An overwritten file is an easy mistake to make, but can be very difficult to undo. This generally happens when you have a saved file on your computer, and then you save another file with the same name. The system will usually prompt you, asking if you are sure you want to overwrite the original document. If you select “yes” at this point, there very well may not be any going back to change your decision. There are a few ways to recover overwritten files, but you should not be surprised it the turn out is you losing your work.

The most common way to recover overwritten files is to use a third party data recovery software. Active@ Undelete is one of the most popular programs available for this purpose, and they have been known to help computer users restore overwritten files on their hard drive. The program offers a free scan in which you can search for the original file before purchasing the software to actually retrieve it. This can save you lots of time and money, and possibly avoid a headache.

If software proves unhelpful in your situation, you may want to seek the assistance of a data recovery company. They can sometimes tap into areas of your hard drive where overwritten files may be written to. The downfall to this route is that these services are usually not cheap. However, if your job or education is on the line, it may be the only choice you have.