Help finding lost files please!

Loopy_Girl

I had to 're-set' my PC to factory settings however I chose the option which saved your files.

I can't find these files anywhere and I am desperate to as these are years worth of pictures (no I didn't burn them to disc and yes, if some kind soul finds them for me then I promise I will!)

I am running Vista

Many thanks

macman

I think you are maybe confusing your terminology-'System Restore' winds the system files back to a specific date, but preserves your data files. A 'Factory Restore' wipes everything (data included) and restores the computer to the 'as new' settings it came out of the factory with.
I'm not aware of any Factory Restore routine that would preserve your data, as the system is reinstalled from a disk image on a separate partition.
You are normally prompted with a clear warning about data loss before you do an FR.
Make and model would help.

dispossessed

Macman - I vaguely recall seeing such an option via the recovery console of an XP machine some years ago (about 2003). I forget which brand it was but I do recall it being there. It was the only occasion I have ever seen it. However I don't know about Windows Vista.

Generally, as MacMan said, a Factory Restore does exactly that and there are several strong and unambigous warnings beforehand.

Having said all of this if all else fails these guys are excellent and can even (sometimes) recover files from a Formated drive. I used to undertake a fair bit of data recovery work myself and this was where I sent those that were beyond the capabilities of myself and/or my equipment. One thing as with most data recovery services - they don't come cheap !

Good Luck

Trevor

closed

recuva deep scan

you need to post more about what you did.

diable

Is there a windows.old folder?

spud17

macman, I've seen a Packard Bell from around 2006 with a 'Packard Bell Recovery Program', you had 2 options,'Complete Recovery' or 'Partial Recovery' which preserved just the personal files.
The caveat was that you should always back up, and it as your fault if you stored stuff in custom locations.

+1 for the .old folder, presumably you've tried searching by name or put " *.jpg " (without "s) into the search box?

dispossessed

Recuva can be downloaded from here (if needed)

Trevor

Loopy_Girl

Thank you for all replies...I will try and answer all questions

I have a desktop which is a iQon PC

I think I may have got my terminology confused and what I done was a 'System restore with automatic data back up'.

I don't know if there is a windows old folder and no, I have not tried doing *jpg. I would need further instructions on how to do this - thanks.

What is odd is that I done this some time ago (few months) and only last night I noticed that in my 'pictures' folder, one of the pictures has just appeared in the folder with no prompting from me.

I realise I have been foolish not backing up and believe me, it's a lesson learned:cool:

So, could someone direct me on how to see if I have an old windows file and/or where I would type the *.jpg as advised by spud?

Many thanks in advance

macman

Go Start>Search and type it in to the box-same way you would normally do a search.
If you did a Windows System Restore then this should not affect your data files. But doing it this way you would have had to select a date to restore to-it's not the same as a Factory Restore.
Were they stored under My Documents, or somewhere else?

Loopy_Girl

I didn't have to choose a date...very odd...

know what, I am going to log off and then go on to the system recovery page so that I can give a precise answer.

I would upload the pics from camera so they would normally go to my pictures folder.

Back in a sec with exact.....

Loopy_Girl

Just to add that it wasn't a Windows system recovery...it's an iQon system recovery....

it comes up PC Angel and then you make your choice from 4....