| Subject: Lost all documents |
| Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.file_management |
| Date: 6/20/2008 8:57:00 PM |
| From: =?Utf-8?B?QnJpbGF1cmVuaQ==?= [Email Address Protection] |
I stupidly did not save my documents, emails and contacts prior to installing Vista OS. Instead of Upgrading, I installed the entire system!! Have I lost everything?! Is there any way any of my documents could be on the hard drive? I have tried doing that windows.old thing but when I type it into the "search", I get nothing. |
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| Subject: Re: Lost all documents |
| Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.file_management |
| Date: 6/21/2008 4:33:46 AM |
| From: Malke [Email Address Protection] |
Brilaureni wrote: > I stupidly did not save my documents, emails and contacts prior to > installing > Vista OS. Instead of Upgrading, I installed the entire system!! Have I > lost > everything?! Is there any way any of my documents could be on the hard > drive? I have tried doing that windows.old thing but when I type it into > the "search", I get nothing. We won't waste any time beating you up about not backing up since you are doing that all by yourself. ;-) When this is all over, create and implement a regular backup strategy because Stuff Happens. Now, take a deep cleansing breath.... General data recovery information: *IMPORTANT* - If you think the drive is physically healthy, it may be possible to retrieve the data by software methods. DO NOTHING FURTHER ON THE DRIVE. The data is still on the hard drive but if you overwrite it, it will be extremely difficult or impossible to recover it. If you use data recovery software, install it on another machine and either use it from that operating system or create a bootable cd/floppy and work with that. If you don't have the skill and/or equipment to do these procedures and the data is crucial, take the machine to a professional computer repair shop that has experience in doing data recovery. This will not be your local version of BigStoreUSA. In-shop data recovery is usually not exactly cheap (for ex., my charges are generally $150-350USD), but it normally costs less than sending the drive to a company like Drive Savers. You need to make the determination of the value of your data and decide what to do. If the data is important and money isn't a big issue, send the drive to a professional data recovery company like Drive Savers (my preference) or Seagate Data Recovery. General prices run from $500USD on up. Drive Savers recovered all the data on a failed laptop drive for one of my clients and it cost $2,700. He thought it was worth the money; only you know what your data is worth. I understand that some insurance companies are now covering data recovery charges so check with yours. Drive Savers - http://www.drivesavers.com Seagate Data Recovery Services - https://www.seagatedatarecovery.com/ If you want to try doing the data recovery yourself, here are some links to various programs. I use Easy Recovery Pro, but it is expensive. People whom I respect have recommended R-Studio and Restoration. YMMV. http://www3.telus.net/mikebike/RESTORATION.html PCInspector File Recovery - http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/welcome.htm Executive Software ?Undelete? - http://www.undelete.com/undelete/undelete.asp R-Studio - http://www.r-tt.com/ File Scavenger - http://www.quetek.com/prod02.htm Ontrack's EasyRecovery - http://www.ontrack.com/software/ Malke -- MS-MVP Elephant Boy Computers www.elephantboycomputers.com Don't Panic! |
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| Subject: Re: Lost all documents |
| Group: microsoft.public.windows.vista.file_management |
| Date: 6/21/2008 5:42:23 PM |
| From: Malke [Email Address Protection] |
Brilaureni wrote: > I just wanted to say thank you to Malke - I took my laptop to Best Buy - > they found all of my documents including my contacts and emails and > restored > everything to Vista! These discussion groups are great and Malke - your > da' > best! :-) I'm astounded that Best Buy was able to do the job - I wouldn't trust them to put a hotdog on a bun successfully let alone do computer work - but hey, it worked for you and that's all that counts. I'm really happy for you. Now buy yourself an external hard drive and some DVD-Rs and back up regularly. Cheers, Malke -- MS-MVP Elephant Boy Computers www.elephantboycomputers.com Don't Panic! |
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