Copyright: © 1994-2002 Symantec Corporation. All rights reserved.
Citation: © 1994-2002 Symantec Corporation. All rights reserved.


  Introducing UnErase Wizard

UnErase Wizard helps you recover deleted files that are protected by Norton Protection, the standard Windows Recycle Bin, or Novell's Salvage (for recovery of files on a network). If a file is recoverable but cannot be recovered automatically, UnErase Wizard helps you to reconstruct it.

On Windows 98 and Windows Me, UnErase Wizard frequently recovers unprotected files as well [image] even those deleted from the Recycle Bin. Although UnErase Wizard can recover files that you did not first protect with Norton Protection, it is a good idea to enable Norton Protection to ensure successful recovery of all deleted files.

You can search for a deleted file by its filename and by words that you think the file may contain. This is especially useful if you can’t remember the filename, but you do remember its topic.

Don't use UnErase Wizard to recover and overwrite files that have existing copies in use by either the system or running applications. Examples include SYSTEM.DAT, USER.DAT, applications' Registry (.DAT) files, and any applications or DLLs in the Windows System folder.

In many cases, Norton Protection saves files that are overwritten with newer versions. This lets you retrieve earlier versions of the overwritten files.

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Shows the name of the file. If multiple files are selected, describes the selected files.


Shows the type of the file. The type is determined by the file extension (the characters following the last period in the filename).


Shows the number of bytes in the file. If multiple files are selected, shows the total bytes in the selected files.


Shows the location of the file before it was deleted.


Shows the MS-DOS name of the file, which may be different from the Windows filename. MS-DOS imposes more restrictions on filenames than Windows. For example, MS-DOS filenames are limited to a maximum size of eight characters followed by a period and three final characters.


Shows what attributes are set for this file. Up to four attributes can be set:

Archive [image] File has not been backed up since it was last modified.

Read-only [image] File can be read but not modified.

Hidden [image] File is normally hidden from view.

System [image] File is a Windows, DOS, or other system-related file. System files are normally hidden from view.


Shows when this file was created.


Shows when this file was last modified.


Shows when this file was last opened.


Shows when this file was deleted.


Shows the name of the application used to delete this file, if known. If the file is under Recycle Bin protection, the name of the application is always Explorer.


Indicates whether this file is under Norton Protection, Recycle Bin protection, Novell Salvage protection, or no protection.


Indicates that this file is either recoverable (still intact on the disk) or unrecoverable (partially or completely overwritten on the disk).


Determines whether the Introduction screen is displayed the next time you start UnErase Wizard.


Tells UnErase Wizard to look for the names of the last 25 files that were deleted.


Tells UnErase Wizard to look for the names of all protected files on your local drive [image] those protected by Norton Protection, Recycle Bin, or Novell Salvage.


Tells UnErase Wizard to look for the names of any files it can recover, matching criteria you specify.


Displays the name of the folder the file was in when that file was deleted.


Displays all files that met the selection criteria: all recently deleted files, all files protected on this computer, all deleted files matching your custom criteria, or all deleted files found in disk space that is marked as "unused."


Displays the content of the selected file, using the Windows Quick View program. This is faster than opening the file with the application that originally created it.

You can also right-click a filename and choose Quick View from the context menu.


Undeletes the selected file and puts it back in its original location.

You can specify a place other than the original location by right-clicking the file and clicking Recover To on the context menu.


Lets you specify the filename for which you want to search. If you don't know the full name of the file, use wildcards (* and ?) to substitute for characters in the filename. If you don't know the filename or any part of it, leave this text box blank.


Lets you specify the type of file to search for. The type is determined by the file extension (the characters following the last period in the filename).


Lets you specify words (or a character string) to search for. If you don’t know the file type or name, but know something of the contents of the file, try this search method.


Specifies that UnErase Wizard must find at least one of the words or character strings you specified in order to consider a deleted file a match for your search criteria.


Specifies that UnErase Wizard must find all of the words or character strings you specified in order to consider a deleted file a match for your search criteria.


If checked, UnErase Wizard will search for deleted files in subfolders (folders that are within the specified folder).


Lets you specify the place (drive or folder) where the file is located.

Click the plus sign (+) to expand a drive or folder.


Stops the current search immediately. This may result in a partial listing of files matching your search criteria.


   To exclude or include file types or folders

This option lists all file types and folders not under Norton Protection. To save space, you can configure Norton Protection to exclude certain file types or folders from protection. You can also specify file types or folders to include in protection as you find it necessary.

In the text field, you can specify a folder or a file type that you do not want placed under Norton Protection:

For a folder, enter the complete path in the field below: the drive letter followed by a colon, a backslash, the folder name, and the name of each subfolder separated by a backslash (for example, c:\work\junk).

For a file type, enter the complete path followed by an asterisk (*) and the file extension (for example, c:\work\budget\*.old).

Note that any subfolders, under folders you specify, are also excluded from Norton Protection.

Insert: Lets you add a file or folder to the list of those not under Norton Protection. This command button is not available until you have entered text in the text box to the left.

Remove: Deletes the selected line from the exclusion list for Norton Protection. This command button is not available until you have selected an item from the list box.

Defaults: Resets the list to show those file types excluded from Norton Protection by default. This will remove any custom inclusions or exclusion you have added.

The default exclusions depend on what is installed on your system.


When set, this option causes UnErase Wizard to open when you double-click the Recycle Bin.


When set, this option causes UnErase Wizard to open to a list of recently deleted files when you double-click the Recycle Bin.


When set, this option causes UnErase Wizard to open to a list of all deleted files that are under either Norton Protection or Windows Recycle Bin protection when you double-click the Recycle Bin.


When set, this option causes the contents of the Recycle Bin to be displayed when you double-click the Recycle Bin.


Determines the text that appears below the Recycle Bin.


If checked, the Recycle Bin icon shows whether Norton Protection is enabled, and if so, whether there are currently any protected files in the Recycle Bin.


Lets you select the drive for which you want to configure Norton Protection features.


If checked, enables Norton Protection for the selected drive.


If checked, Norton Protection removes files from protection after the specified number of days has elapsed. The number of days is counted from when the file was deleted. The file is then purged from the Norton Protection, making the file "really" deleted.

To change the duration of file protection, enter a number in the box at the right or click the arrows to change the value.

Norton Protection does not purge files from the Windows Recycle Bin.

Note: The Windows 2000/XP operating systems only track ownership and rights on NTFS volumes. With NTFS volumes, you are told how many files are yours before you purge them. If you delete a file on a FAT/FAT32 drive, the system does not differentiate between your files and those belonging to another user. When you purge your files, the system also purges all the files to which the other user has access, which includes all files on FAT/FAT32 volumes.


Lets you control how much drive space Norton Protection can use to protect deleted files. As you move the slider, the Space Reserved number changes.


Displays the total number of bytes of storage space on this drive.


Displays the number of bytes on this drive that Norton Protection can use to protect deleted files. This number changes as you move the slider.


Lets you specify the folders and file types that Norton Protection is not to protect.


Removes all files from Norton Protection, making the files "really" deleted.

This does not purge files from the Windows Recycle Bin.

Note: The Windows 2000/XP operating systems only track ownership and rights on NTFS volumes. With NTFS volumes, you are told how many files are yours before you purge them. If you delete a file on a FAT/FAT32 drive, the system does not differentiate between your files and those belonging to another user. When you purge your files, the system also purges all the files to which the other user has access, which includes all files on FAT/FAT32 volumes.


Removes Norton Protection from your system. Subsequently, Norton Protection will not be activated automatically at system startup. To enable Norton Protection again, use the Norton Protection tab of the Recycle Bin Properties.


Removes protection from the currently protected files when Norton Protection is removed. If you check this option, these files will no longer be under Norton Protection.

This change does not affect the protected files in the Windows Recycle Bin.


Lets you specify a folder or a file type that you do not want placed under Norton Protection:

For a folder, enter the complete path in the field below: the drive letter followed by a colon, a backslash, the folder name, and the name of each subfolder separated by a backslash (for example, c:\work\junk).

For a file type, enter the complete path followed by an asterisk (*) and the file extension (for example, c:\work\budget\*.old).

Note that any subfolders, under folders you specify, are also excluded from Norton Protection.


Lists all file types and folders not under Norton Protection.


Lets you add a file or folder to the list of those not under Norton Protection. This command button is not available until you have entered text in the text box to the left.


Deletes the selected line from the exclusion list for Norton Protection. This command button is not available until you have selected an item from the list box.


Resets the list to show those file types excluded from Norton Protection by default. This will remove any custom inclusions or exclusion you have added.

The default exclusions depend on what is installed on your system.


Tells UnErase Wizard to look for the names of all protected files (those protected by Norton Protection or by the Recycle Bin) for all users.

 This option is an administrator privilege only.


Displays all deleted files that met the selection criteria that you specified.


Displays the names of all protected files (those protected by Norton Protection or by the Recycle Bin) for all users.

 This option is an administrator privilege only.


  Could not open program

The program is not installed or has been moved from the folder in which it was installed.

To properly install the missing program, run Setup again.


   Welcome to UnErase Wizard

UnErase Wizard helps you recover deleted files that are protected by Norton Protection, the standard Windows Recycle Bin, or Novell's Salvage (for recovery of files on a network). If a file is recoverable but cannot be recovered automatically, UnErase Wizard can help you reconstruct it.

Choose which files you want UnErase Wizard to search for from this screen.

Find recently deleted files

Search for the last 25 files that were deleted regardless of whether or not they were protected by the Norton Protected Recycle Bin. If you don’t find the file you’re looking for, you can continue searching for all protected files. This option is available on Windows 98 and Windows Me.

Find all protected files on local drives

Search for all files protected by the Recycle Bin and by Norton Protection. The latter are files you normally can not recover from the Recycle Bin [image] for example, overwritten files or files deleted from the command prompt.

Find any recoverable files matching your criteria

Search for files based on criteria you select, including filename, file type, file location, or file contents. This option also allows you to search for "unrecoverable files." These are deleted files whose data may still be located in unused disk space.

Find all Norton Protected Users files

Search for other users' protected files as well as your own. This option is available on Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

If you chose to wipe free space when Speed Disk optimized your drives, UnErase Wizard will not find data from files that were deleted before you ran Speed Disk.

UnErase Wizard will not find data from files that were wiped with Wipe Info.

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   All protected files on this computer

UnErase Wizard displays the list of all files protected by the Recycle Bin and by Norton Protection on this screen. Each file is described by its name, original location, date it was deleted, file type, file size, and the program that was used to delete it.

To add other columns of information to the display, right-click the file list box (but not on a filename) and choose items from the context menu.

More Info


   View the online User's Guide

There is no context-sensitive help for this item. Click here to open the online User's Guide.