How to Restore Deleted Files on a Cluster

Clusters -- groups of storage units on your computer's hard disk drive -- help you to retrieve a file in its entirety. When a part of a file's cluster is deleted, it affects how the file will be retrieved. Since clusters, along with file-allocation tables, are file system structures, when instability issues arise, the integrity of the hard disk should be looked at first. One way to restore a deleted cluster is to set your computer back to a more stable operating point in time.

Verify That System Protection is Turned On

• 1

  Click "Start" > "Control Panel."

• 2

  Click "System and Security" > "System."

• 3

  Click "System protection" in the left pane.

• 4

  Click the drive letter that represents your hard disk drive, click "Configure," and then continue to the next step. If system protection is already turned "On," exit the System Properties dialog box and go to the next section.

• 5

  Check "Restore system settings and previous versions of files," and then click "OK" twice. Other options include "Only restore previous versions of files" and "Turn off system protection."

Run a System Restore

• 1

  Click "Start."

• 2

  Type "System Restore" in the search box.

• 3

  Click "System Restore" from the results list. Type in your administrator password or provide confirmation, if prompted.

• 4

  Click the restore point with a date closest to just before problems occurred and then click "Next." Restore points are made whenever software or hardware is added or deleted.

• 5

  Verify your choices and then click "Finish" to start the restoration process.