Accessing server's recycling bin

Hi,

At work, we have a server set up. While I was on the server, I accidentally deleted two folders. Windows Explorer did not allow me to undo my delete, and I checked my personal Recycling Bin, and the folders are not in there. Is there any way I can retrieve my deleted folders? I do not have Administrator privileges to the server.

Thanks.

 

Thanks, Steve. I access the server through a mapped network drive. I was sitting at my own machine (not remoted) when I deleted the folder on the server, but I was not sitting at the actual server machine. From my past experiences, files deleted on a mapped network drive have always ended up in my own recycling bin, so I'm a little confused why that did not happen this time.

 

If this is a 2003 or 2008 server, shadow copy will let you recover easily from this sort of problem. However, it is not enabled by default. You'll need to ask the server administrator if shadow copy is enabled, and if so could they restore the folder.

If not, get them to enable shadow copy. That won't let you recover from the current problem, but will help prevent future re-occurence.

Shadow Copy is a splendid utility, and is part of the server OS so a no cost (except a little performance and hard disk space) option. However, it should not be used instead of a standard backup system, but as an addition to it. It will not help you recover from a disaster such as hard disk failure.

Otherwise you'll just have to recover the folder from your backup.