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Recovering Files; A Desperate Plea for Help
Topic Started: Dec 26 2007, 04:49 AM (309 Views)
LizDiggory
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Breakfast
So my stepdad decided to delete my user account on his computer arbitrarily without any warning and as a result I've lost all my documents/music/pictures that I had on there. :badmood: :badmood: :badmood:



My question to any computer expert out there: Is there any possible way I can recover my files? :rip: :violin:
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underdog
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Irish Breakfast
First thing is don't use the computer, everytime you start that computer windows will create and use a temp file(s) which run the risk of overwriting the deleted files, then they will be virtually impossible from that point on.

I have used a program called getdataback, from runtime software, runtime.org , the free version will either tell you what can be recovered or be limited to a small amount, don't remember which, it will only recover to another drive so you need another drive available, (ie. usb removable drive).
the licence isn't that expensive, ~$60USD, It will scan the drive and show you what if 'found' and you can pick what you want to recover and it will copy it to the other drive.

That's about all I know of for windows XP and the NTFS file system.
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Krazy
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I haz powah!
Yeah, underdog is right, the only chance you have of getting some files back that doesn't involve you spending big $$$ sending your drive to a specialist data recovery lab is to not use the computer at all.

Most of the recovery programs do have a lite version which will show you what is recoverable and they usually let you recover small files.

Good luck with it

Do you know why your step-dad did it? Low on disk space or something? It's the sort of thing that would make me delete his account in revenge, stab him and give him a swift kick in the love fruits - but then I'm that sort of person (sometimes). :-*
"Well, ‘course dis one’s betta! It’s lotz ‘eavier, and gots dem spikey bitz on de ends. "
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Nibsi
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Te zijner tijd
I have a program here that I often use to mess around with my computer, and it also has an option to retrieve lost files. You can easily get back a file you've removed by accident. A whole user account could be tricky though, I don't know how much it would be able to salvage.

As has been mentioned, use your computer as little as possible. I'll try out some stuff and send over the program when I'm able to.
-Nibby
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LizDiggory
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Breakfast
Oh and another quick question, I want to uninstall Windows XP on my computer and install Windows 98SE, how do I do that?
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underdog
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Umm, why would you want to go back to 98? Nothing wrong with it, I didn't leave 98 until 2005, but why go back?
so much newer equipment and hardware is using USB 98 didn't support it that well, you needed to install drivers, and more things aren't being made with 98 drivers anymore.

first thing you need the 98 boot cd, boot from it, have it repartion the drive, it will probably say there's an unrecognized partition on it, you say delete anyway, then let 98 repartition it, and let it install it from there.
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Nibsi
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Te zijner tijd
I really wouldn't recommend rolling back to 98se. Any special reason?

You can also consider a dual boot system. I used to set up my PC so that I could choose to boot from either ME or XP. Now I've found ways to use programs under XP that I formerly could only run on ME or 98se, so I got rid of ME.
-Nibby
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LizDiggory
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Breakfast
It's an old comp, one I got from my brother in law, and doesn't play well with XP.

I'm just doing this until they upgrade it.
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Eral
Kopi Luwak
Nothing wrong with 98. :eral: The reason it took Microsoft so long to come up with XP was because 98 was good.

I can't believe you had ME voluntarily. :blink: Worst platform ever.
(If anyone is thinking, gee, Eral has a lot of grudges against various programs, doesn't she? the answer is yes, I do.)

Dual boot system only works if you have lots of space and don't harbour suspicions that setting up one will cause a complete meltdown. You then have to stand next to your computer while it boots to tell it which one you want. Very bad idea. Everyone knows the booting-up period is for making coffee.

Could you save anything LD?
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Krazy
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I haz powah!
Eral
Dec 27 2007, 11:54 PM
Nothing wrong with 98. :eral: The reason it took Microsoft so long to come up with XP was because 98 was good.

Erm no. It didn't take that long, 3 years or so. What the problem was, was unifying the Win9x and WinNT code paths into a single home oriented OS for the plebs, that Win 2k was the first attempt at for professionals/businesses.

Also Win98 was poor. 98SE on the other hand was good. XP when it came out was poor, XP SP2 which was quite a few years later was good.

BTW LD, for a computer that can't run XP well, Win2k is worth a look. Its like a lightweight version of XP that runs well on lower end hardware.

Quote:
 
I can't believe you had ME voluntarily.  :blink: Worst platform ever.
(If anyone is thinking, gee, Eral has a lot of grudges against various programs, doesn't she? the answer is yes, I do.)


Yes, WinME was an abomination but checkout Windows 1 and 2 first... :D

Quote:
 
Dual boot system only works if you have lots of space and don't harbour suspicions that setting up one will cause a complete meltdown. You then have to stand next to your computer while it boots to tell it which one you want. Very bad idea. Everyone knows the booting-up period is for making coffee.


Again, no. You just set the default option to boot into so it chooses for you. That way you only need to wait 5 secs for the bootloader to come up if you don't want the default, choose and then go and make your coffee. Also had no problems with dual or even triple boot. Had Win 98SE, NT4 and Linux using the NT Bootloader with no probs.
"Well, ‘course dis one’s betta! It’s lotz ‘eavier, and gots dem spikey bitz on de ends. "
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Regullus
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Reliant
We experienced the blue screen of death. *ominous music* It said something about BIOS needing changing and updating drivers and it told me it had recovered from a serious error. :o :faint: :banghead:

I pressed power. Seems fine. :unsure: I'm pretty sure this will happen again and when it does I will report what it says.

I've ordered The Witcher too. When I'll play it, I don't know but it's always nice to have a new game.
tempus_teapot
 
I'd like to add that at this point I have taken my Spider Jerusalem action figure and tied his wrist to my Cassidy (from Preacher) action figure just so I can work out which positions are feasible with them and which aren't.

