What do you do if you accidentally delete important network files in the computer repair industry?

1 Stop any further actions

The first thing you should do is stop any further actions on the device or the network that might overwrite or erase the deleted files. This includes saving, copying, moving, or installing any files or programs. The reason is that when you delete a file, it is not actually gone from the disk. It is only marked as free space and can be overwritten by new data. If you act quickly, you might be able to recover the file from the free space before it is gone for good.

2 Check the recycle bin or trash

The next thing you should do is check the recycle bin or trash folder on the device where you deleted the files. Depending on the operating system and the settings, some files might be sent to the recycle bin or trash instead of being permanently deleted. If you find the files there, you can simply restore them to their original location by right-clicking and selecting restore or dragging them to the desired folder.

3 Use a file recovery tool

If you cannot find the files in the recycle bin or trash, you might need to use a file recovery tool to scan the disk and try to recover the deleted files. There are many free or paid file recovery tools available online, such as Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery, or Stellar Data Recovery. You should choose a tool that supports the file system and the file type of the deleted files. You should also run the tool from a different device or a bootable disk to avoid overwriting the deleted files. Follow the instructions of the tool to select the disk, scan for deleted files, and recover them to a safe location.

4 Restore from a backup

If you cannot recover the files using a file recovery tool, you might need to restore them from a backup. Hopefully, you have a backup of the network files on a separate device, a cloud service, or a removable media. If you do, you can simply copy or restore the files from the backup to the original location. Make sure you check the date and the version of the backup to ensure you are restoring the correct files.

5 Contact the network administrator or the client

If you cannot restore the files from a backup, or if you are not sure how to do it, you might need to contact the network administrator or the client who owns the network. They might have another backup or a copy of the files that you can use. They might also have some policies or procedures for dealing with deleted network files. Be honest and professional about your mistake and explain what steps you have taken to try to fix it. Apologize for any inconvenience and offer to help with any further actions.

6 Learn from the experience

The last thing you should do is learn from the experience and prevent it from happening again. Deleting important network files can be a costly and stressful error, but it can also be a valuable lesson. You should review what caused the deletion and how you can avoid it in the future. For example, you can double-check the files before deleting them, use a confirmation prompt, or enable a recycle bin or trash feature. You should also backup the network files regularly and test the backup to ensure it works. You should also update your skills and knowledge on network file management and recovery.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?