What is Selective file restore

During the process of backup, we can back up a lot of files, such as, back up all partitions on a disk to an image file, back up all data of partition E. With the function of "selective file restore", you can restore parts of the files based on your needs. Here comes an example as follows:

In my computer, Drive D is used to store my work-related documents. After two years, there are already plenty of important work-related data in Partition D. Meanwhile, I have made a complete backup of D: with AOMEI backup tool. Today I deleted item "D:\projects\case1" accidentally, so that I have to restore Drive D. However, I just want to restore the deleted item "case1". Right now, the function of "selective file restore" can complete this task perfectly.

Before the introduction of how to restore selective files with AOMEI Backupper, you can click the following links to learn how to make a backup excellently:

Selective file restore by using AOMEI Backupper

Operating principle: AOMEI Backupper provides an approach to realize selective file restore. That is "Image File Explorer". The image files can be mounted as a virtual partition by this software, and these virtual partitions are similar to those partitions like C:, D:, etc. For example, if you mount the image file as Drive Z, you can access Drive Z from "My Computer", and to explore the files on this partition. Through the functions of "Copy" and "Paste", you can copy any file to other partitions. That is the operating principle of "Selective Files Restore".

Then, it will be the detailed operating steps of "Selective Files Restore". Please note that you should have created a backup in advance.

Step1. First, download AOMEI's software, and select a backed up image file, and there are two methods.

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Method 1: Click "Home" tab, and then select a backup task that you want to restore. Click the three horizontal lines button > "Advanced" > "Explore Image" option under the "Advanced" item.

Explore Image Home

Method 2: select "Explore Image" option under the "Tools" option.

Explore Image

And then, select a backup task, and click "Next". (You can also browse a path to open the image file that needs to be explored.)

Select Backup Image

Step 2. Select a backup point in the "Backup Point" page, and then click "Next".

Select Backup Point

Step 3. In the "Explore Image" page, tick the blank box that you want to explore and select a drive letter for it, and then click "Next". 

Assign Drive Letter

Step 4. Click "Finish" when the operation is done.

Step 5. You can access the the virtual partition through "My Computer". The operation of selective file restore can be completed by copying files to other existing partitions with the Windows built-in functions of "copy" and "paste". 

Tip: after the operations have been done and the files have been copied to other partitions, you can detach these partition by clicking "Tools" -> "Explore Image" option again.

Detach

The operations of selective files restore are so simple. If you want to know the methods of other restore any further, you can learn from the tutorials as below: