The ShadowExplorer application was a designed help you browse the shadow copies created by the Windows Vista Volume Shadow Copy Service. It's especially thought for users of the home editions, who don't have access to the shadow copies by default, but it's also useful for users of the other editions.
From time to time, Windows Vista creates point-in-time copies of your files. This allows you to retrieve older versions from files you accidentally deleted or altered. This service is turned on by default on all versions of Windows Vista, but Microsoft grants access to these copies only in Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise editions. This is where ShadowExplorer comes into play.
Here are some key features of "ShadowExplorer":
- Show available point-in-time copies
- Browse through Shadow Copies
- Retrieve versions of files and folders
Limitations:
- Shadow Copies and ShadowExplorer are in no way a replacement for regular backups! This is very important and can't be stressed enough. A Shadow Copy is kept on the same disc as the original data. In case of a disc failure all data is lost, including the Shadow Copies. ShadowExplorer is a good addition to regular backups, but not a replacement.
- Improved dialog boxes
- Improved Windows 8 compatibility
