Previous Version File Recoverer Files

             **Previous Version File Recoverer 05/01/2013**

Note: This version fixes a major flaw in an earlier version. Recovery on drives other than the system drive is now allowed. Occasionally recovered previous version become corrupt for unknown to me reasons.

Starting with Vista and continuing through Windows 8, Windows allows the recovering of previous versions of files without a dedicated backup. These previous versions are stored in "System Snapshots" whenever a Restore Point is made by the system or manually made by the user from the System Protection tab of the System App in the Control Panel.

Microsoft limited this feature in Vista to the Business Editions. Home Basic and Premium do not have it, hence the need for this program. Also it turns out in Windows 8 the feature has been deprecated. The tab is not available in a file's propeties, except perhaps by accessing the computer as if it were over a network. However Previous Version Recoverer still works in Windows 8, as does a similar program, Shadow Explorer.

Previous Version File Recoverer works with the other versions of Windows Vista, and Windows 7 as mentioned so if you find it easier to use then right clicking on files in Explorer then by all means do so. The application however rebuilds its index each time you invoke it which is time consuming. Windows however may be doing the same thing. 

A similar program to this one is Shadow Explorer:  http://www.shadowexplorer.com/. You might find that program more comprehensive because it exposes all previous versions of files in an Explorer-like interface. In contrast to Shadow Explorer, the present program only returns previous versions within its GUI window that are different from the target file whereas Shadow Explorer requires you to choose a  restore point in date and time and look to see if a previous version is different from the file you are working with or even exists. Using Shadow Explorer may be more time consuming then using Previous Version File Recoverer.

This program creates temporary folders off the target file's drive labeled ShadowCopy1, ShadowCopy2 etc. These folders may skip numbers. They can be explored like full snapshot of your file system just like with Shadow Explorer, however the date and time of the setting of the restore point are not available at the moment whereas they are in Shadow Explorer. The temporary folders are removed at the program's exit. Also all the shadow copy file shirtcuts that don't have a different previous version of your target file are deleted and not accessible with this program.

If you need more help write me at socrtwo@s2services.com. Support is free with this application. I charge $22 for successful recovery of corrupt MS and Open Office files and provide other recovery services. See my website containing hundreds of links to free data recovery resources at http://s2services.com.

Thanks,
Paul Pruitt 
socrtwo@s2services.com
http://s2services.com
05/01/2013