So I got it into my head tonight that it was time to re-build my desktop PC. As I have three hard drives on it now, and all of our documents, etc, are on the data drives, backing up of the C drive was a fairly simple process.
Then I threw in the Windows DVD and re-booted. Up came the option to choose which drive I wanted to install Windows on - C, D or E. Of course I picked C, the drive Windows is currently on. Yes, I want to Quick Format the drive.
Hmmm... turns out what Windows was calling the C drive was ACTUALLY what used to be called my E drive - yes, the drive that had all of our documents, family photos, etc, on it.
So guess what I'm doing for the rest of the evening? Trying to UN-FORMAT that drive and rescue the documents. Yippee.
I'm currently running a tool called Kernel for NTFS v4.03 which apparently
recovers deleted files and data from deleted, formatted, damaged, or corrupted partitions where NTFS based operating systems, such as Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003 are installed on the hard disk or data storage media.
Any other handy hints (apart from getting a frakking clue) much appreciated!
You had a backup, right?
So is the wife talking to you yet?
Molly
Posted by: Phillip Molly Malone | Sunday, June 04, 2006 at 09:52 AM
ah no, no backups. Well I have MY documents synched on the laptop, but this was the only copy of lots of other stuff. I've been trying to use some damn automated backup tool for the last month but it keeps failing on me.
Posted by: Cameron Reilly | Sunday, June 04, 2006 at 10:08 AM
hmm yea see I tend to refrain from formatting anything unless I have a backup of everything on my computer that I actually care about. Good luck with the unformatting. In the early days of IT that was basically my dads job description because the stupid gits at his work hadnt been taught the when in doubt dont click on 'yes' rule of windows
Posted by: Miriam Parkinson | Sunday, June 04, 2006 at 10:14 AM
I know this is no good for you now, but we advise clients ( http://www.gradeastudent.com.au ok plug completed) that if they are doing a reformat with more than one disc, to unplug every thing but their designated drive, because windows has been KNOWN to not know that your C is their C etc...
ws
Posted by: Wade | Sunday, June 04, 2006 at 12:38 PM
yeah thanks Wade, I did actually remember that advice AFTER the problem. Being relatively new to having multiple hard drives it's something I havent had to worry about much before. Hard way to learn! The good news is that app seems to have found lots of files, cant be sure if its everything though. Cost me US$49, but worth it!
Posted by: Cameron Reilly | Sunday, June 04, 2006 at 01:38 PM
Hey Cameron, give Mozy a shot for online back up : https://mozy.com/ref/UTVC5L
2 Gig free space, works really well.
Posted by: Tony | Sunday, June 04, 2006 at 06:48 PM
Cam, I have only one thing to say. A person in your position should not be mucking around with hardware. It's not exactly 'core-business' and I'm sure your time could be better spent. Just like your bookwork - get someone else to do this stuff....like Wade maybe.
(No I don't have any affiliation with gradeastudent....I just think it sounds a great idea)
Posted by: Dave - Lifekludger | Sunday, June 04, 2006 at 09:02 PM
Go Gradea another plug lol, Cam / Tony, I started using mozy, I love the simpleness, and apart from the icon always needing to be on the task bar, its great, it checks all of my selected folders for changes every hour.
ws
Posted by: Wade | Monday, June 05, 2006 at 08:29 AM
Grrr... did the same thing myself on Saturday - must be a catching disease. Should also know better...
What was worse though - I did have a backup of my Outlook files... turns out Outlook was using an .ost file and not .pst - can't recover any of my contacts, email etc.
Posted by: MikeP | Tuesday, June 06, 2006 at 08:30 AM
geeez Mike, you'd almost swear Saturday was 060606 instead of today! The pure evil! That's my idea of hell on earth - everyone formatting the wrong hard drive on the same day. There's a film plot in that, I'm quite sure.
What the hell are you doing still using Outlook? Move to Gmail my friend. Let Google worry about looking after your contacts for you. :-)
Posted by: Cameron Reilly | Tuesday, June 06, 2006 at 03:36 PM
Well servers me right. I lost a drive last night and looks like I lost about 3 months of photos. Do you think I am a popular boy?
Oh well.
Any one know of a company that doesn't charge the earth that will look at a failing hard drive in Melbourne?
Molly
Posted by: Phillip Molly Malone | Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at 09:21 AM
ouch Mol, hurts doesn't it! I've never used a recovery service but it sounds like between us we could keep one in business! :-)
Posted by: Cameron Reilly | Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at 10:47 AM
Update: Cost to high to recover. Store replaced the drive and I will be doing more regular backups (bought a new hard drive and will better organise my photos to allow for regular backing up of them too).
A great leason for us all (unfortunately one that I already knew and ignored!)
Molly
Posted by: Phillip Molly Malone | Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at 11:47 AM
yeah man, that sucks. especially when we all know the rules... BUT... this goes towards my argument that PCs are TOO HARD for most punters. Too many things can go wrong. They need to be easier to manage. Which is why I think the ASP model that Google is driving offers most of us lots of genuine benefits. And why the argument that "ASP is too hard for most people" is arse about.
Posted by: Cameron Reilly | Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at 01:57 PM
Amen to that brother.
One of the things lost is the wifes mail. Seriously going to try and move her to gmail. Also I have a flickr account and may look to uploading smaller version of all my photos up there (in the past have tried to upload full size versions of the photos).
Molly
Posted by: Phillip Molly Malone | Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at 04:19 PM