Accessing Previous MyFiles Versions

The MyFiles space is automatically backed up twice each day. These backups or "snapshots" allow you to view, copy or perform self-restores from previous versions of your files or folders stored in the MyFiles space.

The self-restore feature is helpful if you inadvertently delete a needed file. It is also useful if you modify a file and need to restore from a previous version.

Note: When you restore a previous version of a file or folder, any changes made since the time of that backup are lost. Because the restore feature will overwrite the existing copy of the file or folder, we strongly recommend that you use the "View" option to first review the file, then the "Copy" feature to make another copy of the file to an alternate location.

Copy Previous File Versions

Follow these steps to view or copy previous versions of your files:

1. Log in to any Windows cluster computer with your Andrew userID and password.
2. Select Start > My Computer.
   
3. The My Computer dialog box appears. Find the network drive letter "W" and double-click on that drive to open it.
   
   
   
4. Your Desktop and Server Docs folders appear.
   • If you need to restore a file that you had stored on your Desktop, double-click Desktop to open the folder.
   • If you need to restore a file from your Server Docs folder, double-click <userID> Documents to open the folder.
     
     
     
5. To view, copy or restore a file, right-click on that specific file or directory and select Properties from the pull-down menu.
   
   
   
6. From the Properties window, select the Previous Versions tab. Files or directories and the dates that they have been backed up are listed.
   
   
   
   
7. Select the file or folder that you need and click View.
8. Review the file to be sure that it is the version that you need. Once you are sure, close the file, return to the Previous Version tab and click Copy. The Copy Items dialog box appears.
   
   
   If you're accessing a Server Docs file, you can copy it to:
   • another folder within your Server Docs folder OR
   • your Desktop OR
   • rename it and copy it to the Server Docs folder again
   
   If you're accessing a Desktop file, you can copy it to:
   • your Server Docs folder OR
   • rename it and copy it to your Desktop again
     

Restore Previous File Versions

To perform a restore of a file, follow these steps:

1. From the Previous Versions tab, select the file or folder that you want to restore and click Restore.
   
   
   
   
2. The following warning message appears. Click Yes to continue with the restore, but remember, the restore feature will OVERWRITE the existing copy of the file or folder!
   
   
   
3. The previous version of your file is overwritten and the following dialog box appears.