Restoring a HDD

[tokar]

PLEASE .... I NEED SOME DESPERATE HELP.

i managed to get the hdd installed and the computer is reading it.  there does not seem to be a problem with the new hdd.  there was a problem with using the computer awhile ago (before installing the new hdd) and i was asked to find someone to fix it.  i asked ..... and he said it was so full he couldn't even defrag the hdd.  i asked him to do what he needed to do to save the pics on the comp and when i get it back, the hdd seems to be almost wiped clean.

you have no idea of the crap i will have to deal with when i return the comp and it is wiped with no pics.  these pics are of my god daughters growing up.  i need some help from someone that really actually knows what they are doing with recovery. 

worst thing is i have no cash to pay (unless i get a job soon) and will have to work out some sort of a trade with you.  please help me save these pics.  i told the mother to make dvd copies but did she listen?  NO.  she never listens to me.

i dread having to tell her.  depression setting in deeper.  please help.

[Sasha]

If you tell the computer to delete files, it often just "pretends" its deleted and its still actually on there until its written over by new files. if the person didn't purposely wipe everything including "deleted" data, then there are programs you can use to aid you ... (Recuva is one, I believe)

I call some furs having the equipment to do it already...and I do believe it is a non-destructive process, so if one's recovery method fails, then maybe others can try . . . last resort, I am able to give it a try, for free for you . . .

Tigerface.

[zedigalis]

I work as a computer tech and may be able to help

A couple of questions to keep in mind before I get to the good stuff
1: Was a fresh copy of windows installed on this drive?
2: have you put anything on the wiped drive?
3: Is the wiped drive your main drive in the computer or is it a slave drive?

Now instructions!

Note: This will probably only work if there was not a fresh install of windows, and you have not touched the drive other than to see that it was wiped! That being said as long as the specific location on the drive has not been touched it may still work.

First: DO NOT TOUCH YOUR HARDDRIVE as soon as you start moving files or even accessing some it could overwrite the files that have been "deleted" it is possible to get those file back as long as your computer has not overwrote them.

Second: On a separate computer or hard drive get this: http://www.piriform.com/recuva

Third: Plug the wiped drive into the computer with Recuva on it

Fourth: Use Recuva to attempt to locate deleted files on the drive, this could take a while as the whole drive was probably reformatted and It will detect many files!

Fifth: Use Recuva to restore the files!

This is the user friendly way to recover files, there are more sophisticated ways that have more of a chance of working but they usually require special equipment or good knowledge of how to operate dos programs from a hirens disk or other external media

Ask questions if you are confused and be sure to tell me how it turned out, and sorry this is so late after you had originally posted, but I just joined this site.

[tokar]

thanks for the hdd help but you just confused the hell out of me.  i gave the comp to .... and he tells me that he managed to restore windows without formating the hdd.  i installed a second drive and deleted most of the files on that drive while it was in the new comp.

first (old) drive 40 gb   new drive 10 gb    maybe i should reverse drives so that pics etc can be saved on the larger drive and use the 10 gb for windows and other programs.  but i want to recover the pics that were (are?) on the larger drive.

when i gave it to .... to get it to work, the 40 gb hdd was so full it could not be defragmented, so i was told.  the pics that are now missing are of my god daughters while growing up so i really want to save them.  plus if i get them back someone will  like me a little more, or rather - hate me a little less.

at this point i wish you were closer.

[zedigalis]

when i gave it to .... to get it to work, the 40 gb hdd was so full it could not be defragmented, so i was told.  the pics that are now missing are of my god daughters while growing up so i really want to save them.  plus if i get them back someone will  like me a little more, or rather - hate me a little less.

at this point i wish you were closer.

Ok well from what Im getting I think your best bet is to download and instal http://www.piriform.com/recuva
it's simple to run and it recovers lost files, If possible try to download and instal recuva on the drive that does not have the missing pics on it as any activity on the drive could overwrite the lost pictures.