deleted accidentally.

This guide is aimed at...

  • Students
  • Staff

Before you start...

  • Windows 10 operating system or Desktop @ UCL. If you are using neither of these, you should contact IT Services
  • A computer connected to the UCL network either onsite or via remote access services such as VPN or Desktop @ UCL Anywhere

Instructions

Home (N) drive

  1. Open Windows File Explorer on the taskbar (Fig.1)

    Fig.1 – File Explorer icon in taskbar
  2. Right-click on Home (N) drive, select Properties and then select the Previous Versions tab (Fig.2)

    Fig.2 – Previous Version tab on Home (N) Properties

  3. Ensure the list is sorted by modified date by clicking Date modified

  4. Select the version you wish to restore and then click Open

  5. This instance of your Home (N) drive will open in File Explorer (Fig.3)

    Fig.3 – Previous version of Home (N) drive open in File Explorer
  6. Locate the file or folder you wish to restore, right-click and select Copy (Fig.4)

    Fig.4 – Right-click file or folder menu

  7. Close any File Explorer windows for previous versions of your Home (N) drive and any Home (N) Properties windows

  8. Open a new File Explorer window and navigate to where you would like to place your restored file or folder

  9. Right-click and select Paste

  10. If the destination already has a file or folder with the same name, select Replace the file in the destination (Fig.5)

    Fig.5 – Replace or Skip Files prompt

GroupFolders (S) drive

  1. Open Windows File Explorer on the taskbar (Fig.6)

    Fig.6 – File Explorer icon in taskbar
  2. Open the GroupFolders (S) drive
  3. Right-click on a folder, select Properties (Fig.7) and then select the Previous Versions tab (Fig.8)

    Fig.7 – Right-click

    Fig.8 – Previous Version tab on GroupFolders (S) Properties

  4. Ensure the list is sorted by modified date by clicking Date modified

  5. Select the version you wish to restore and then click Open

  6. This instance of your GroupFolders (S) drive folder will open in File Explorer (Fig.9)

    Fig.9 – Previous version of GroupFolders (S) drive folder open in File Explorer
  7. Locate the file or folder you wish to restore, right-click and select Copy (Fig.10)

    Fig.10 – Right-click file or folder menu

  8. Close any File Explorer windows for previous versions of your GroupFolders (S) drive and any folder Properties windows

  9. Open a new File Explorer window and navigate to where you would like to place your restored file or folder

  10. Right-click and select Paste

  11. If the destination already has a file or folder with the same name, select Replace the file in the destination (Fig.11)

    Fig.11 – Replace or Skip Files prompt

Related guides & other info

Help & Support

For further help and assistance you will need to contact the IT Services.

Feedback

We are continually improving our website. Please provide any feedback using the feedback form.

Please note: This form is only to provide feedback. If you require IT support please contact the IT Services Help desk. We can only respond to UCL email addresses.

Give feedback