Lost Everything and have to hand in IT coursework tomorrow...HELP

jaydeeuk1

You anywhere near Derby?

loobyloo2

on the desktop.
Previously only recycle bin icon, after post 4 desktop icon came up, clicked on that then this is all that came up.

Lil306

You can run piriform recuva from a USB pen, so it won't overwrite anything if you download the portable edition

Data recovery priority atm, not the malware.

The_Grandmaster

Thank you Lil306 - I didn't know recuva would run on a pendrive.
I also agree that data finding is first before cleaning up the computer.

stilltheone

Another thing you can do is to log on as Administrator in order to enter under another account. As alluded to by RussJK and others, the files are simply hidden and not deleted at all.

The_Grandmaster

I kind of see your point stilltheone but if the data is just sitting there, there is no danger of surely overwriting on the data even if it is hidden? And are you 100% sure that the data is just hidden?

debitcardmayhem

Lil306 wrote: »

You can run piriform recuva from a USB pen, so it won't overwrite anything if you download the portable edition

Data recovery priority atm, not the malware.

The_Grandmaster wrote: »

Thank you Lil306 - I didn't know recuva would run on a pendrive.
I also agree that data finding is first before cleaning up the computer.

This is not the point guys, the OP has not lost anything yet, and there is a chance that this will not help. Looby follow russ or stilltheone first , you have not lost anything yet.

Lil306

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

This is not the point guys, the OP has not lost anything yet, and there is a chance that this will not help. Looby follow russ or stilltheone first , you have not lost anything yet.

I see both sides of the story, the malware may have simply hidden everything and the files aren't deleted. On the other hand, piriform will at least recover the docs so there is a copy of everything if anything "goes wrong" (not like anything ever does in IT)

The_Grandmaster

Didn't know about Windows Diagnostic malware which hides files- but surely recuva wouldn't do any harm? Wouldn't it just show up her coursework if available rather than spending an hour or more cleaning up the computer?

Edit: I guess we have similar ideas Lil306...

Lil306

The quickest way to see if the files are there (assuming they're in my documents)

windows key + r (for run diag)

navigate to
C:\documents & settings\username\usernames documents (if XP)
c:\users??\users documents?? (if vista)

and see if files are there

Before any cleaning / restoration I'd suggest at least backing them up so that the daughter has them and they can then still hand in the coursework.