Accidently tried to delte a few programs and really lost most of apps and lot of operating system.. where to begin recovery?

To begin recovery after accidentally deleting files and programs on your Windows 11 laptop, you can try the following steps:

1. Check the Recycle Bin: The first step is to check your Recycle Bin. If the files were deleted recently, they might still be there. You can restore them by right-clicking on the files and selecting "Restore."
2. Use File History: If you had File History enabled, you can restore previous versions of your files. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup, and check if File History is set up. If it is, you can access it to restore lost files.
3. System Restore: Since you mentioned not having a restore point prior to the deletion, this option might not be available. However, if you set up System Restore in the future, it can help you revert your system to a previous state without losing personal files.
4. Recovery Options: If the above methods do not work, you might consider using the Push-button reset feature to restore Windows. This will reinstall Windows while keeping your personal files intact, but it will remove apps and settings. To do this, go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, and select "Reset this PC."
5. Data Recovery Software: If the files are not in the Recycle Bin and you cannot restore them using the above methods, you may need to use third-party data recovery software. There are various options available that can help recover deleted files, but they may require installation on another device if your system is compromised.
6. Professional Help: If you are not comfortable performing these steps, consider seeking help from a family member or a professional technician who can assist you in recovering your lost data.

It's important to regularly back up your files and create restore points to prevent data loss in the future.

References:

• Restoring the system
• How push-button reset features work

Hi Sheila, I can see how that situation would feel overwhelming. It sounds like a lot of system files were deleted, which is why Windows looks broken and apps are missing. When files tied to the operating system are removed, the computer can’t run properly, and restoring without a previous restore point won’t work. The easiest way forward is to use Windows’ built-in recovery. Go to Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC, then choose Keep my files so your personal documents stay safe while Windows reinstalls itself and brings back the default apps. Before doing that, check your Recycle Bin. If the deleted files are still there, you can restore them. If you had important files, do you remember if they were backed up to OneDrive or an external drive?

Check the box "Show more restore points". Even an older restore point is better than none.

Check to see if your settings, apps, etc. have been backed up in Windows Backup:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/back-up-and-restore-with-windows-backup-87a81f8a-78fa-456e-b521-ac0560e32338