Almost every user has encountered a situation where certain actions performed on the computer cause harm instead of the expected result, and they want to understand how to undo last action on the computer. For example, this could be downloading various programs that have been infected with viruses or anything else.
Microsoft realized a long time ago that the main enemy of the computer and operating system is not some hacker or some other attacker, but the user himself, because it is through their actions that people most often cause their devices to malfunction. That is why a function was introduced on how to undo the last action on a computer, and it is called “Operating System Restore”.
What is this?
Operating system recovery is a feature that allows you to roll back your computer to a specific date when its characteristics and data were saved. It is worth noting that this data can be saved either automatically or manually by the user, depending on how exactly this function was configured.
Advantage this method is that it allows you to completely remove all the negative actions that you have performed on your computer over a certain period of time. But when considering how to undo the last action on a computer, it often fails to use it because it undoes several actions performed on the computer at the same time, regardless of whether they were harmful.
Automatic and manual
As mentioned above, the system can be saved either manually by the user or automatically. In professional circles, this is called “saving a backup,” and it must be done, since it is impossible to undo the last action on the computer without it.
To set this up in Windows 7, you need to go to: “Control Panel” > “Recovery” > “File Recovery” > “Configure backup" Here you will need to select the basic parameters and start archiving. In particular, you can independently choose whether to save only certain folders or even give the operating system a choice of folders so that it saves the most important information first.
What to choose?
Advantage automatic copying is convenience, but for it you need to allocate a large amount free space on the hard drive, and often it is not suitable, since it is still possible to undo all actions on the computer for the last day, but in a month or week it is already more difficult.
That is why it is recommended to perform archiving exclusively manually. In particular, this is especially recommended by experts for Windows 8, since undoing the last actions on Windows computer 8 is generally required more frequently. To configure it on this system, you will need to go through the “Control Panel” to the “Backup and Restore” section, then select “Create a system image” and follow all the wizard’s instructions.
Data recovery is also important
It is worth noting that, among other things, it is highly recommended if you store some kind of important information. Thus, if some kind of malfunction occurs during the operation of your equipment, and you lose all the data stored on the hard drive, a backup copy will allow you to extremely quickly return any files you need in just a few minutes without involving outside specialists, which will save you not only nerves and time, but also money.
When using a computer, users often have a situation where some action was performed accidentally or incorrectly, for example, deleting or renaming files. Especially for such cases, the developers of the operating system Windows systems We came up with a convenient function that cancels the last action. In addition, it is carried out this process and using other tools. In this article, we will describe in detail methods for undoing recent actions on your computer.
Usually, accidentally performed operations on a PC can be returned using a special hotkey, however, such manipulation will not always work. Therefore, you will have to resort to implementing certain instructions through built-in utilities or special software. Let's take a closer look at all these methods.
Method 1: Built-in Windows feature
As mentioned above, Windows has a built-in function that undoes the last action. It is activated using a hotkey Ctrl+Z or via the pop-up menu. If, for example, you accidentally renamed a file incorrectly, simply hold down the above combination or click on a free area right click mouse and select "Cancel rename".
When moving a file to the trash, this keyboard shortcut also works. In the pop-up menu you need to click on the item "Cancel deletion". If the data has been permanently deleted, you should use special software or a built-in utility. Below we will discuss this recovery method in detail.
Method 2: Cancel actions in programs
Many users actively use various software when working at the computer, for example, for editing text and images. In such programs, the standard keyboard shortcut most often works Ctrl+Z, however, they still have built-in tools that allow you to roll back the action. The most popular text editor is . In it on the panel at the top there is special button, which cancels the input. Read more about canceling actions in Word in our article at the link below.
It is worth paying attention to graphic editors. Let's take . In it in the tab "Editing" you'll find a number of tools and hotkeys that let you step back, undo edits, and more. We have an article on our website that describes this process in detail. Read it at the link below.
Almost all such software contains tools that perform undo actions. You just need to carefully study the interface and become familiar with the hot keys.
