Recover My Files User Guide

Introducing Recover My Files

Recover My Files is data recovery software. It will find files which have been deleted and emptied from (or bypassed) the Windows Recycle Bin. Recover My Files will find any type of deleted file and has specific support for more than 100 file types.

Three levels of search are available, a Fast Search, a Complete Search and a Format Recover option.

The version that is downloaded from www.whitecanyon.com is fully functional, except that it is 'saved disabled'. You must purchase a registration key in order to save files. However many popular file types can be fully previewed before you need to purchase. This will allow you to make an informed decision about whether to register the software.

It is not currently possible to save files to the drive on which they were deleted. You must save them to other storage media (eg. second hard drive, CD/DVD, floppy disk, USB drive, etc).

Step 1 - Download & Install

Download Recover My Files from www.whitecanyon.com. If possible, install Recover My Files to a separate drive from the one on which you have deleted or lost files. (Click here for more information on where to install Recover My Files)

Step 2 - Select the Type of Search

Click on the desktop icon to run the program. A wizard will present you with three search options:

1. Fast Search: Try this first, should complete within 20 minutes.
   
   
2. Complete Search: Includes a Fast Search and should be complete within 1 to 5 hours.
   
   
3. Format Recover: Run this search if you have formatted your hard drive. The search should be complete within 1 to 5 hours. Follow these instructions.
   
   

Click Next to proceed to the next wizard screen.

Wizard Screen 1 - Selecting the type of search

Step 3 - Select the Drive To Search

The next wizard screen performs a scan to identify the devices (hard drives, digital camera, USB drive etc.) that are connected to your computer. Select the device you wish to search by using your mouse to place a green tick in the box next to the device name.

The "Folders to Search" option allows you to add existing folders into your search. Add a folder by double clicking with your mouse in the specified location. Remove a folder by double clicking on the folder.

Wizard Screen 2 - Selecting the device to search

Step 4 - Selecting File Types to Search

The next wizard screen asks you to select the file types that you are trying to recover. After you have run the search, recoverable files will be grouped by file types according to the selections you have made in this screen. All other files will be categorized as "other deleted files".

Please Note: The number of file types selected will directly impact the speed of the search. We suggest that you select between 1 and 10 file types. Because MP3 and Text files are the slowest, we recommend that you conduct a separate search for these files.

Wizard Screen 3 - Selecting file types to search for

Step 5 - Running the Search

When the Start button is pressed the search is commenced, note that a "Complete Search" and a "Format Recover" may take a number of hours to complete as they require a complete scan of your drive.

It is possible to preview the search results while the search is in progress. Use your mouse to move the progress box out of the way and access the search results screen behind it.

Running the search

Step 6 - The Results Screen

Files found are grouped by file type in the left hand column (any files that are found that do not belong to a file type that you selected are placed in the "Other Deleted Files" folder).

Click on a file type in the left and column to display the corresponding recoverable files found in the right hand column. Click on an individual file in the right hand column to see its properties to preview of its contents (if possible) in the bottom window.

The results screen

Step 7 - Saving Recovered Files

Recover My Files must be registered in order to save files. A registration key can be purchased via www.whitecanyon.com. To enter the registration key click 'Help' and then 'Register'.

Select files to be saved in the results screen by placing a tick next to each file and clicking the save button. You must save files to a separate storage media than the one from which they were recovered. (Click here for further saving instructions)