Help Please, screwed up big time

[Frank]

Well, I really screwed up. I copied backup of My docs folder to my laptop
but forgot that I had worked on an excel spreadsheet on the laptop that
morning. So when I replaced the docs, of course it asked about file with
same name etc, and I said yes, replace all. This was (is) the only file, but
it is information that is going to cause me many days, weeks of work.
Is there any way to recover the original version?
I have win undelete , but that doesn't seem to work in this situation. Since
I replaced the file with a file of the same name, I am guessing I am doomed,
just figured I would ask.
Thanks
Frank

 

[gls858]

Well, I really screwed up. I copied backup of My docs folder to my laptop
but forgot that I had worked on an excel spreadsheet on the laptop that
morning. So when I replaced the docs, of course it asked about file with
same name etc, and I said yes, replace all. This was (is) the only file, but
it is information that is going to cause me many days, weeks of work.
Is there any way to recover the original version?
I have win undelete , but that doesn't seem to work in this situation. Since
I replaced the file with a file of the same name, I am guessing I am doomed,
just figured I would ask.
Thanks
Frank

Check tools> options > save Do you have autorecover turned on?
If so check the path shown you MIGHT have a backup of the file
in question. If auto recover is off and you don't have a backup
of your data, well I think you already know that answer.

gls858

 

[gls858]

Check tools> options > save Do you have autorecover turned on?
If so check the path shown you MIGHT have a backup of the file
in question. If auto recover is off and you don't have a backup
of your data, well I think you already know that answer.

gls858

Frank,
After checking a little further I was mistaken about the way
auto recover works. I thought it kept a backup copy but it
only creates a temp file in case of an unexpected shut down.
Probably won't be of any help in your case. Sorry if I gave
you false hope.

gls858

 

[Frank]

That's OK, As you stated, I kind of already knew the answer, but figured it
couldn't hurt to ask
Thanks for the response
Frank

 

[Bill Ridgeway]

First: Don't do anything. Do not even turn on your computer as any activity
decreases the chance of retrieving files. If you are using the affected
computer to read this, shut it down.

Second: Contact someone who can professionally retrieve data from a hard
disk. I can recommend someone (UK) who can do that for you. It may not be
cheap but think of it as the cost of not paying attention to the question
"Do you want to replace the file?"

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway
Computer Solutions

 

[Frank]

Bill,
appreciate the reply, but the file is important as far as me redoing a
bunch of work I have a;ready done. So I will just do it again, it's not that
essential that I need to pay for it. All I have lost is time.My bad for not
paying attention.
Thanks again
Frank

 

[Bill Ridgeway]

Frank,

I would suggest you invest (time and money) in a good backing-up system.
There are several techniques. My favourite for comprehensiveness and ease
of use but not, perhaps, financially is to backup to tape. This allows
backing up (infrequently) the whole of the hard disk and, thereafter,
incremental (everything that's changed since the previous backup). In my
book this beats backing up "my documents" as this allows for files which you
may use everyday and take for granted to fall through the safety net.

For belt and braces (I really don't like letting fete getting in the way)
every day I copy (with a batch file - remember them?), all my key files to
another hard disk. I'd like to think that I'm only a day away from
disaster. Even if I done your trick of overwriting a file I should only
have to go back as last night. well, that's the theory!

For more on the topic of backing up have a look at www.1001solutions.co.uk

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway
Computer Solutions

 

[coal_brona]

Hi,

Your situation looks hard, yet Active@ undelete might still help you.
As far as I think it is is the most powerful data recovery tool. It
never failed me before and was always able to restore, even when I
thought the data was completely lost. That might be your chance, try
it.

http://www.active-undelete.com/