⁦D.⁩ Recovering files

Recovering files without this program

Why

When Sigelith Backup cannot be installed, for example on a computer with another system, many years from now, or in an emergency. The backup is made so that it can be read without this program.

Before you start

The main folder of every backup contains a rescue note, “JAK ODZYSKAC DANE - HOW TO RECOVER.txt”, and a script, “odzyskaj.py”. The note describes what is in the backup and how to recover it. Open it in any text editor.

Step by step

An unencrypted backup

  1. Open the backup folder in File Explorer (on macOS in the Finder, on Linux in the file manager).
  2. Open the newest complete dated folder, for example 2026-10-27_@487. It holds the complete set of files from the moment of the backup: inside is a folder for each backup source, for example “Documents”, with the files in the same layout as on the drive.
  3. Copy the files you need to where they belong.

The program stores large files (256 MB and more) in parts. In the version folder you then see only a small file ending in “.cvrecipe”. The “odzyskaj.py” script joins such files, as with an encrypted backup, but without additional libraries (you can skip point 2 below).

An encrypted backup (files ending in “.cvlt”)

  1. Install Python version 3.8 or newer (python.org).
  2. At the command prompt, type: pip install pycryptodomex argon2-cffi
  3. At the command prompt, go to the backup folder and run the script with the name of the version folder and a destination folder, for example:

    python odzyskaj.py 2026-10-27_@487 C:\Recovered

  4. The script asks for the backup password, decrypts the files and saves them in the destination folder.

What you should see

The files in the destination folder, in their ordinary form. The files in the backup stay untouched.

What next

  • At the end, the rescue note has a list of the versions in the backup. For recovery, choose the newest complete version: an unfinished version was interrupted before it ended and holds only some of the files.

If something goes wrong

  • The “python” command does not work: Python is not installed, or adding it to the system path was not ticked during installation. Install it again with the “Add python.exe to PATH” option ticked.
  • No password: nobody can read the files of an encrypted backup without it, not even the author of the program. See “I don't remember the backup or disc password”.