Get back those precious files and photos

kim_ley

I was hysterical when I realised all my pictures were gone... forever!!!
I was bawling my eyes out as all those precious moments with my two boys captured in time were gone, I had tried backup restore but I hadn't made a backup file of them (
I thought there must be a way of doing it as you hear all the time about police etc finding images on computers (that the owner had thought they had erased).
So I consulted my trusty friend google... I read all about finding files that have been deleted THERE IS A WAY!!!

FREE TRIAL

http://www.diskinternals.co.uk/index.html

I'm currently searching for my files but it's on 49% AND HAS FOUND 8620 SO FAR!!!
I've seen some of the pictures i'm looking for pop up soooo fingers crossed.
I'll update on how I get on!

:j

fifeken

You can also do something similar on mobile phones, camera memory cards, USB sticks, SIM cards etc so don't despair if you think you've lost lots.

ayeshasi

i have formatted my memory card on my digi camera by mistake.....how can i retrieve them......is it possible??

Browntoa

http://www.pcinspector.de/Sites/file_recovery/info.htm?language=1

tricki1

Unfortunately I think you will find that the free trial will show you which files it can recover, but not actually recover them unless you pay for the full program
read carefully the blurb "All products are available as a free trial which allows you to evaluate the chances of recovering your files before you buy" (emphasis mine)

DiskInternals is a decent recovery software, but the free trial I have always found deceptive - you never actually get to recover anything in it. The same goes for several other programs with regards to "free trials".

I would defiantly try any freeware ones first before you bought the full software - the one Browntoa gave is good, also look on this page http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads38.html for ones marked freeware - they cost nothing, so if do not get everything back you can try another. They may be a little more complicated to use than the one you tried, just be patient and take it slowly, and make sure you copy recovered files to another drive.

The important thing with file recovery is to avoid writing to the disk as much as possible, preferably not at all.

When something is deleted, it usually is still there just marked as discarded to Windows, so that it knows it can use that bit of the hard drive again. So software like the one you found can find the files you have deleted and copy the bits you want.

Do not worry that running DiskInternals or other software will cause Windows to overwrite your photos - It couldn't recover things if it were able to do that, but DO NOT degfragment your drive, as this will likely overwrite lots of your pictures, and avoid moving files around. Using the internet is ok, unless you download a lot.

The very best thing to do is boot up your pc with a cd or flash drive that has the recovery software on it, as that means nothing is being written to your pc, so more chance of recovering things before over written, but this is complicated, and using your pc normally will not overwrite a lot so is ok to download a program and run it.

ayeshasi wrote: »

i have formatted my memory card on my digi camera by mistake.....how can i retrieve them......is it possible??

Can use the same type of program - though make sure you use one that says it recovers many file systems such as FAT16, FAT32 etc
Some programs may have problems recognising the card, try in a card reader if you have one, or just connect your camera normally - as long as you don't take any new pictures the old data can often be recovered. Edit: Forgot to add - if when you insert the card or plug in the camera, you get a new drive in My Computer, then it will work with most programs as you can point them at the new drive. If not, then you will have to experiment with programs. Some cameras let you change the settings so it will come up as a device, but you would have to trawl through your camera's manual for that.

I cannot recommend which program is best, have not tried most of them myself, and been a while since had to, so little rusty on new programs, but if you follow the instructions and go slowly I think you should manage.

Good luck in getting your pictures back

the182guy

I have had no success with these in the past. I wouldn't be suprised if the "number of files found" in the free trials is boosted to make you buy the full version.

ming123

this is very good and it is free

http://www.recuva.com/

fifeken

ayeshasi wrote: »

i have formatted my memory card on my digi camera by mistake.....how can i retrieve them......is it possible??

I've never used it, but here's some software that might do it.

http://www.z-a-recovery.com/download.htm

redmandarin

fifeken wrote: »

You can also do something similar on mobile phones, camera memory cards, USB sticks, SIM cards etc so don't despair if you think you've lost lots.

Sorry, I don't want to hijack the op's post, but please can someone tell me how I can recover photos from two (yes two!) moblile phones that have accidentally been put into the washing machine!

The first is an ancient Samson flip top thing (SGH-E105?) which says "Remove data cable or IrDA", when I try to access my photos, and the second is a Sony Ericsson e800i whose screen has gone dark and has to be read with a torch!

Pip26

Hi redmadarin - go to the Forum Jump tab at bottom of this page and under 'Homes & Play' you will see a 'Techie Stuff' sub-board. Put your querie on here - I have had really good help in past - you will prob. get far better response than on freebies board - good luck!!!!!!!

p.s. don't wash any more phones

redmandarin

Thanks for your help Pip26 - you made me laugh,

I've also sought the help of the techies on occasion - they're great! I posted here on impulse, in case the poster who had raised the possibility of photo recovery was around to answer! I knew it was a long shot! I'll re-post!

The first 'phone "accident" was done by my partner, who gathered up some duvet and covers for a wash (including my 'phone which was on the bed)! The second was me! The 'phone was in my dressing gown pocket! :eek: I killed the most expensive one! We're going to try to not do it again! :rolleyes: