We strongly encourage all Quest users to review the summary of post-maintenance changes as these changes could immediately impact your workflow after the Quest March 2025 downtime.
This document explains how to to restore previous versions of a file or folder in RDSS/FSMResFiles.
The Research Data Storage Service (RDSS) creates snapshots of files stored on the system that are kept for 28 days. Snapshots occur daily between 7 pm and midnight. This feature allows users to retrieve files that were accidentally modified or deleted with some exceptions:
- Files that were modified/deleted more than 28 days ago cannot be restored because snapshots are deleted after 28 days.
- Files that were created then modified/deleted within 24 hours may not be able to be restored because they may not have been on the file system when a snapshot occurred.
Retrieving older versions of modified/deleted files
Older versions of files can only be restored from computers running the Windows operating system. If you are using a Mac or Linux machine, you will need to use NUworkspace to complete the file restore. NUworkspace provides a virtual Windows desktop service accessible via a secure web interface. Once connected, you can access files in the Research Data Storage Service (RDSS) through the Cloud Mounter application.
The instructions below describe how to restore older versions of files or deleted files contained in snapshots on RDSS.
Connect to NUworkspace (Mac and Linux users)
Due to the limitation that files can only be restored from computers running the Windows operation system, Mac and Linux users need to connect to NUworkspace, using your Northwestern University NetID, to complete the restore process.
Once connected, you need to map RDSS to your NUworkspace environment. You can reference the NUworkspace: Mapping a RDSS Drive documentation for instructions on mapping RDSS.
View previous versions
To see the previous versions of a file that are available:
- Open a File Explorer window
- Navigate to the file or folder you want to retrieve
- Right-click on the file/folder
- Select Properties from the menu that appears.
- In the properties window, select the Previous Versions tab.
You should see a list of previous versions of the file/folder.
Select the needed version of the folder and click the Open button below the list of versions to view its contents.
Previous Versions. This content will be shown/hidden as the panel is toggled.]
Restore a previous version
If you would like to revert to a previous version of a folder.
- In the Previous Versions tab you opened in the previous steps, click the version you want to revert to.
- Click the Restore button below the version list. This will restore the contents of the entire directory.
- You will see a message warning you that the current version of the file will be replaced. Click Yes.
The current version of this directory will now match the version you selected above.
Restore a deleted file
- If you would like to retrieve a deleted file, revert to a file to a previous version, or make a copy of the previous version,
- Navigate to the folder that the file was stored in.
- Right click the folder and select Properties.
- Click on the Previous Versions tab.
- In the Previous Versions tab you opened in the previous steps, click the version you want to revert to.
- Click the Open button below the version list. This will open a new file explorer window with the previous version's contents of that folder.
- You can copy the previous version of the file(s) you want and paste the file(s) into the current folder or new location.
Need help?
If you need help with any of these instructions, email rdss-help@northwestern.edu to speak with a data management specialist.
Also see our Research Data Management Guide for links to all of our help articles.
Research Data Management Support at Northwestern University
Research computing data services partners with the Office for Research, University Libraries and Galter Health Sciences Library to provide research data management support throughout the research process. Please see the Research Data Management and Sharing page for more information.