Recovering files ??

iHappyPanda

Just a day ago my HP PC got a biohd-8 error
I took it to a repair centre and the person said there was no way to of fixing the problem without restarting/reinstalling windows on it.
And now I have lost all my files, is there any chance of recovering them at all!!

superb choice of username

Probably, you'll need a 'live image' on a usb stick. And then you'll need an external drive to copy the files to.

Basic instructions are http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/

iHappyPanda

superb choice of username wrote: »

Probably, you'll need a 'live image' on a usb stick. And then you'll need an external drive to copy the files to.

Basic instructions are http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/

But the problem is he already installed new windows all my files are gone

Reamer Fanny

iHappyPanda wrote: »

But the problem is he already installed new windows all my files are gone

Can you boot to safe mode?

excollier

iHappyPanda wrote: »

But the problem is he already installed new windows all my files are gone

Why did he do that without using a linux live image disc/usb to recover the files? Is he a "professional"? Obviously he is unaware of this method, which seems odd. Shame.

Soundman

There isn't a folder on the drive called Windows.old by any chance is there? It would be in the root of the C: drive. The "repair" guy may have done a repair install rather than a fresh format install. Worth a look anyway.

iHappyPanda

Soundman wrote: »

There isn't a folder on the drive called Windows.old by any chance is there? It would be in the root of the C: drive. The "repair" guy may have done a repair install rather than a fresh format install. Worth a look anyway.

Yeah I remember that happening last time but this time
He just booted a CD and installed it as my pc would not go to the login screen
and yes he is a professional

vibe666

iHappyPanda wrote: »

Yeah I remember that happening last time but this time
He just booted a CD and installed it as my pc would not go to the login screen
and yes he is a professional

obviously not any help to you at this point, but there's a big difference between just getting paid to do something and being professional about the way you do it.

excollier

When he really should have booted a live linux cd instead.....a real pity that.
For future problems I woul recommend you download a live linux image called Parted Magic and burn it to a cd, then if you get problems again, you will be able to access your files and rescue them.
Link here:
http://partedmagic.com/doku.php#.UaplTOEwjz6 to read about it, download it here
http://sourceforge.net/projects/partedmagic/files/partedmagic/Parted%20Magic%202013_05_01/pmagic_2013_05_01.iso/download
It won't harm your system, and you should get a dry run with it so you are prepared, just in case......and save some money too.
Many's a professional uses Linux to save Windows.

thomlin

Hi Op,

Could try using this
http://www.piriform.com/recuva

I have used it in the past and it is very good at recovering files that have been overwritten on your hard drive.

It's free as well and fairly simple to use.

Best of luck.

SeaFields

There's no excuse for wiping your files to be fair. Even with my very limited IT knowledge, I managed to recover all the stuff off the girlfriends laptop using knoppix on a USB key, when windows got corrupted.

That was either very lazy or very incompetent out of him.

JDxtra

These guys in repair shops dont care about your files. Far easier and more lucrative for them to reinstall the OS and claim nothing was recoverable.