Help - all hardrive files lost!

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

info@fireflyuk.org (Ellie) wrote in comp.sys.laptops:

> I just restored my Windows XP laptop to the factory settings, and
> somehow I didn't create a backup of my files first.. don't ask.
> Windows wasn't reinstalled so the disk wasn't reformatted, just rolled
> back to an earlier version. There is defintely no up-to-date backup
> copy. Any idea on how to recover all my files?? Please help! It has
> about 5 years of our charities' files on it. Thanks so much, Ellie
>


Restoration 2.5.14 is a freeware recovery app

Direct download:
http://www.snapfiles.com/download/dlrestoration.html

--
CeeBee


EMH Mark I: "Stop breathing down my neck."
EMH Mark II: "My breath is merely a simulation."
EMH Mark I: "So is my neck. Stop it anyway."

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

info@fireflyuk.org (Ellie) wrote in message news:<2a204037.0406271551.2af88c0f@posting.google.com>...
> I just restored my Windows XP laptop to the factory settings, and
> somehow I didn't create a backup of my files first.. don't ask.
> Windows wasn't reinstalled so the disk wasn't reformatted, just rolled
> back to an earlier version. There is defintely no up-to-date backup
> copy. Any idea on how to recover all my files?? Please help! It has
> about 5 years of our charities' files on it. Thanks so much, Ellie

Ellie
You have just learned the hardest computer lesson. Always - Always -
ALWAYS back up on regular basis. When you reinstalled it erased all
files that were not on the original install and that kinda leaves you
out in the cold. Next time use that CD burner, floppy drive, zip drive
or use a second HD and mirror your important files to it. Sorry.
JEP

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Hi,


Your luck is probably in any of this software which can recover a HD in
trouble, meaning which does a low level reading, e.g. lost and found.
But then again you'll have to hpoe the new data did not overwrite were
other importatns stuff was stored, you might be lucky though. Just
download their demo and see whether you can see your files and how
likely it claims recovery, if any luck, then you can still decide to buy.


Good luck,

Ellie wrote:

> I just restored my Windows XP laptop to the factory settings, and
> somehow I didn't create a backup of my files first.. don't ask.
> Windows wasn't reinstalled so the disk wasn't reformatted, just rolled
> back to an earlier version. There is defintely no up-to-date backup
> copy. Any idea on how to recover all my files?? Please help! It has
> about 5 years of our charities' files on it. Thanks so much, Ellie

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

> all you have to do is undo the last restore
> and all will come back

I did kind of try this using the programme that I used to restore
factory settings - 'Drive Image SE' - but it says that since I took no
'snapshot' of the computer as it was before I ran Drive Image (i.e.
with all the files and data still on it), there is no way of going
back to it as it was at that point. Is there another way I could undo
the action? Thanks so much, Ellie

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

If you can target a few specific files, and know the names, this might work.
It will be very labor intensive to do it on a large scale.
Don't use the computer any until you are done with this process. Everytime
you boot, it writes temp files, etc., which might overwrite your old files.

If you can afford it, buy a new hard drive for $100 and install windows on
that. Then ship the old drive to someone who does hard drive recovery--see
the back of computer magazines for ads.


"Mouse" <Mouse@cheese.storage> wrote in message
news:cbs3ja$pt2$1@jura.cc.ic.ac.uk...
> Hi,
>
>
> Your luck is probably in any of this software which can recover a HD in
> trouble, meaning which does a low level reading, e.g. lost and found.
> But then again you'll have to hpoe the new data did not overwrite were
> other importatns stuff was stored, you might be lucky though. Just
> download their demo and see whether you can see your files and how
> likely it claims recovery, if any luck, then you can still decide to buy.
>
>
> Good luck,
>
> Ellie wrote:
>
> > I just restored my Windows XP laptop to the factory settings, and
> > somehow I didn't create a backup of my files first.. don't ask.
> > Windows wasn't reinstalled so the disk wasn't reformatted, just rolled
> > back to an earlier version. There is defintely no up-to-date backup
> > copy. Any idea on how to recover all my files?? Please help! It has
> > about 5 years of our charities' files on it. Thanks so much, Ellie
>