Please help - system restore lost all my wedding pictures

[Guest]

Hell
My Sony Vaio was acting up so I put in the system restore disk and asked it to only restore the C drive, but it restored everything including the D drive which contained all my pictures. Is there anyway I get my photos back? I feel like dying.......any advice would be much appreciated

 

[Guest]

im sorry i meant system recovery

 

[Guest]

Back-up your data!

 

[Jim Macklin]

Third post, same issue. You used a CD, have reformatted and
reinstalled all the programs on your C: drive and maybe
damaged the D: drive.

You need more help than you can get and understand on the
newsgroups. If your wedding photos are important, you might
need to spend several hundred or even thousands to get them
back.

This is my last thought on your issue.


message
| im sorry i meant system recovery

 

[CS]

Hello
My Sony Vaio was acting up so I put in the system restore disk and asked it to only restore the C drive, but it restored everything including the D drive which contained all my pictures. Is there anyway I get my photos back? I feel like dying.......any advice would be much appreciated.

Hello Sarah:

I hope you had duplicates of your wedding photos stored somewhere
else. Once you used that Sony restore disk you lost all the data you
had on the hard drive partitions. (C, D, and any others) The restore
disk formats the entire hard drive which means all.

There are ways to recover data from a hard drive, even one that has
been formatted, but it's an expensive process. If you're interested
in recovering your data (photos) DO NOT use your computer otherwise
you may overwrite what you're trying to recover.

You can go here and read up on data recovery and also get an idea of
the cost:

http://www.ontrack.com/

 

[Plato]

all my pictures. Is there anyway I get my photos back? I feel like
dying.......any advice would be much appreciated.

Why? Every PC user knows to have backups of all the data they want to
keep.

 

[Malke]

all my pictures. Is there anyway I get my photos back? I feel like
dying.......any advice would be much appreciated.

Why? Every PC user knows to have backups of all the data they want to
keep.

You know, telling this poor person what s/he already knows and rubbing
salt into his wounds is really counter-productive. To the original
poster, System Restore *shouldn't* have made your files disappear.
However, there may be other problems with your system. First, do a
search for some of the file names to see if they've just gotten
misplaced on the system. If no luck, then stop working on the computer
immediately. Your data is still on the system. Retrieving that data is
possible, although depending on the state of the drive, root cause of
your problems, etc., it may be easy or difficult. You can try using
data recovery software to get the files back. You may wish to have a
local computer repair shop (not a Bestbuy or CompUSA type of store) do
this for you. If they are unable to help or you try and are
unsuccessful, then contact DriveSavers (www.drivesavers.com).
DriveSavers is a highly regarded professional data recovery firm. Yes,
it will not be inexpensive, but the cost might be as low as $500, which
might be an acceptable amount to spend to salvage these irreplaceable
memories. Only you can decide. And of course from now on you'll learn
how to back up.

Good luck, and post back if you need more help.

Malke

 

[CS]

You know, telling this poor person what s/he already knows and rubbing
salt into his wounds is really counter-productive. To the original
poster, System Restore *shouldn't* have made your files disappear.
However, there may be other problems with your system. First, do a
search for some of the file names to see if they've just gotten
misplaced on the system. If no luck, then stop working on the computer
immediately. Your data is still on the system. Retrieving that data is
possible, although depending on the state of the drive, root cause of
your problems, etc., it may be easy or difficult. You can try using
data recovery software to get the files back. You may wish to have a
local computer repair shop (not a Bestbuy or CompUSA type of store) do
this for you. If they are unable to help or you try and are
unsuccessful, then contact DriveSavers (www.drivesavers.com).
DriveSavers is a highly regarded professional data recovery firm. Yes,
it will not be inexpensive, but the cost might be as low as $500, which
might be an acceptable amount to spend to salvage these irreplaceable
memories. Only you can decide. And of course from now on you'll learn
how to back up.

Good luck, and post back if you need more help.

Malke

Malke:

Sarah used a Sony system restore disk, not "system restore". The Sony
restore disk is designed to reformat the entire hard drive and restore
the machine to the way it was from the factory. She "thought" that
the restore disk would only wipe out drive C and leave drive D intact.
Unfortunately, that's not the way those restore disks work.

BTW, I agree with you about some of the replies she received. Losing
one's wedding photos can be a traumatic experience. Hopefully she'll
find a way to recover them.

