Patent ID: 8473461

Claim:
A computer implemented method for restoring damaged files to their original condition, the method comprising the steps of: maintaining recoverable file information and file content concerning a plurality of files; responsive to detecting a damaged file on a computer system, utilizing recoverable file information to identify a version of the file to be restored; searching for a non-damaged, local copy of the version of the file to be restored on the computer system; examining the computer system and determining whether the damaged file to be restored is licensed for use thereon by confirming the presence of a peer set of configuration files, the peer set of configuration files comprising other applications licensed with a particular version of the file; and responsive to the damaged file being licensed, performing at least one additional step to restore the damaged file to its original condition, the specific at least one additional step being selected responsive to the results of the searching step, wherein responsive to not finding a non-damaged, local copy of the version of the file to be restored on the computer system, creating a difference file which identifies each of the sections of the damaged file that differ from a non-damaged version thereof, and using the difference file and appropriate maintained file content to rebuild only damaged sections of the damaged file, thereby restoring it to its original condition.