Recovering files and folders by using file and folder backup data

Last published : Apr 02, 2026
If you defined a backup of files and folders and need to recover files, you can recover them from a recent file and folder backup.
Veritas System Recovery includes a search tool to help you locate the files that you want to recover.
See About recovering lost data.
To recover files and folders by using file and folder backup data
  1. On the Tasks menu, click Recover My Files.
  2. In the left pane of the Recover My Files dialog box, select File and Folder as the search method.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • In the Find files to recover search box, type the whole name or partial name of a file or folder that you want to restore. Click Search.
For example, type recipe. Any file or folder that includes the word recipe in its name such as Chocolate Cheesecake Recipes.doc, Cathy Read Recipes.xls, Recipes for Success.mp3 are found.
  • Click Advanced Search, type or select your search criteria, and then clickSearch.
    Name Specify a file name that you want to search.
    You can use the following options to filter your search:
    - contains
    - is
    - starts with
    - ends with
    Look in Lets you select the local drives or folders for a file.
    Select the Include subfolders check box to extend the search to the subfolders of the drives or folders.
    File date/time Lets you select the time and the date of a file by using the drop-down calendar.
    You can use the following options to filter your search:
    - anytime
    - on
    - before
    - after
    - between
    File size Lets you specify the size of the file that you want to search in KB, MB, or GB.
    You can use the following options to filter your search:
    - any size
    - less than
    - greater than
    - between
To return to the standard search text box, click Basic search.
  1. In the search results list box, select the files that you want to restore.
  2. Click Recover Files.
  3. In the Recover My Files dialog box, do one of the following:
    • Click Original folders to restore your files to the same folders where they existed when they were backed up.
If you want to replace the original files, select Overwrite existing files. If you do not select this option, a number is added to the file name. The original file is untouched.
Caution: TheOverwrite existing filesoption replaces your original files with the files that you restore. Or, it replaces the files of the same names that are currently stored at that location.
  • Click Recovered Files folder on the desktop to restore your files to a Recovered Files folder on your Windows desktop.
Veritas System Recovery creates this folder during the restore.
  • Click Alternate folder and type the path to the location in which you want to restore your files.
  1. Click Recover.
  2. If you are prompted to replace the existing file, click Yes. Be certain that the file that you what to recover is the file that you want.
  3. Click OK.
See Recovering files and folders.