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General discussion

recover data after system restore

by cavilav Dec 5, 2008 9:34AM PST

I have a compaq presario V3117LA and something happened to my laptop that it wouldn't turn on, it only appeared the safe mode option but still it wouldn't go on. I pressed F11 and did a system recovery, but I was told by a warning message that my files wouldn't be erased.
The computer its now literally like new, but I can't find my files! mostly its pictures, movies, some office documents and music, I don't care about the programs, I just wan the files.
I have windows xp
somebody knows how to recover the for free or do I have to pay some computer specialist?

Discussion is locked

8 Posts
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Use Your Backups..
by Grif Thomas Forum moderator Dec 5, 2008 9:50AM PST

All important data should be backed up/copies to a DVD or CD, or external drive for just such situations. After a full/destructive system recovery using F11 on HP and Compaq computers, the C: drive is reformatted and the operating system plus all programs are taken back to its factory state.. Sorry, but those files are basically gone... That is unless the files are extremely important. In such a case, you can contact a data recovery company such as Ontrack at the link below.. It will cost a good bit of change.

http://www.ontrackdatarecovery.com/

Hope this helps.

Grif

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I tried handy recovery
by cavilav Dec 5, 2008 9:57AM PST

I tried handy recovery, a software I found, and I searched for my files and there they are, hidden somewhere, the thing is that the free trial I downloaded can only recover 1 file per day and today I recover 1 photo, and it was exactly as before.
I've read on some pages that the files can be recovered, and I'm very hopeful, because they are more sentimental that important files.

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So You've Tried The Tools Below?
by Grif Thomas Forum moderator Dec 5, 2008 10:18AM PST

As stated earlier, if the files are important to you, you may have to spend some money, even for a program like Handy Recovery.. Below are a couple more tools that might get you what you want also:

PC Inspector File Recovery for FAT32 and NTFS
http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/UK/welcome.htm

FILERECOVERY

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there is also
by Nightmares0nwax Dec 6, 2008 6:45PM PST
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I recover most of my files
by cavilav Dec 9, 2008 9:49AM PST

Using Recuva, thank you very much for the tip!

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no probs
by Nightmares0nwax Dec 9, 2008 10:12AM PST

glad to help

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recover lost files after system restore
by marcus982 Jun 1, 2013 1:07PM PDT

I also lost files after system restore, but unluckily, above solutions does not help. Anyone knows any other solution?

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Given no backups and DIY recovery fails.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jun 2, 2013 2:01AM PDT

Hopefully you stopped using this drive the moment you discovered the loss and you ask http://www.drivesavers.com for their help.

Some folk continue to use the HDD and with more use, the recovery prospect dim. Some folk will install recovery software on the very drive they are trying to get files back from. This is writing over the very areas they wanted to recover!

Let's hope you thought it through.
Bob

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