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Coh3n
07-30-2009, 06:56 AM
Hey guys, I was hoping someone could help me out with this big problem.

I'm using Windows Vista Home Premium and I recently made a new user, and deleted the old user. When I deleted the old user I said "Save Files", however, not all files were saved. My whole "Word Documents" folder was deleted, and I really, really need what's in it. It contains resumes, portfolios, passwords, etc.

I know sometimes files can stay hidden in the hard drive, and I was hoping someone could guide me through how I would go about doing this. So far I have tried:


Using PCTools File Recover, but when I recovered the files, it said it was corrupt and couldn't be opened.
System Restore, said there were no dates to restore back to.
Using Recuva, I was able to recover a couple documents, but not important ones. :(


I would really like to know if there's any possibility of getting my files back or not. Any help is appreciated. If I'm stubborn or rude to you I apologize as I am not in the greatest mood considering I lost almost all my files.

Thanks in advance!
ian.
07-30-2009, 07:04 AM
System restore?
Coh3n
07-30-2009, 07:05 AM
System restore?

I tried, said there were no dates to restore back to. :(
ian.
07-30-2009, 07:17 AM
:/ I'll think of something! :p Or wait until someone else figures it out. Good luck.
Coh3n
07-30-2009, 07:18 AM
:/ I'll think of something! :p Or wait until someone else figures it out. Good luck.

Lol thanks. :p I may end up just starting over with XP, I'm starting to get way too many problems with Vista.
NCDS
07-30-2009, 08:39 AM
Lol thanks. :p I may end up just starting over with XP, I'm starting to get way too many problems with Vista.

Good Idea ;)
MylesMadness
07-30-2009, 10:08 AM
http://www.recuva.com/ maybe?
bullzeye95
07-30-2009, 10:11 AM
http://www.recuva.com/ maybe?

Maybe, but probably not. The other program recovered corrupted files, which means, well, they're corrupted. I don't think you can get all of them back without professional forensic people..
Coh3n
07-30-2009, 10:56 AM
Good Idea ;)

Yeah I decided against that as I'll be losing too many programs that I wont be able to get back such as Word 2007, AutoCAD, etc.


I don't think you can get all of them back without professional forensic people..

That is really unfortunate. :(
Boreas
07-30-2009, 11:14 AM
You could try the undelete programs out there, but if you were one of my customers, I'd tell you to not do anything more on it, shut it down and bring it to me. Then I would hook it up to my linux box, and run Photorec (not just for photos, can do .doc/.docx too).
Coh3n
07-30-2009, 11:15 AM
You could try the undelete programs out there, but if you were one of my customers, I'd tell you to not do anything more on it, shut it down and bring it to me. Then I would hook it up to my linux box, and run Photorec (not just for photos, can do .doc/.docx too).

So you're saying I should take it in to a computer tech store? Or at least call someone?
BjRobMan
07-30-2009, 11:19 AM
System restore?

Pretty sure it only effects system settings.

This (http://lifehacker.com/393084/how-to-recover-deleted-files-with-free-software) article looks good. . . Google is your friend ;)
Coh3n
07-30-2009, 11:20 AM
This (http://lifehacker.com/393084/how-to-recover-deleted-files-with-free-software) article looks good. . . Google is your friend ;)

I've used Google.. trust me.
Boreas
07-30-2009, 11:23 AM
I'm saying go on another computer and download ubuntu live cd.
Coh3n
07-30-2009, 11:25 AM
I'm saying go on another computer and download ubuntu live cd.

I already have one. Ubuntu 9.04 Live CD to be exact.
bullzeye95
07-30-2009, 11:27 AM
I already have one. Ubuntu 9.04 Live CD to be exact.

Now I believe he was going to suggest that you boot into the live CD, install Photorec, and let it do its magic.
Coh3n
07-30-2009, 11:29 AM
Now I believe he was going to suggest that you boot into the live CD, install Photorec, and let it do its magic.

Lol well I already have Ubu installed on a different partition so I midaswell just use that. :p
Boreas
07-30-2009, 11:35 AM
Even better. Mount the windows drive, grab photorec from synaptic (listed under testdisk) and give it a shot.
Coh3n
07-30-2009, 01:55 PM
Even better. Mount the windows drive, grab photorec from synaptic (listed under testdisk) and give it a shot.

