How to Recover Overwritten Videos on Windows [For PC]

Have you ever accidentally overwritten a video file on your Windows computer and wished you could retrieve it? You're not the only one this has happened to. Many people face this issue and try to find ways to get back their important videos.

Fortunately, there are ways to recover overwritten videos on Windows, depending on what has occurred. In this article, we'll discuss why video files get overwritten, how to prevent it, and methods to retrieve your videos using various tools and techniques.

1. Recover Video Files with Data Recovery Software

Losing videos on your Windows computer, whether deleted or overwritten, can be frustrating. The good news is that there's a solution. You can use software to get them back. One handy tool is the Data Recovery Wizard, designed to help users restore lost files.

Most people assume that if they accidentally (or intentionally) delete a video, or it gets overwritten, it's gone for good. The app has several standout features.

• It can be helpful in such situations. It works on both Windows 10 and 11, not only to recover videos, but also documents, images, emails, and many other file types.
• It has cross-device problem-solving capabilities. Whether you need to recover data from a laptop, SSD, USB drive, or an external hard drive, the software is designed to efficiently accomplish the recovery task.
• Its user-friendly interface ensures that even beginners can easily navigate through the recovery process.

Here, we take SD card video recovery as an example:

Step 1: Launch the SD Card Recovery software. On the left, select “SD Card Recovery.” This will display all connected disks. Select your SD card and click “Scan.”

Step 2: After the scan is finished, choose "Video" from the left side. Go to "Lost" or "All" to find the video you need. Check the found videos and hit "Preview".

Step 3: Choose the video files you want to recover. Click “Restore” to save them to another secure location on your computer or an external storage device.

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2. Recover Overwritten Videos with Previous Versions

The "Previous Versions" feature in Windows is a file backup and recovery tool that can help you restore an older version of a file or folder. If you're lucky, you might be able to recover your video from one of the versions.

Step 1: Navigate to the directory where the video file is replaced.

Step 2: Right-click on the file or folder and choose "Restore previous versions."

Step 4: A window will open showing a list of all the accessible versions.

Click “OK” and “Apply.”

Step 6: This will restore your video folder or file.

3. Recover Overwritten Videos from Backup

If you have a backup of your Windows computer on an external hard drive, you can recover the overwritten file from there. This can be a hard drive connected to the computer, or a wireless hard drive that the system has access to.

Scanning from the disk is a more reliable way to do this, as it covers all files on a Windows PC, not just those in a particular app.

Step 1: Open Control Panel and under System and Security, choose Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

Step 2: Choose “Recover my files.”

Step Three: Locate the backup file, then click “Next.” Select the files you want to restore, then click “Next.”

Step 4: Choose where you want to save the recovered file, then click "Restore."

Restoring Overwritten Video - User Scenario Let's imagine a user named Mr. Li who encounters an issue while editing an important home video. Mr. Li uses a video editing software on his computer and repeatedly saves the file as he makes modifications. However, during the final save, he accidentally selects the "overwrite save" option, which replaces the original unedited video with the latest version. Upon realizing his mistake, Mr. Li becomes anxious, as the original video contains irreplaceable moments like his child's first steps and family gatherings. He did not have a backup of the file, so it seems that the original video is now permanently lost. In this situation, Mr. Li starts searching for a solution to recover the overwritten video. He first tries to restore the file from the recycle bin but finds that it has been emptied. He then learns that there are professional data recovery tools that can help retrieve overwritten or deleted files. Mr. Li downloads and uses a reputable data recovery software such as Recuva or tools Data Recovery Wizard. These programs scan the hard drive for fragmented information, attempting to reconstruct deleted or overwritten files. Following the software's instructions, he selects the scanning location (the hard drive partition where the video was originally stored) and initiates a deep scan. After some time, the software discovers several recoverable file fragments. Mr. Li is fortunate to find that one of these fragments partially matches the content of his original video. He previews the segment and confirms that it is indeed the lost original video. Mr. Li purchases a license for the software to unlock the full file recovery capabilities. The software successfully recovers the overwritten video file onto his computer, although some parts might be damaged or incomplete. Nonetheless, he manages to salvage most of the precious content. Through this experience, Mr. Li learns the importance of regularly backing up important files and decides to make a copy of the original file before editing significant videos in the future to prevent accidental overwriting.

Imagine you've put a lot of effort into creating a video project for school or work. You've spent hours editing and perfecting it. However, while trying to save it on your computer, you accidentally name it the same as another video in the folder. Ouch! This results in the file being overwritten. Now, you might be wondering how to recover your video.

This is a situation that can happen to anyone using a Windows operating system and having video files. Video overlay can manifest in several ways, such as:

• Saving a video with an existing name
• Moving a video to a location where another video with the same name already exists
• Modifying a video using software that doesn't create a backup
• Deleting video files by formatting or cleaning the storage device
• Using a tool that permanently deletes video files

When video is overwritten, that means new information has been written over the old data. Usually, this makes the old data irrecoverable, unless you have a backup.

Still, new data can sometimes be stored in such a way that the original data remains but is hidden. In some cases, special software can be used to recover it.

Final Thoughts

I trust this guide on file recovery has provided you with valuable insights. Losing data can be immensely frustrating, but by employing effective techniques, you can retrieve your lost files. One crucial method is to always have system backups enabled.

You might consider using the recommended tool, "Data Recovery Wizard," as an option for file recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions About Recovering Overwritten Videos

Here are some of the questions people often ask about recovering overwritten videos.

1. Can I recover overwritten video files?

Recovering overwritten video files or restoring permanently deleted videos can be quite challenging. When data is overwritten, the original content is replaced, making recovery difficult. However, specialized recovery tools might have some success in locating residual traces of the previous file. The likelihood of success depends on factors like the type of storage, usage after overwriting, and the size of the file.

To maximize the chances of recovery, the device should be immediately disconnected from power and a professional data-recovery service consulted. Regular backups remain the most reliable safeguard against permanent data loss.

2. Can a file be recovered if it has been overwritten?

It really depends on the specifics. A file is considered overwritten when new data is saved in the location of the original file.

This usually happens when the storage device has no space left. In some cases, the original file may be lost for good. However, in other instances, the new data is stored elsewhere, preserving the file, even though it's no longer visible.

In some cases, data recovery software might be able to restore the file. Alternatively, you could explore using a versioning system or cloning tool to revert the file to a previous state.

3. Is the file gone forever?

Not necessarily. If you've accidentally overwritten the files, they may still be recoverable as long as the new data hasn't completely replaced them. Your chances of recovery decrease as more data is added to the storage device. It's important to stop using the device immediately and attempt to recover the files with software or from a backup. Once you've permanently erased the files with a disk-wiping utility, they're gone for good.

4. Can I recover an overwritten photo?

Photos work the same as any other file. If new data has overwritten your photos, they're gone for good. But if your photos are still on the device and marked as deleted, you may be able to recover them with photo recovery software.

Or, if you back up your photos to a cloud service or another device, you may be able to recover them from there. It's important to act quickly and not add any more content to the device that stores your photos.