Do you want to know how to recover deleted files from Server 2008? This post is all about Windows Server data recovery, including from backups, the Recycle Bin, and using third-party software.
Accidentally deleted a folder of files from my Windows Server 2008. Is it possible to recover these files? I would be grateful if anyone could help me with how to recover deleted files from Server 2008.
Yes, it is. When it comes to data loss, accidental deletion is often the most common cause. Loss of important data can be devastating; therefore, we have repeatedly emphasized the importance of data backup. It is easy to recover deleted Windows files. How to recover deleted files in Windows Server 2008 or the latest Windows Server 2025?
Windows Server 2008 is the fourth release of the Windows Server operating system produced by Microsoft. It is built from the same code base as Windows Vista and is the predecessor of Windows Server 2008 R2. If you have deleted important files on Server 2008, don’t worry. There are several methods on how to recover deleted files on Windows Server 2008/ 2008 R2.
As with the Windows operating system, when you delete a file from Windows Server, the file is not completely gone unless it is overwritten by new data.
Additionally, with the release of Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft has provided Recycle Bin recovery to help you restore accidentally deleted files and folders. Follow the detailed guide below to address how to recover deleted files in Windows Server 2008R2 and Windows Server 2008.
If the Recycle Bin is available on your Windows Server, you could refer to the steps below to restore deleted data with simple steps:
Step 1. Open the Recycle Bin from the Desktop
Open Recycle Bin from your Windows Server 2008/ 2008 R2 desktop and you can see all the deleted files.
Step 2. Right-click the target files you want to recover, then click "Restore".
All deleted files will be displayed here. Locate and right-click the target files you want to recover and click Restore.
How to recover deleted files from Windows Server 2008 from Recycle Bin is easy. However, if your deleted files are not stored in Recycle Bin but are completely deleted or Recycle Bin is not available on your Windows Server, the method below is the only method that you can apply to retrieve the deleted data.
If you have enabled Windows backup or a created system restore, the previous versions of the deleted files may still be on your computer. Therefore, you can restore files from previous versions to get them back. Here is how to retrieve deleted files in Server 2008/ 2008 R2 from previous versions.
Step 1. Navigate to the folder or hard drive that contains the deleted files, right-click on it, and choose Properties.
Step 2. On the pop-up Properties interface, head to Previous Versions.
Step 3. Select the latest saved file version from the previous versions, and click Restore. If you don’t have any backup, there would be no previous versions. You should turn to other recovery solutions to recover deleted Windows Server files.
As we mentioned earlier, completely deleted files can still be recovered as long as they are not overwritten. What you need is a reliable data recovery utility. MyRecover is professional recovery software that can help you scan and recover any lost files or folders on Windows servers without backups and Recycle Bin. With an easy-to-use interface, its data recovery process is simple even for novices.
✨ You can check its recovery features below: High recovery rate: Equipped with a powerful scanning algorithm, it can find and recover data comprehensively and quickly. Flexible recovery: It can cope with various file loss situations. For example, you are allowed to recover files from ransomware attacks, empty Recycle Bin, format hard disks, etc. Wide compatibility: It works well with Windows Server 2025/2022/2019/2016/2012 (R2)/2008 (R2), and all Windows operating systems.
How to recover permanently deleted files in Windows Server 2008 (R2) with this useful recovery tool is guided as follows.
Step 1. Install and run the recovery wizard on your computer. Hover the mouse over the drive where you lost or deleted files, and then click Scan.
Step 2. It will start scanning all lost files. Locate the files you want to recover under Delete Files. You can also search for a file/folder name or use the file filter to find them directly.
Step 3. Select the wanted items, and click Recover x files to save them in a secure path to recover permanently deleted files without backup.
How to recover deleted files from Server 2008/ 2008 (R2) is listed foregoing. If you want to completely prevent file loss, the best way is to backup in advance. If you want to completely prevent file loss, the best way is to back them up in advance.
The best professional backup software - AOMEI Backupper allows you to create Windows Server backups with a few clicks. It offers scheduled backups, and you can back up the Server to an external hard drive, network location, and multiple storage devices.
Step 1. Download and launch AOMEI Backupper Server, select the backup option you want from System Backup, Disk Backup, Partition Backup, and File Backup. Here, we take System Backup as an example.
Step 2. Choose a destination to save the Server system backup.
Step 3. Click Start Backup to create a Server system backup easily.
How to recover deleted files from Server 2008 (R2) in three methods is explained in detail above. Although there is a good chance that deleted files can be recovered, we recommend that you back up Windows Server in time to prevent further data loss completely.