 

[Jim Macklin]

She could use the help of the professionals, such as Drive
Savers. She may be able to get the pictures back, but
self-help by an amateur is more likely to further damage the
file structure and make recovery of the files less likely.


| On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 04:50:47 -0700, Malke
<[email protected]>
| wrote:
|
| >Plato wrote:
| >
| >> =?Utf-8?B?U2FyYWg=?= wrote:
| >>>
| >> all my pictures. Is there anyway I get my photos back?
I feel like
| >> dying.......any advice would be much appreciated.
| >>
| >> Why? Every PC user knows to have backups of all the
data they want to
| >> keep.
| >>
| >>
| >You know, telling this poor person what s/he already
knows and rubbing
| >salt into his wounds is really counter-productive. To the
original
| >poster, System Restore *shouldn't* have made your files
disappear.
| >However, there may be other problems with your system.
First, do a
| >search for some of the file names to see if they've just
gotten
| >misplaced on the system. If no luck, then stop working on
the computer
| >immediately. Your data is still on the system. Retrieving
that data is
| >possible, although depending on the state of the drive,
root cause of
| >your problems, etc., it may be easy or difficult. You can
try using
| >data recovery software to get the files back. You may
wish to have a
| >local computer repair shop (not a Bestbuy or CompUSA type
of store) do
| >this for you. If they are unable to help or you try and
are
| >unsuccessful, then contact DriveSavers
(www.drivesavers.com).
| >DriveSavers is a highly regarded professional data
recovery firm. Yes,
| >it will not be inexpensive, but the cost might be as low
as $500, which
| >might be an acceptable amount to spend to salvage these
irreplaceable
| >memories. Only you can decide. And of course from now on
you'll learn
| >how to back up.
| >
| >Good luck, and post back if you need more help.
| >
| >Malke
|
| Malke:
|
| Sarah used a Sony system restore disk, not "system
restore". The Sony
| restore disk is designed to reformat the entire hard drive
and restore
| the machine to the way it was from the factory. She
"thought" that
| the restore disk would only wipe out drive C and leave
drive D intact.
| Unfortunately, that's not the way those restore disks
work.
|
| BTW, I agree with you about some of the replies she
received. Losing
| one's wedding photos can be a traumatic experience.
Hopefully she'll
| find a way to recover them.

 

[Plato]

You know, telling this poor person what s/he already knows and rubbing

Obviously he/she didn/t know at all and/or refuses to have done the
right thing. eg Dont smoke marlboros for ten years and then publically
complain that you got lung cancer.

 

[Plato]

You know, telling this poor person what s/he already knows and rubbing

PLUS.... If your life depends on your PC and data on a stupid hard
drive than you need to do some serious re-evaluating of your priorities.

 

[Spinner]

PLUS.... If your life depends on your PC and data on a stupid hard
drive than you need to do some serious re-evaluating of your priorities.

What has gotten into you?
Your acting more like the K man then the plato who was always willing to
help and give advice.
Welcome to my killfile until you stop acting like a jerk.
<PLONK>

 

[Jim Macklin]

How will you know he isn't acting "like a jerk" if you block
him?

The lady got some very good answers (some from me a couple
of times), she doesn't seem to like the answers.

_______

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But legislators see it as an obstacle to be overcome.



|
| | > Malke wrote:
| > >
| > > > all my pictures. Is there anyway I get my photos
back? I feel like
| > > > dying.......any advice would be much appreciated.
| > > >
| > > You know, telling this poor person what s/he already
knows and rubbing
| >
| > PLUS.... If your life depends on your PC and data on a
stupid hard
| > drive than you need to do some serious re-evaluating of
your priorities.
|
| What has gotten into you?
| Your acting more like the K man then the plato who was
always willing to
| help and give advice.
| Welcome to my killfile until you stop acting like a jerk.
| <PLONK>
|
|
|

 

[Guest]

To all of those who helped me: THANK YOU

GUESS WHAT?
I WAS ABLE TO RECOVER ALL MY FILES!
I USED A SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT I PURCHASED OVER THE INTERNET THAT I BELIEVE IS FROM A GERMAN COMPANY....IT COST ME ONLY 40 BUCKS! I WILL REPOST AGAIN WITH THE NAME, DONT HAVE THE NAME WITH ME NOW...I WAS ABOUT TO SEND MY HARD DRIVE TO DRIVE SAVERS AND THEY WANTED BETWEEN 500 TO 2700 TO RETRIEVE MY DATA....I WAS ALSO GOING TO TAKE MY HARD DRIVE TO A LOCAL COMPANY AND THEY WANTED A MINIMUM OF $500. SO FOR ANYONE OUT THERE, WHO RUNS INTO THE SAME PROBLEM...DONT WORRY...IT CAN BE SOLVED! I DID IT!!!! AND NOT FOR A SKYHIGH PRICE...FOR FORTY BUCKS!!
AGAIN THANKS TO ALL OF THOSE WHO REPLIED, ALL OF THOSE WHO TRIED TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER, AND I GUESS THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO RUBBED SALT INTO MY WOUNDS BECAUSE YOU TAUGHT ME HOW "NOT" TO ACT TOWARDS SOMEONE WHO IS GOING THROUGH A MINI-CRISIS!