I couldn't find Photorec anywhere. :confused:
cycrosism
07-30-2009, 03:27 PM
screw going to windows xp go to ubuntu
ian.
07-30-2009, 03:29 PM
screw going to windows xp go to ubuntu

He said he had a Ubuntu partition.
Coh3n
07-30-2009, 04:03 PM
He said he had a Ubuntu partition.

Lol yeah, but I've pretty much given up trying to get the files back. I managed to find a hard copy of most of them, so I'll just scan them and I'll be good.
Hugolord
07-30-2009, 04:53 PM
try "Recover my files"
google it :O
ShowerThoughts
07-30-2009, 04:54 PM
Lol yeah, but I've pretty much given up trying to get the files back. I managed to find a hard copy of most of them, so I'll just scan them and I'll be good.

Your documents are prolly, just in your new account, anyways did you get your files back?
samm
07-30-2009, 06:06 PM
Ehm, sorta off topic.
But! you said you'd lose Word 2007 etc etc if you went XP, can I ask why that is?

As I have the whole 2007 Enterprise office suite installed on my XP rig.
If your worried about not being able to install it again. PM me if you want to go to XP because I've done it before :)
Wizzup?
07-30-2009, 06:18 PM
The first thing to do would have been to lock that partition, and mount it as read only on Linux. Then, with a bit of luck, you could start restoring stuff...
Better luck next time. :)
Daniel
07-30-2009, 08:38 PM
The files you need are in a location where you chose to save them in.. Commonly either in your own documents under the old users' name (i.e, i delete an account named Daniel. The folder will be called Daniel in My Documents) or on your desktop. It is extremely unlikely that Windows deleted your files if you chose not to.

Have you tried checking those?
Boreas
07-30-2009, 09:06 PM
Synaptic package manager> search> photorec, only result is testdisk, it's installed with that.
Coh3n
07-30-2009, 10:22 PM
try "Recover my files"
google it :O

Lol, don't you think I tried that before posting? XD


Your documents are prolly, just in your new account, anyways did you get your files back?

They aren't in my new account, trust me, and no I didn't get them back. :(


Ehm, sorta off topic.
But! you said you'd lose Word 2007 etc etc if you went XP, can I ask why that is?

As I have the whole 2007 Enterprise office suite installed on my XP rig.
If your worried about not being able to install it again. PM me if you want to go to XP because I've done it before :)

Well I would lose Word 2007 because my licenses ran out, but I got a cracked version on disk now. :p


The first thing to do would have been to lock that partition, and mount it as read only on Linux. Then, with a bit of luck, you could start restoring stuff...
Better luck next time. :)

Yeah, like I said before I found a hard copy of most of the important files so I can just scan them, but now I know to backup all the time. :duh:


The files you need are in a location where you chose to save them in.. Commonly either in your own documents under the old users' name (i.e, i delete an account named Daniel. The folder will be called Daniel in My Documents) or on your desktop. It is extremely unlikely that Windows deleted your files if you chose not to.

Have you tried checking those?

Yes. :(


Synaptic package manager> search> photorec, only result is testdisk, it's installed with that.

Yeah I know I did that and nothing came up. :confused:
Wizzup?
07-31-2009, 03:36 AM
http://packages.ubuntu.com/search?keywords=testdisk
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=387922
:)
Coh3n
07-31-2009, 05:41 AM
http://packages.ubuntu.com/search?keywords=testdisk
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=387922
:)

Thanks everyone, but nothing seemed to work, but I'm over it. :) I found hard copies of everything so I'm not as pissed anymore.

Thanks to everyone who helped me out. :)
Coh3n
07-31-2009, 07:30 AM
Can I ask how you got the hard copies, for future reference?

T~M

I just printed them out a long time ago and happen to find them in my room. XD
scotchtape51
07-31-2009, 01:58 PM
if you want to go back to xp make sure your hardware is compatible becasue for example: one my laptop i have vista but want to go back to xp. my sound card is not compatible with windows xp so if i didn't make a backup i would be fked over
Coh3n
07-31-2009, 11:21 PM
if you want to go back to xp make sure your hardware is compatible becasue for example: one my laptop i have vista but want to go back to xp. my sound card is not compatible with windows xp so if i didn't make a backup i would be fked over

I've pretty much rules out getting XP, I've gotten all the files I needed back and I'm going to stick with Vista for now, even though it pisses me off. If I get to the point where I want to kill someone, I'll change OS. :p