UNDELETE

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Supported DOS versions:	MS-DOS 5 - 6.22
How easy to use?	Easy
How safe to use?	Moderately dangerous
How common?	Fairly common
Internal or external command?	External

Description

Restores files accidentally deleted with the DEL or ERASE commands

Command Syntax

UNDELETE [filename] [/dt | /ds /dos]

filename - the name of the file(s) you wish to undelete. This can include directory names and wildcards
/dt - undeletes files that are included in the delete tracking file (produced by MIRROR)
/ds - recovers files protected by Delete Sentry (DOS 6+ only)
/dos - undeletes only files listed by DOS as deleted
/list - lists the files that can be undeleted but does not actually undelete them
/all - undeletes all files without asking for confirmation of each one. The first letter of the filename is replaced with "#" unless you use Delete Tracking or Delete Sentry
/purge[drive] - purges (deletes) all files in the Delete Sentry directory (DOS 6+ only)
/status - displays the delete protection in use fo each drive (DOS 6+ only)
/load - loads Undelete as a memory resident program (or TSR) (DOS 6+ only)
/unload unloads Undelete as a memory resident program (or TSR) (DOS 6+ only)
/s[drive] - enables the Delete Sentry method of protection on drive and loads Undelete as a TSR. If drive is omitted the current drve is assumed.
/t[drive] - enables the Delete Tracking method of protection on drive and loads Undelete as a TSR. If drive is omitted the current drve is assumed. File locations are stored in a file called \PCTRACKR.DEL.
-entries specifies the number of entries that \PCTRACKR.DEL can hold. See the table for MIRROR for more details.

Comments

The DOS 5 version of UNDELETE works in conjunction with MIRROR while the DOS 6+ version is a standalone utility with a lot more functionality. In both cases it uses technology licensed from the now defunct Central Point PC Tools which has since been replaced by Norton Utilities.

The Delete Sentry method of delete protection intercepts the DOS call for deleting files and moves the files to a hidden directory instead. This directory is not designed to be accessed directly as the filenames are changed to prevent any conflicts that may arise when two files have the same name (for example, how many files have the name README.TXT?).

UNDELETE should be used immediately after the file was deleted (unless using Delete Sentry protection) as the file's space is marked as "available" and later it may not be possible to recover the file. UNDELETE cannot undelete directories although the Windows 3.1x version can.

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