Adding Undelete to the Windows 3.1 File Manager

• Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

Microsoft Windows File Manager can support an Undelete command using a third-party add-on extension. When such an extension is installed, an Undelete menu command becomes available under the File menu of File Manager.

MORE INFORMATION

For File Manager to show the Undelete command, a third-party extension dynamic link library (DLL) utility is required. By default, the File Manager searches the Windows system directory (for example, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM) for an extension DLL. File Manager looks in a different directory if the extension DLL path is specified by the token UNDELETE.DLL in the [Settings] section of the WINFILE.INI file. A third-party application either copies its extension DLL into the Windows system directory or modifies the WINFILE.INI file during its installation.

If this file is found and contains the program code to undelete files, then File Manager displays the Undelete command under the Delete command in the File menu. Whenever you select the Undelete command, the File Manager calls the extension DLL to perform the Undelete command.

To add or modify a third-party extension DLL that provides an undelete functionality, do the following:

1. Open the WINFILE.INI file located in the Windows directory.

2. Add or modify the following line under the [Settings] section, replacing <filename> with the location of the extension DLL:

         UNDELETE.DLL=<filename>
   

3. Save the file and restart File Manager for the changes to take effect.