Is there any way to restore/recover the previous version of a file that was saved over?

Question

I just wrote an extensive essay, ironically the last one of my academic career, and then, for the first time in my life, saved over it with an empty document by accident.Is all hope lost? Is there any way to restore it to its last version?

Answer 1

If you used version control software than the answer is yes, otherwise it's probably a no, unless you have a backup of your file before it was modified.