[Dmon1Unlimited]

Backed up files from my laptop, did a clean install of windows and then deleted the "windows.old" folder. Looked around for a specific folder in my backup, can't find it... I turned off my laptop and currently using my phone to google stuff. I've get a few questions:

1)bit obvious but I want to check, is copying the entire desktop folder through c/user/me/desktop (can't remember if that's the actual directory) the same as actually going to your desktop and copying the files?

2) what is a good free file recovery program (that ideally allows batch recovery but most importantly is not limited like free trial versions).

In the past Ive downloaded numerous different programs, all either failed to do what I want or could but were limited some how because they turned out to be free trials. I.e. I've installed useless programs and increased the chances of the deleted files being not recoverable...

I've heard a user suggest a program called recuva and was wondering if other users could either confirm it actually does what it should or recommend a better program?

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by Dmon1Unlimited)
Backed up files from my laptop, did a clean install of windows and then deleted the "windows.old" folder. Looked around for a specific folder in my backup, can't find it... I turned off my laptop and currently using my phone to google stuff. I've get a few questions:

1)bit obvious but I want to check, is copying the entire desktop folder through c/user/me/desktop (can't remember if that's the actual directory) the same as actually going to your desktop and copying the files?

2) what is a good free file recovery program (that ideally allows batch recovery but most importantly is not limited like free trial versions).

In the past Ive downloaded numerous different programs, all either failed to do what I want or could but were limited some how because they turned out to be free trials. I.e. I've installed useless programs and increased the chances of the deleted files being not recoverable...

I've heard a user suggest a program called recuva and was wondering if other users could either confirm it actually does what it should or recommend a better program?

1)It should be as it includes your username and all the folders with in it

2)Recuva I recall being good, though I used a different one which I downloaded once I realised the maker of the external hard drive tricked me into downloading their recovery software, and telling to pay for it ¬¬

[Dmon1Unlimited]

(Original post by Iqbal007)
1)It should be as it includes your username and all the folders with in it

2)Recuva I recall being good, though I used a different one which I downloaded once I realised the maker of the external hard drive tricked me into downloading their recovery software, and telling to pay for it ¬¬

As an update to the situation:

1) used recuva and used a deepscan I.e took years to complete
2) files are unrecoverable despite only being deleted a few days ago
3) still have no reason why they were deleted even though I know it was on desktop and I copy/pasted the entire desktop folder to my hard drive
4) fml
5) /thread

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by Dmon1Unlimited)
As an update to the situation:

1) used recuva and used a deepscan I.e took years to complete
2) files are unrecoverable despite only being deleted a few days ago
3) still have no reason why they were deleted even though I know it was on desktop and I copy/pasted the entire desktop folder to my hard drive
4) fml
5) /thread

It's how it works, external drive took over night about 6-8 hours, and recovery took 2 hours, because it has to scan properly.

Did you install anything over that time?

[Dmon1Unlimited]

(Original post by Iqbal007)
It's how it works, external drive took over night about 6-8 hours, and recovery took 2 hours, because it has to scan properly.

Did you install anything over that time?

To be expected I guess because after I reinstalled windows I installed all the necessary drivers in order to make a system image for future use (I did this before I noticed files were missing)

Not the end of the world I guess, just a bit peeved when I put a lot of time into downloading every lecture and resource for uni next year (before it gets removed) and it somehow gets deleted from my backup

Oh well, nothing I can do I suppose other than hope its still online and start again

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by Dmon1Unlimited)
To be expected I guess because after I reinstalled windows I installed all the necessary drivers in order to make a system image for future use (I did this before I noticed files were missing)

Not the end of the world I guess, just a bit peeved when I put a lot of time into downloading every lecture and resource for uni next year (before it gets removed) and it somehow gets deleted from my backup

Oh well, nothing I can do I suppose other than hope its still online and start again

It's because you did a fresh install..........what happens is that when you delete things, it's still there, just the computer is told is available space to be written over, but you already have with the clean install and it's probably messed everything around.

[Dmon1Unlimited]

(Original post by Iqbal007)
It's because you did a fresh install..........what happens is that when you delete things, it's still there, just the computer is told is available space to be written over, but you already have with the clean install and it's probably messed everything around.

It depends, if the files were deleted before the install then correct, if not, then everything from the previous state, would have been moved to a folder called 'windows.old' (which I then purposely deleted because I thought I backed up) which should be recoverable if deleted, though it would still have been messed up because of the driver installations so it depends on when the files were removed

Can files be overwritten from simply turning on the pc without opening programs nor opening/creating documents and such? (simply turn it on and that's it)

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by Dmon1Unlimited)
It depends, if the files were deleted before the install then correct, if not, then everything from the previous state, would have been moved to a folder called 'windows.old' (which I then purposely deleted because I thought I backed up) which should be recoverable if deleted, though it would still have been messed up because of the driver installations so it depends on when the files were removed

Can files be overwritten from simply turning on the pc without opening programs nor opening/creating documents and such? (simply turn it on and that's it)

Actually your right about the windows old, I know it holds the old OS, I think it might have you know.

No, but installing anything, could over write the old files