Computer geek needed urgently please!

[Lemon]

OMG I've just deleted all my important docs and emptied the recycle bin so have no way of restoring them normally. And no, I didn't back it up, this is all recent stuff. Is there any magical way of reversing this please?

If anyone has an idea please email me on work email emma@qlhi.co.uk (don't have other email on work computer and I don't think i'll have time to check other one now but I get work email instantly....)

Many thanks, Lemon xxx

 

[Rosie]

http://www.jakeludington.com/ask_jake/20060713_recover_deleted_files.html
You should be able to get them back as like he says, when you delete something, unless something is written over where it was, it is still there to be recovered

 

[Snowwolf]

Lemon, dont panic it can be recovered.

I'll speak to my brother when i finish work to see if he knows the process as hes a bit of a PC whizz.

 

[balf]

http://www.recuva.com/

I haven't had a chance to fully test it yet but it comes from the same people who make CCleaner (which is an excellent piece of software) comes highly recommended from a friend, plus it's free

EDIT - Just had a quick play, excellent bit of kit should do you just fine

 

[Lemon]

Thank you guys and gals, have tried all suggestions plus about 6 more i found but no joy yet

some programs have found thousands of files but they are either opening in japanese or saying this file cannot be opened as it is corrupt, or it doesn't recognise the extension any more...

i now also have hundreds more files in the recycle bin so i'm getting more and more confused. just want to cry now wwaaaa

 

[Raffles]

http://www.freewarereview.info/2005-11/pc_inspector_file_recovery_mag.html is OK.

When a file is deleted - it actually isn't. All that's done is that the first letter of the file name gets removed (along with any pointers). For example, HELLO.DOC would become _ELLO.DOC. What these 'undelete' programs do is search the actual data area for files that have had this first letter removed. They will ask you for the first letter and then they'll work their magic. This is how Gary Glitter got caught!

Be very careful though. The file can only be recovered if the area containing it hasn't been over-written. If it has - you could well be in trouble.

What I used to do was to create a bootable floppy with the undelete program on - and run everything from that (so the hard disk had nothing wrote back to it).

If your stuff is very important - turn off your PC by pulling the plug and take it to a data recovery place.

Good luck.

 

[Bon]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if using recovery programs you NEVER install it to the drive that your recovering from. Odds are while youve been tyring all these programs and doing it incorrectly that youve already overwritten the file. Which, no one in this thread or links mentioned. Another reason why people who have no f*cking idea what they're on about shouldn't offer PC advice on a forum.

 

[Lemon]

Oh no I have installed them on the same drive.... but what about the files that are saying 'very good chance of recovering' and yet not opening? Why do they say they are recoverable and then not open?

Is it worth installing the program onto the external hard drive and trying again?

Thanks again for help guys xx

 

[seany boy]

Would a system restore work? (if it's been enabled).

 

[Bon]

Oh no I have installed them on the same drive.... but what about the files that are saying 'very good chance of recovering' and yet not opening? Why do they say they are recoverable and then not open?

Is it worth installing the program onto the external hard drive and trying again?

Thanks again for help guys xx

It can find the files because theres reference to them, however they may have had part of them overwritten already thus making them unreadable.

If you want my honest advice, if its that important go to a specialist to get it recovered if at all possible.

If you want to try form another drive, give it a shot but the more you mess the worse your chances get.