NOW, ONE LAST QUESTION, ANY THOUGHTS ON THE BEST WAY TO BACK THINGS UP..SHOULD I BUY A SEPARATE HARD DRIVE JUST TO STORE DATA IN...MY FEAR IS THAT WHEN I BACK THINGS UP ON CD, THE CD WILL GO BAD, AND WHAT ABOUT ZIP DRIVES? IM SORRY....IM NOT TOO COMPUTER SAVY AS YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY TELL BY THE EXPERIENCE I WENT THROUGH...BUT TRUST ME, I WILL BE BACKING UP EVERY DAY. :

 

[Malke]

To all of those who helped me: THANK YOU!

GUESS WHAT?!
I WAS ABLE TO RECOVER ALL MY FILES!!
I USED A SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT I PURCHASED OVER THE INTERNET THAT I
BELIEVE IS FROM A GERMAN COMPANY....IT COST ME ONLY 40 BUCKS! I WILL
REPOST AGAIN WITH THE NAME, DONT HAVE THE NAME WITH ME NOW...I WAS
ABOUT TO SEND MY HARD DRIVE TO DRIVE SAVERS AND THEY WANTED BETWEEN
500 TO 2700 TO RETRIEVE MY DATA....I WAS ALSO GOING TO TAKE MY HARD
DRIVE TO A LOCAL COMPANY AND THEY WANTED A MINIMUM OF $500. SO FOR
ANYONE OUT THERE, WHO RUNS INTO THE SAME PROBLEM...DONT WORRY...IT CAN
BE SOLVED! I DID IT!!!! AND NOT FOR A SKYHIGH PRICE...FOR FORTY
BUCKS!! AGAIN THANKS TO ALL OF THOSE WHO REPLIED, ALL OF THOSE WHO
TRIED TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER, AND I GUESS THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THOSE
WHO RUBBED SALT INTO MY WOUNDS BECAUSE YOU TAUGHT ME HOW "NOT" TO ACT
TOWARDS SOMEONE WHO IS GOING THROUGH A MINI-CRISIS!

NOW, ONE LAST QUESTION, ANY THOUGHTS ON THE BEST WAY TO BACK THINGS
UP..SHOULD I BUY A SEPARATE HARD DRIVE JUST TO STORE DATA IN...MY FEAR
IS THAT WHEN I BACK THINGS UP ON CD, THE CD WILL GO BAD, AND WHAT
ABOUT ZIP DRIVES? IM SORRY....IM NOT TOO COMPUTER SAVY AS YOU CAN
OBVIOUSLY TELL BY THE EXPERIENCE I WENT THROUGH...BUT TRUST ME, I WILL
BE BACKING UP EVERY DAY.

Fantastic, Sarah! The best way to back up is to get a second hard drive,
back up onto that, and then either burn a cd-r (not a cd-rw) or a dvd
(if you have a dvd burner - you probably don't and would need to get
one) maybe once a week. I don't think you have to do it every day, but
when you get something precious on your drive you might want to do a
special backup/burn.

Please do post back with the name of the German software that got you
out of the pickle - I'd love to know it. For future reference, don't
post in all capital letters because it is considered shouting and rude,
but for now don't worry about it; I'm just so happy for you.

Take care,

Malke

 

[dev]

/Sarah/ said:

To all of those who helped me: THANK YOU!

GUESS WHAT?!
I WAS ABLE TO RECOVER ALL MY FILES!!
I USED A SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT I PURCHASED OVER THE INTERNET THAT I BELIEVE IS FROM A GERMAN COMPANY....IT COST ME ONLY 40 BUCKS! I WILL REPOST AGAIN WITH THE NAME, DONT HAVE THE NAME WITH ME NOW...I WAS ABOUT TO SEND MY HARD DRIVE TO DRIVE SAVERS AND THEY WANTED BETWEEN 500 TO 2700 TO RETRIEVE MY DATA....I WAS ALSO GOING TO TAKE MY HARD DRIVE TO A LOCAL COMPANY AND THEY WANTED A MINIMUM OF $500. SO FOR ANYONE OUT THERE, WHO RUNS INTO THE SAME PROBLEM...DONT WORRY...IT CAN BE SOLVED! I DID IT!!!! AND NOT FOR A SKYHIGH PRICE...FOR FORTY BUCKS!!
AGAIN THANKS TO ALL OF THOSE WHO REPLIED, ALL OF THOSE WHO TRIED TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER, AND I GUESS THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO RUBBED SALT INTO MY WOUNDS BECAUSE YOU TAUGHT ME HOW "NOT" TO ACT TOWARDS SOMEONE WHO IS GOING THROUGH A MINI-CRISIS!

