Help I lost all my files

Bob Down · #1 October 13th, 2003, 06:52 PM

I was doing a back-up with "smart backup" to my cd and it brought up the files that were on my cd and asked if i wanted to delete the.... and i assumed it meant the files on the cd. All of my files that I wanted to save are gone. I have read enough about deleting files to know that the are probably not gone, but can someone help me recover these? I am sick about this, these are all my pics of my kids.
Thanks Bob

Baser-X · #2 October 13th, 2003, 07:09 PM

I don't know of any free data recovery software, but Runtime Software offers a product called GetDataBack that I have heard good things about (at least for the FAT version, I've heard nothing but bad things about the NTFS version). It's not cheap by any means, but if the data is important enough, $80 isn't too bad I suppose. You may even be able to get it on eBay or somewhere else cheaper.

If you do choose to go with this product, be sure to read the info at the bottom of the page.

oink · #3 October 13th, 2003, 07:24 PM

Do not use the drive until the issue has been resolved. The data is still there until it is overwritten. This will occur as you use the drive. Another option I have not tried: http://www.tipsdr.com/recover-data-recovery.html . I have used Easy Recovery Pro but it is very expensive. I have heard that there are cracked versions that have been found with searches, but that would be illigal and unethical.

renegade600 · #4 October 13th, 2003, 08:40 PM

Try tuneup utilities. http://www.webattack.com/get/tuneuputils.shtml
Also You might give File scavager a try.
http://www.webattack.com/editorials/e-undelete.html

Both have free demos.

If neither one works for you try searching google using keywords undelete file, there will be others.

Bob Down · #5 October 13th, 2003, 09:44 PM

Thanks all of you for your suggestions and help. All of the recovery softwares advise that you should save the recovered documents to different drive. I do not have a different drive. I have a cd burner on the computer that has the lost files and I have a laptop is there anyway I can use either as the "other drive"?

Baser-X · #6 October 13th, 2003, 10:23 PM

You could network the laptop to the problem PC, install data recovery software on the laptop then map the problem drive for the data recovery software to search. I don't see why this would be a problem, but just to be on the safe side I'd contact the vendor before purchasing anything and ask them just to be sure.

oink · #7 October 14th, 2003, 12:46 AM

Just remember, that while you are doing all of that networking as well as visiting this web board or searching the net, you are overwriting those lost files and losing them for good. You need to pull the drive and put it in another computer as a slave. Find a friend to help you with that. Stop using the computer NOW, if you are really interested in recovering those files.

Bob Down · #8 October 14th, 2003, 12:51 AM

If I am connecting two computers as a peer to peer network do I have to have a network cable that is cross wired (I am sure that is not the correct terminology) or I have to get a hold of a hub. The cable i use to connect to my adsl modem is "straight through wired" correct??

Bob Down · #9 October 14th, 2003, 01:29 AM

Thanks Oink, i got you message load and clear earlier!! I have switched computers and hadn't done much at all since I lost my files on "the" computer.

Baser-X · #10 October 16th, 2003, 03:08 AM

Oooops, I found a file and posted it but after reading further I found it will only recover files up to 10k in size unless you register for $69 so I removed link....

**rockboy** · #11 October 16th, 2003, 07:14 AM

I downloaded this one a while back for use "just in case". I haven't used it but I would if...

http://63.141.194.5/rescue/index.html

EDIT:
Oops I just looked over the site and it's no longer freeware (it was when I got it). You might be able to find the freeware version somewhere. The file name is Drive Rescue V1.9c (rescue.zip).

One of the places I look for files by name is:

http://sac-ftp.externet.hu/index.html

It's a little tricky to navigate unless you know exactly what you're looking for.

**AnnMarie** · #12 October 16th, 2003, 08:13 AM

Hi Bob - I havent tried this software personally but I have heard good things about it and its freeware PC Inspector. Good luck.

Bob Down · #13 October 17th, 2003, 07:40 AM

Thanks for all of the help from everyone who posted. I have recovered all my files, I was able to use the 30 day free trial software suggested by renegade600 http://www.webattack.com/get/tuneuputils.shtml

**AnnMarie** · #14 October 18th, 2003, 01:40 AM

Thats good news Bob and thanks for updating us.