Restore Files from a Backup After a Formatt

• 1). Plug in your external hard drive or insert the CD that you backed up your files on into your computer.
  
  
• 2). Click the "Start" button on your computer's taskbar and then click "Control Panel" followed by "System and Maintenance."
  
  
• 3). Double-click the "Backup and Restore Center" icon.
  
  
• 4). Click the "Restore My Files" button. Select "Browse for Files/Folders." Select which files you would like to restore to your computer. If you would like to restore all of the files, you select "Restore All User Files."
  
  
• 5). Click "Browse" to select the destination you would like your files to be restored to.
  
  
• 6). Click the "Restore" icon and your backed up files will be restored to the destination you selected. The window will close automatically once the restore is complete.
  
  

Recover Deleted Files After a Format

• 1). Download and install a disk recovery program such as "PC Inspector File Recovery," "Data Recovery Wizard" or "Recover My Files."
  
  
• 2). Open the program and follow onscreen instructions.
  
  
• 3). Select the drive that contains the formatted disk. Click on the drive's letter to select it. It will open up a list of the files that you may restore.
  
  
• 4). Click on the individual files you would like to restore from the list of files. If you would like to restore all of the files, click "Restore All Files."
  
  
• 5). Click on "Recover Files" or "Restore Files" and the files will be restored to their original locations.