Method 3: System Restore
If files are permanently deleted, they are restored using the built-in Windows tools or using special software. System files are returned using separate methods, via command line or manually. Detailed instructions you will find in our article at the link below.
The easiest way to restore regular data is through third-party software. They allow you to scan specific sections hard drive and return only necessary information. Check out the list of the best representatives of such software in the article below.
Sometimes some manipulations lead to system malfunctions, so you have to use a built-in or third-party tool. Such tools create a backup copy of Windows in advance and restore it if necessary.
Erroneous action In a document created in MS Word, in the “Edit” menu, select the “Undo” command. The same result can be achieved using the hotkeys Alt+Backspace. If you suddenly realized that action was correct, and in vain you canceled it, use the combination Ctrl+Y.
On the panel quick access Find the “Cancel” button. If you need to undo multiple actions at once, click the down arrow next to this button to expand a list of your most recent actions. While holding down the left mouse button, mark unnecessary operations with the cursor and release the key. The same result can be achieved using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+Z.
Next to “Undo” on the Quick Access toolbar there is a “Redo” button. It returns the deleted steps. Her action duplicated function key F4. If the "Cancel" button has not been used, "Redo" will not be available.
To undo actions in MS Excel, you also use the “Undo” command from the edit menu, the “Undo” button on the quick access toolbar, and the Alt+Backspace and Ctrl+Z keyboard shortcuts. To return erroneously canceled actions, the same tools are used as in MS Word.
IN Adobe Photoshop In this situation, it is convenient to use the hotkeys Ctrl+Alt+Z and the Step Backward command from the Edit menu. To return an erroneously canceled action, use the Step Forward command and the combination Shift+Ctrl+Z.
In addition to standard keys and commands, Photoshop has a convenient History option. Find it in the Window menu and check the box. Find what you don't need in the History panel action, pick it up with your mouse and drag it to the trash can icon at the bottom of the panel. To cancel all changes, click on the image icon at the very top of the list.
If you have made some fatal changes to the operating system, the System Restore service will help you return it to functionality. Open the program launch window using the Win+R combination and enter the msconfig command in the “Open” line. Go to the “Tools” tab, check “System Restore” in the list and click “Run”. Select the date closest to the date when the erroneous actions occurred.
Sources:
- how to return an action back
Tip 2: How to recover a file that was just overwritten
Unfortunately, very often, while working on a personal computer, necessary files are accidentally deleted. files. This can happen in completely different situations: overwriting, formatting disks, or just an error. Many users, when faced with this problem, begin to panic and say goodbye to their information in advance, although everything can be returned to its place.
You will need
- Personal computer, Magic Uneraser program
Instructions
First of all you need to download special program Magic Uneraser, which is perhaps one of best utilities in the field of data recovery. You can find it on the Internet, as this is distributed practically. Once you have downloaded it, begin the installation process. Try to install the utility in the directory on drive “C”. Next, run the program. A working window will open in front of you. On the left is a list of all working disks. If you want to restore from a portable device, then simply connect it and it will also appear in this list. Select required disk and click on the "Analysis" button. The analysis process has begun.
When this operation analysis will end, the program will display a list of folders located on this disk. Now you can view their contents, search files to restore as in standard Windows Explorer. You can also use the “Search” option and set to see only the information you need. When you find what you need files, select them and click on the “Restore” button. The program will prompt you to select the directory where these files will be restored. files. It's better to choose a second logical drive, or portable device.
The process of recovering deleted files can be considered complete, but this program has one more useful feature, which allows you to find disks and restore from them files. As you can see, restore files, deleted quite simply, the main thing is to use the Magic Uneraser program and follow a certain algorithm of actions.
Video on the topic
When working in applications that edit certain files, a certain number of previous file modification steps are automatically saved. In some cases, the entire story is preserved; in others, only part of it is preserved. The recovery function is available almost everywhere original condition, however, provided that the file was not saved during processing.
