System reinstallation is performed to resolve system issues, improve performance, or to upgrade the system. After the system is reinstalled, you will find that the desktop files and icons are gone. This article will introduce a variety of methods to help recover desktop files after system reinstallation.
Demo environment: Honor MagicBook 16 Pro, Windows 11
The Windows operating system can take advantage of the System Backup and Restore feature to restore desktop files by following these steps:
1. Open the "Control Panel" and select "Backup & Restore". Select "Restore My Files" in the new interface.
2. Follow the wizard's instructions to select the folder you want to restore, including the desktop folder. This way, the system will restore the selected folders, including the files on your desktop.
The file history feature provided by Windows allows you to restore previous versions, including files in the desktop folder.
Locate the desktop folder in File Explorer and select the "History" option in the toolbar. In the history, you can find the previous version and restore it.
Some users may manually back up files to external storage devices such as external hard disks, USB flash drives, etc. before system reinstallation. You can connect these devices to find out if there is a backup of the files on your desktop.
If you created a system image backup before the system was reinstalled, you can restore it by following these steps:
Go to the "Control Panel" and select "System & Security", select "System Image Backup & Restore" in "File History". Follow the wizard's instructions to select the system image backup you want to restore.
If none of the above methods can find your desktop files, you can try a professional data recovery software. This type of software is usually able to deeply scan the storage device to retrieve deleted or lost files.
Demo Environment: Honor MagicBook 16 Pro, Windows 11, Hi Format Data Recovery Master 30.0.43
1. **And install the data recovery software for the system, open the software, and select the file type and location that needs to be recovered. Scan the storage device and all recoverable files will be listed when the scan is over.
2. Select the files you plan to recover, select the export path to the disk you are familiar with, and export the recovery.
1. It is best to stop using the storage device with file recovery software to prevent new data from overwriting the deleted data.
2. Try to back up the system before reinstalling it to ensure that your data is fully protected. If there is no system backup, file history, or external storage device backup, professional data recovery software may be the last resort to get your data back.
Restoring previous desktop files after a system reinstall is not a difficult thing to do, and the key is to make a backup in advance. With system backup, file history, cloud service backup, external storage device backup, and professional data recovery software, you can choose the right way to get back your important files on your desktop, ensuring that your data is fully protected after system reinstallation.