Okay, I deleted “duplicate files” using CCleaner (and registry cleaner). I have a file that was generated as a backup, but see no way to restore them. NOTHING works on my computer: no applications, folders…many missing .dll files. I know I can restore the registry files. But how do I restore the deleted duplicate files? Apparently it did not delete duplicates-it deleted duplicates and originals!
The Duplicate File finder will only delete what duplicates you have ticked.
It will not let you tick both the oringinal and the duplicate(s), there is always at least one of them unticked because it will not let you tick that last one.
So there will still always be one copy of the file remaining, you can’t delete them all using Duplicate Finder.
There is generally no need for Duplicate Finder to keep a record of what you chose to delete, there is always at least one copy left.
However I suspect that what you have actually done is deleted some/many duplicate System Files, - and you shouldn’t do that except in special, advanced use, circumstances.
You should normally only look for duplicates of your own files and leave the System Files well alone.
Duplicates of certain System Files are needed in different places, without them things may/will not work properly. (As you have now found out).
In fact System Files should be left ticked in the Duplicate Finder ‘Ignore’ section - unless you are an adanced user specifically looking for System files.
Generally unless you are an advanced user, doing a specific advanced task, then you should always leave these 4 ticked:
Unless you have saved a text file of the scan results then it’s going to be impossible to know just what you have deleted from where.
(If you did save a text file then you can find the one that is still there and copy it to where you deleted it from - a long job).
So what can you do now?
You will need to try and restore the System Files that you have mistakenly deleted.
I’m assuming that you don’t make regular image backups yourself? (That would be the easiest way to get things back how they were)
You could try to use a Windows restore point, if you are making Restore Points.
If I had to do this myself then I would first try to restore the System Image.
- Close any apps that you have open
- Open the Start Menu or the searchbox and type- cmd
- You should get this, click ‘Run as Admistrator’
- Click ‘Yes’ in the UAC warning that comes up
- In the command window that opens copy and paste the following command (or type it in carefully exacty like this):
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth - Press enter and let it run, it will take some time to restore the system image.
- Once it has finished copy/paste or type in:
sfc /scannow - Press enter and let it run, it will take some time to check and repair the system files.
- If/when it reports that it has found and fixed errors, do it again, repeat until it no longer finds any errors to fix.
- Close the command window and ‘Restart’ your machine. (that’s Restart not Shutdown).
See if things are now back working as they should be.
If none of the above helps/works then you may be faced with a ‘repair reinstall’ of Windows.
Which Windows version are you running?