No backup and ... tragedy (2nd edition)

[Frans van Zelm]

Hi there,

No files were saved but still: thanks for all reactions.

Just for the/your record (I don't expect further reactions).

- it was a regular bought cd
- the cd had a crack but it played in de hifi cd-player
- the cd contents was read properly but on starting the first track,
things went wrong
- no viruses or bad intentions (as one of you suggested)
- the cd player worked after cleaning
- the hard disk works
- it is a rather new PC (who cares, but still)
- I didn't check if programs asked for installation cd when used from the
other account. But all program settings (Word, Outlook, ...) in the
damaged account were gone.
- folder Found.004 indicated earlier trouble ... no, there hasn't been
any trouble before. Perhaps 001, 002 and 003 were all created by CHKDSK
on reboot. I didn't check.

So stays the mistery: why were all data files and all program settings
damaged in the active account?

Once again thanks,
Frans van Zelm

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

Do you have any idea the number of possibilities?

Improper shut down, a system crash, misbehaving application, outdated third
party utilities, especially disk utilities or up to date such utilities that
are just being too aggressive, possibly a virus not picked up by your
antivirus application (sometimes a second "opinion" is necessary-there are
numerous online scanners), perhaps some browser plug-in or malware not
usually picked up by antivirus scanners but often picked up by apps such as
Ad Aware. Perhaps some small change the user made had a rippled effect
across the entire system...the list goes on and on.

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.

Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

 

[R. McCarty]

Very good table of possibilities. Sometimes you can only repair
or recover & not ever discover the cause of an episode like this.
Analyzing PC problems is just as complex as a medial diagnosis.
Only difference is the human body doesn't get Service Packs.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

Absolutely. That's why users need to give all information, all the symptoms
of the problem, what we're they doing just before the problem appeared, some
specifics as to the specs on their system, what they've tried to resolve the
issue, any error messages. You can't go to the doctor and have him diagnose
you simply from "I'm sick" or "I don't feel well."

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.

Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/