Pegasus (MVP) added these comments in the current discussion du
jour ...
I'm baffled about your statement "there are now 8 GB extra
available on my HD that were there before".
If you feel that these files are missing altogether then one
of the many recovery tools may be able to get them back for
you. Here are a few:
http://www.hddrecovery.com.au
http://bootmaster.filerecovery.biz
http://www.runtime.org/ (GetDataBack - has a trial version)
http://www.softwarepatch.com/software/filerecoverysecdownload.h
tml
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/restoration.html
You must install it on a different PC, then connect your disk
as a slave disk to that PC. If you install the program on your
own PC then you are likely to overwrite the traces of the
deleted files. In fact anything you do on your PC reduces the
likelyhood of a successful recovery.
I sometimes despair about the number of people who post
in this newsgroup about lost files that are irreplaceable.
They all choose to defer their regular backup action until
after they suffer a major hit. It seems that a bad expierence
is still the best teacher but the tuition fees are savage.
I, too, am sad when I read cries for help to recover many gigs
worth of "irreplaceable" data files when the OP has done
zero.zero to EVER backup to optical or external HD. The cost of
either is only pennies/gig, but yes, backing up is a PITA so is
the last thing many people think of. I also despair with people
who allow auto updating of Windows, their apps, and even malware
protection. They go to bed with a working system sometimes and
wake up to one that won't even boot. Finally, I feel bad for
people who must do an entire nuke and reinstall of their system
when good imagers like Acronis True Image is available.
Some years ago, I established a rigorous periodic (4-6 weeks)
time span where I first do as comprehensive a malware scan with
multiple products as I can, image C:\, and copy all of my data to
one of two 200 gig externals. I take the fresh backup external to
my bank and store it safely in my safety deposit box and retrieve
the earlier one from the bank and store it off the floor in my
basement. I am not all that concerned about a B & E, but I AM
majorly concerned about something as "minor" as a fire in one
part of the house but the fire department puts hundreds of
thousands of gallons of water all over the place ruining
everything that is electronic including my PC and any backups in
my house. And, while rare, we DO have natural disasters in
Michigan like torrential rain, sleet in winter, extraordinary
snowfalls, major power hits, and other natural or man-made
disasters any of which can compromise my house in some way, e.g.,
take the roof off.
Oh, yes. Since I rarely need all of my install CDs, they, too are
in my bank safety deposit box. For newer apps and Windows, I can
get new ones but it takes time. For older legacy apps that are
still useful, it is generally impossible to get a replacement
because either the company no longer supports that version or
isn't even in business anymore.
One last one for the OP and others reading: if I intend to do
something that is even minorly dangerous to my system, including
allowing ANY update to install, I do my own RP to ensure that I
can recover if it needed. Paranoid? Probably. But, I sleep better
knowing I am as safe as is reasonably possible to be. I have a
LOT of things I'd rather spend my time on than trying to recover
my two PCs and all of my personal data after a visit from Murphy!
All of that said, of all my friends and relatives, not one of
them has the faintest clue as to why any of this is important
even though I oft gently lecture them about it. I guess that's
one reason why places like Best Buy's Geek Squad is such a
booming success. As you say, learning via an old fashioned object
lesson can be a very powerful way to change your ways, but can
also be a VERY expensive way to learn both in time and sometimes
even in dollars.
