How to Run a Small Restore Test for a Photo Backup
By ImgHeal · Updated
Verify that important files can be recovered rather than relying only on backup status messages.
Choose representative files
Select a source master, a restored export, an index, and an editing project if one is important. Include files from different dates or folders. Restore into a separate test location so you do not overwrite the working archive.
Open and compare
Check that images open at expected dimensions and that the index still points to recognizable identifiers. Compare file sizes or checksums when appropriate. A visible thumbnail does not prove the full-resolution file is available and intact.
Record the recovery steps
Write down which backup was used, what was restored, and any software needed to open it. Resolve missing dependencies or files while the working source remains available. Repeat after a major storage migration or a change to the backup method.
Check before you finish
- Restore to a separate location.
- Open full files rather than only thumbnails.
Further reading
- National Archives: Digitizing Family Papers and PhotographsBackground on retaining originals, recording metadata, file naming, and independent backups.
Continue with a related guide
Try a restoration on a copy of your photo
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