Read that and weep, internet. Weep!

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LizDiggory
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Breakfast
The stuff that was common to both accounts such as programs, yes, all my pics/music/files that were only on my account I have accepted the fact that they are all gone. Of course it could be Karma that I lost my music, seeing as I didn't pay for most of it.
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Nibsi
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Te zijner tijd
Liz, I have uploaded my Hex editor. You can get it here and you can find the keygen here. Unpack WinHex and run the setup program in the folder.

After you've installed it, go to Help->Register and get copy *all* the text that the keygen generates. The program might ask you to check some options the first time you start it, leave everything unchecked.

After you've registered the program, go to Tools->Open Disk. Open the disk which held your personal files, and browse to them. Default would be something like C:\Documents and Settings\
If you find the folder with your files there, with a cross or a question mark through it, right click it and hit Recover/Copy files.

You can do this for any folder that has been lost, as long as Windows hasn't chucked them out permanently yet. If this doesn't work, then I'm afraid that you'll either have to get an expert to look at your PC, or accept the fact you've lost everything.

Let me know if you have a question.
-Nibby
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LizDiggory
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Breakfast
It works, but I can't save most of my stuff b/c the evaluation version won't save stuff over 200 KB. So until I can get a licence, I'll just have to fume. :badmood: :badmood: :badmood: :badmood: :badmood: :badmood: :badmood: :badmood: :badmood: :badmood: :badmood: :badmood: :badmood: :badmood: :badmood: :badmood:
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Nibsi
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Te zijner tijd
No you can simply register the program. Just use the keygen I uploaded. Enter your name (or whatever name) and some addresses (simple hyphens will do) and pick specialist level. Hit generate and copy the entire block of text in the grey field. Then go to Help->Register in the Hex editor and paste the block of text.
-Nibby
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LizDiggory
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Breakfast
Okay, it's still recovering the files, but It's actually doing it now.

All I have to say is this, I lurv you Nibby!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub:

You are now officially my favorite person at CoffeeTalk.

Sorry Eral
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Regullus
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Reliant
I thought I was your favorite? :hanky:
tempus_teapot
 
I'd like to add that at this point I have taken my Spider Jerusalem action figure and tied his wrist to my Cassidy (from Preacher) action figure just so I can work out which positions are feasible with them and which aren't.

Read that and weep, internet. Weep!

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Bex
puppet dictator
Teh Nibbeh is pretty awesome, I must say. Not that this is a shocking revelation, or anything.
I belong to one of those families that does not speak to or see its members as often as we should,
but if someone needed anyone to fall on a sword for her, there would be a queue waiting to commit the deed.
-Min Jin Lee
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Nibsi
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Te zijner tijd
Haha well, studying Information Technology does make things more easy at times :D

I'm glad it worked Liz.
-Nibby
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Krazy
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I haz powah!
Hurrah!

Well my own computer problem is also solved. New mobo arrived today, and it's all back and working. Just seeing how low the temps are now that I have changed the heatsink (to a bigger one, no comment Eral :D ), and sanded the processor and the heatsink down (yes, voiding the warranty on both) to ensure better thermal contact for heat dissipation. So far I'm seeing about a 10C temp decrease over the old setup which isn't bad for a few hours work. It's also quieter too which is nice.

(and yes the Nibbs is one kewl d00d)
"Well, ‘course dis one’s betta! It’s lotz ‘eavier, and gots dem spikey bitz on de ends. "
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Eral
Kopi Luwak
I forgive you LD.

Regullus, what do mean, you thought you were her favourite? That is a brazen attempt to suborn my now ex-fan, and taint the bittersweet moment of being dropped, and I protest. I realise fans are a high-demand commodity until we get more than 6 people on-line, but as your status as :admin: proves our favourite Texan loves you more than me, well, you really might leave me to have once been adored by LD until Nibby came along.


:engarde:

Krazy, you just go ahead and enjoy. I'd like to make a zippy comeback to your comments about 98, but unfortunately the conversation now requires more numbers than words, and that's the point I sit back and read a magazine. :lol:
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Bex
puppet dictator
Just to be pedantic about the Texan, I'm actually his favorite (or puppet, as the case may be). IIRC, I instated Reg as an admin because... well, look at the smilies she finds us. I would never be arsed to do such things, so all hail the :admin: who actually does stuff.
I belong to one of those families that does not speak to or see its members as often as we should,
but if someone needed anyone to fall on a sword for her, there would be a queue waiting to commit the deed.
-Min Jin Lee
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Nibsi
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Te zijner tijd
Well, if it's any comfort Eral, I'll pronounce you my favourite person at CT :wink:

The rest of you needn't look so sad because I love you too, and there's always PBG :lol:
-Nibby
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Regullus
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Reliant
Hey! I manly pinked and you notice nobody paid the slightest attention to my post. ( <_< )

I have a vague feeling I should be mildly insulted, :cyber: but for the life of me I can't put my finger on the why. :finch:

Krazy, now that your up and running, :party: let us know your Witcher progress.

tempus_teapot
 
I'd like to add that at this point I have taken my Spider Jerusalem action figure and tied his wrist to my Cassidy (from Preacher) action figure just so I can work out which positions are feasible with them and which aren't.

Read that and weep, internet. Weep!

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Eral
Kopi Luwak
Thanks Nibby. :blush: As it's now clear I may only be third favourite to our Texan, I'm going to overlook your displacement of me in LD's affections and accept graciously.

I'm sorry, Regullus, I thought it was Pollyanna. Must be the resolution causing confusion. But what do you mean, no-one took any notice of your post? I honoured it with a diatribe. :snowman:
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