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ShadowExplorer Updated, Restore Files In Windows

Martin Brinkmann — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:54:46 +0000

Windows Vista and Windows 7 create so called shadow copies automatically from time to time. A shadow copy of a file is basically a backup of that file. That’s helpful when a file needs to be restored to a previous version, for instance after a failed update or software installation. All Windows Vista and Windows 7 users can make use of the Shadow Copy feature natively with the exception of Windows Vista Home users.

Windows 7 users can for instance access the feature by right-clicking on a file in Windows Explorer and selecting the Restore Previous Versions context menu entry.

The feature is turned on in all editions of Vista and Windows 7 by default.

Shadow Explorer is a third party tool that offers the following feature set:

Show available point-in-time copies
Browse through Shadow Copies
Retrieve versions of files and folders

The hard drive partition, date and time are selectable at the top of the application. Shadow Explorer displays recoverable files grouped into their folders on the left side.

Both files and folders can be exported with a right-click and the selection of export from the menu.

The main advantage of Shadow Copy is the interface which is easier to navigate and use, especially if multiple files or folders need to be recovered on the system.

A lot has changed since our first review in 2008. Shadow Copy for instance does not need elevated privileges anymore to run. The latest version is now showing all modified, accessed and created timestamps as well which are preserved when files or folders are exported.

Shadow Explorer is available for download from the developer website. It is available for 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Restore Files With Shadow Explorer

Martin Brinkmann — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:05:39 +0000

Windows Vista uses a service called Volume Shadow Copy Service which is turned on by default on all versions of Windows Vista. With the service turned on the Volume Shadow Copy Service creates so called shadow copies of files in Windows Vista from time to time which are ideal if you have to restore files that got accidentally deleted or altered.

On the downside the ability to restore files using the Volume Shadow Copy Service is only available for Windows Vista Ultimate, Enterprise and Business editions.

Shadow Explorer is a software for Windows Vista that makes it possible to restore files using the Volume Shadow Copy Service on all versions of Windows Vista. The program can be installed under Windows XP but it does not work if you execute it.

Shadow Explorer requires administrative privileges to be started. The interface is then providing an explorer like window with information about the stored shadow copies in the header area.

The user can select a different version of the shadow copy that has been saved by using the pulldown menu at the top.

A right-click on selected files or folders opens up a context menu with the option to restore these.

The user can restore files in the same folder or another one. A confirmation dialog pops up if he tries to restore the files in the same folder because they would overwrite the existing files obviously.

A message appears at the end of the operation telling the user if the file restore operation was successful.

Browse and Restore Shadow Copies in Windows Vista

Martin Brinkmann — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:03:23 +0000

Shadow Copies have been introduced into Windows XP Service Pack 1 and been extended in Windows Vista where it is used in System Restore and backup utility. You might have come upon the problem that a file was in use when trying to copy, move or delete it. Shadow Copies are used to copy every file, basically state of the art read only copies of files on the hard drive. This means that even important system files that are running all the time can be backed up without difficulties.

Shadow Explorer [via How to Geek] is a application for Windows Vista that makes it possible to browse and restore those files that have been saved. It mainly serves the purpose of providing users of Windows Vista Home with the ability to browse those files which is already possible in other editions of Windows Vista (Business, Enterprise and Ultimate).

It can be extremely helpful if you want to restore a previous version of a file that has been saved.

Users who use Windows Vista but not the Home Edition can access this feature by right-clicking a file and selecting Restore previous versions from the menu.