Instructions
If you need to cancel the last ones related to entering and formatting text in an editor, browser window, etc., just press the Ctrl+Z key combination. Also in MS text editor Office Word There is a special button on the toolbar that is responsible for undoing recent changes. Another option is to use the “Edit”, “Undo” menu. In this case, if the document editing process was previously saved, returning to the previous position is possible.
If you need to cancel latest changes related to image editing in Adobe program Photoshop, use the keyboard shortcut Alt+Ctrl+Z or click on the “Edit” menu item, then select “Step Back” from the drop-down menu.
If you want to completely restore the file, press F12. If you have already saved changes, then undoing them will not be possible. When editing graphic files In general, it is best to create and edit copies of them, and store the originals separately. Also view the history of changes in a special table of changes, which is accessible from the “Window” menu item.
If you want to undo recent changes that affected your computer (for example, installing updates, programs, utilities), open the Start menu, select menu standard programs, then "Utilities" and finally "System Restore". A large window for restoring the operating system will appear on your screen; select on the program calendar a checkpoint for saving the settings before making changes to the system, roll back to this date.
Keep in mind that before doing this, it is best to save the personal data you use while working in applications installed during this period, since the programs will be deleted along with them. These can be various account logins and passwords, key files, links, and so on.
Sources:
- what to do if you cheat
Many files, usually custom ones, can be renamed without any problems. But sometimes a situation arises when renaming a file leads to disruptions in the operation of programs or the operating system. In this case, you should restore the original file name.
Instructions
Problems with renaming usually arise in two cases: when the original file name is needed by some program or OS and when its extension is violated. The latter happens if the display of extensions is disabled on the computer.
To enable display of extensions, open any disk or folder, select “Tools” - “Folder Options” - “View” from the menu. Uncheck the box next to “Hide extensions for known file types.” Click OK. Now you see all file extensions.
Remember what extension the renamed file had and restore it. For executable files this is most often the extension *.exe, for documents - *.doc or *.txt. Photos usually have the extension *.jpg, music files - *.mp3. If the problem was related specifically to an incorrectly changed extension, the file will start running again. In the future, when renaming files, leave the extension intact.
If changing the file name caused a program to fail, pay attention to the message displayed - it usually indicates the name of a file that the program cannot find. Knowing which file has been changed, you can easily restore it to its original form.
Important system files usually cannot be renamed or changed, operating system prevents this. But they can be changed by booting from a different OS or from using Live CD. If the changes made have a negative impact on the operation of the computer - for example, it refuses to boot at all, you should return the original files using the same method. Before changing important files, do not forget to make copies of them.
If you were able to rename or delete some important system files and the OS refuses to work normally, and the original versions of the files were not saved, try restoring the files from installation disk. To do this, run Windows installation, wait until the message appears: “If one of the following copies of Windows XP is damaged, the installer may attempt to repair it."
Press R, the recovery process will begin source files. This process will not affect your data. After the recovery is complete, restart your computer, the operating system will be restored.
iTunes for Apple devices automatically copying to protect the user from data loss if the device malfunctions. However, sometimes file backup takes a long period of time and it becomes necessary to disable it.
Instructions
To disable automatic copying during synchronization, you must manually adjust some parameters of the configuration files. If you are using iTunes on Windows, edit the iTunesPrefs.xml file located in the user directory in the AppData/Roaming/Apple Computer/iTunes subfolder. To go to the AppData directory, enable display hidden folders in the “Tools” window settings - “Folder Options” - “View” - “Show hidden files, folders and disks."
Copy iTunesPrefs.xml to any other folder as a backup copy, so that if you make incorrect changes, you can restore it. Open the file using any text editor(for example, Notepad). To do this, right-click on the document and select “Open with”.
Go to the User Preferences line. After the first dict block, insert the command:
While working on a computer, a user may decide that he needs to cancel an action or a given command. How to undo it will depend on what application or component it was working with.
