ICT creates a backup of all files kept on Cabinet. This is done on a nightly basis and files are available for retrieval for up to six weeks. Please note that any file you create and delete within the same day will not be part of the overnight backup and therefore cannot be restored.
If you have deleted a file and would like to restore it to the most recent backed-up version, or if you would like to return to an earlier version of a file, you can access all previous versions backed up in the past six weeks:
Information for users who wish to restore data after they have left the University of Saskatchewan.
Restoring Files from Windows
You can restore your files yourself using the 'Previous Versions' functionality in Windows.
- Map a drive to Cabinet.
- Click Start and then Computer.
- Right-click on the Cabinet mapped drive and select Restore Previous Versions to open the Previous Versions window. (On Windows XP, select Properties and then select the Previous Versions tab)
- Select the date of the previous version of your folder that you wish to restore from and click Open.
- Once you have clicked the Open button, an Explorer window will open with the date and time you are restoring from. Browse through your folders and files to locate the files or folders you wish to restore.
- Select the files or folders you wish to restore. Right-Click and choose Copy.
- Switch back to the Explorer window showing your mapped drive to Cabinet. Browse to the folder where you want to locate your restored files. Right-Click and choose Paste.
- Your data has been restored.
Note that you can open the previous version of a file and use copy and paste to recover a portion of a file if that's all you need to get back.
Using 'restore.usask.ca' from Non-Windows computers and from Off-Campus
Macintosh and Linux users can restore their own files by connecting to 'restore.usask.ca' using Remote Desktop Connection software. Off-campus Windows users may also want to use this service.
Using 'restore.usask.ca' from a Macintosh
- Download and install the Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac.
- Download and save the Remote Desktop Connection for Restore.usask.ca. Opening this file will start the Remote Desktop Connection Client and connect to 'restore.usask.ca'.
- Click 'Connect' to confirm that you want to connect.
- Login using your NSID and password.
- A window will open displaying a Microsoft Windows desktop. Follow the on-screen instructions for restoring files using Previous Versions.
Using 'restore.usask.ca' from a Linux computer
- Download and install a Remote Desktop client for your Linux computer such as rdesktop. Rdesktop is available as an RPM for Red Had, CentOS, and Fedora and as packages for Ubuntu.
- Use rdesktop to connect to 'restore.usask.ca'.
- Login using your NSID and password.
- Follow the on-screen instructions for restoring files using Previous Versions.
Using 'restore.usask.ca' from an Off-Campus Windows computer
- Download and save the Remote Desktop Connection for Restore.usask.ca. Opening this file will start the Remote Desktop Connection Client and connect to 'restore.usask.ca'.
- Login using your NSID and password.
- Follow the instructions for restoring files using Previous Versions.
File Recovery after Leaving the University
In the event that you are no longer a student or employee of the University your Cabinet files are archived.
Cabinet Archives: When you are no longer eligible for the Cabinet service as a student, faculty, or employee, your Cabinet data will be archived. Eighteen months after you are no longer affiliated with the U of S, your archived files will no longer be retrievable.
Please contact the Help Desk for assistance with file recovery after leaving the University.