NOW, ONE LAST QUESTION, ANY THOUGHTS ON THE BEST WAY TO BACK THINGS UP..SHOULD I BUY A SEPARATE HARD DRIVE JUST TO STORE DATA IN...MY FEAR IS THAT WHEN I BACK THINGS UP ON CD, THE CD WILL GO BAD, AND WHAT ABOUT ZIP DRIVES? IM SORRY....IM NOT TOO COMPUTER SAVY AS YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY TELL BY THE EXPERIENCE I WENT THROUGH...BUT TRUST ME, I WILL BE BACKING UP EVERY DAY.

One approach to this is to install an imaging utility. Image the active
partition (the one with the valuable files) to another hard drive
partition - or to another hard drive - on a regular basis. This is an
EXACT image of everything - system files, settings, personal files, etc.,
that is easily restored.

To avoid potential loss of the drive itself, occasionally copy the image
to a CD/R. There are several popular imagers...

http://www.powerquest.com/driveimage
http://ghost.com
http://WWW.TERABYTEUNLIMITED.COM/ (Image for Windows)
and others

The well may become your most valuable piece of software. It can also
guard against problems with installs and infection. Create an image, THEN
install. If things don't work out, restore the image - and you're right
back where you were, with no extraneous entries or files left over. Get a
virus? Restore the image that was made prior to infection.

 

[Jim Carlock]

Sarah,

I think a second hard drive is an excellent option. But that means
you'll need to do the back up on a regular basis, meaning that you
only use the second hard drive to backup the information, and
you do file copying operations on a regular basis.

There might be a way to mirror the hard drive, but that won't
prevent dumb problems. It'll prevent common hard drive failure
problems, but dumb problems are dumb problems, and happen
because of the irrational complexity of XP. ;-) I consider myself
an expert with computer systems, and I will be the first to tell
you that Microsoft created a real big problem operating system
with XP. I've watched the newsgroups and there are at least 800
problems reported with XP every day of the week. It is by far
the most problematic operating system I have ever seen from
Microsoft, aside from possibly the original version of Windows
95.

Alot of my frustration stems from ignorance, but that ignorance
is created by Microsoft themselves, and they seem to like
changing the way things work with the operating system.

Aside from being grumpy about XP and feeling betrayed by
Microsoft, I still use it as the main software for testing software
out on. If the software runs reliably on XP... and on Windows
95 (first version), it'll run reliably on all operating systems. LOL

I hope.

I ran into a problem with XP a couple of years ago where I lost
everything on the hard drive, and I learned to never mess with
changing from a roaming profile to local profile. NEVER do that,
it is just plain the stupidest Beverly Hillbilly thing I've ever seen.
Might as well go back to washing clothes in a bucket.

Anyways, an extra hard drive will be good. Whatever you want
to save, like pictures and such, just set up a structured folder
organization scheme, and store them on the main hard drive and
copy the folders over to the other hard drive every so often,
maybe like once a week.

I typically set up a folder system that is based on dates for pictures.

Folders at the root level will be named Pics.

Then folders inside Pics will be named 2004, 2003, 2002, etc.
Then folders inside those folders will be named accordingly. I like
the numbers of the months, 01, 02, 03, ... 12. That way I know
when the pictures were taken and I'll set up a readme.txt file if
needed that describes what's in the folders (if that's necessary,
which it isn't for pictures, but it is for other types of things, like
downloaded programs).

Hope that helps. Good to hear that you recovered your files.
That is great!

Wow, that TedPad text editor is really nice. I'm very impressed.
Her text was reformatted with it. If I find the link it is useful for
converting case from upper to lower to Sentence style, to Title
style. It is wonderful for commiting word wrap at a certain point
as well.

http://jsimlo.sk/notepad/

--
Jim Carlock
http://www.microcosmotalk.com/
Post replies to the newsgroup.


:
To all of those who helped me: THANK YOU!