Data Recovery from Software Errors: 3 Practical Examples

Explore 3 practical examples of how to recover lost data from software errors effectively.
By Jamie

Recovering Lost Data from Software Errors

Data loss can occur due to various software errors, whether it’s a crash, accidental deletion, or unexpected shutdown. Understanding how to recover this data is crucial for maintaining productivity and ensuring that important information is not permanently lost. Below are three practical examples demonstrating different methods of recovery.

Example 1: Using Built-in Recovery Features in Microsoft Word

When working on a document in Microsoft Word, unexpected crashes can lead to lost changes. Fortunately, Word has a built-in AutoRecover feature that can help retrieve unsaved work.

If you experience a crash, follow these steps:

  1. Reopen Microsoft Word. If it crashed, it will usually display a Document Recovery pane on the left side of the window.
  2. Look for the document name listed in the recovery pane. This document contains the latest autosaved version of your work.
  3. Click on the document to open it. Review the contents to ensure it includes all the necessary changes.
  4. Save the recovered document immediately to avoid losing it again.

Notes:

  • Ensure that AutoRecover is enabled in Word settings to maximize recovery chances. You can adjust this setting under File > Options > Save.
  • If the Document Recovery pane does not appear, check the Unsaved Documents folder by navigating to File > Open > Recent > Recover Unsaved Documents.

Example 2: Utilizing File History on Windows

Windows File History is a fantastic tool for recovering previous versions of files. This feature is particularly useful if you accidentally overwrite or delete an important file.

Here’s how to recover a file using File History:

  1. Open the folder where the lost file was originally saved.
  2. Right-click in an empty space within the folder and select Properties.
  3. Navigate to the Previous Versions tab. This will show a list of saved versions of the folder.
  4. Select the version of the folder that contains the file you need and click Restore. Alternatively, you can click Open to view the contents before restoring.
  5. Once you find the file, you can copy it to another location for safekeeping.

Notes:

  • File History must be enabled before data loss occurs. To enable it, go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup > Add a drive and select an external drive.
  • If File History is not available, consider using third-party recovery software.

Example 3: Recovering Data from a Corrupted Excel File

Excel is widely used for data management, but sometimes files can become corrupted, leading to loss of data. Thankfully, there are effective recovery methods to retrieve information from corrupted Excel files.

To recover data from a corrupted Excel file, follow these steps:

  1. Open Excel and select File > Open.
  2. Browse to the location of the corrupted file. Instead of clicking Open, click the dropdown arrow next to it and select Open and Repair.
  3. Excel will attempt to repair the file. If successful, the repaired file will open, and you can save it under a new name.
  4. If the repair option fails, you can also try to extract data by selecting Extract Data from the same dropdown menu.

Notes:

  • Keep in mind that the success of this method may vary depending on the extent of the corruption.
  • Regularly backing up your Excel files can prevent data loss in the future.