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Original poster

HEEEEEEEEEELP!!!!!!!!!!

52 replies

HecateHarshPants · 14/07/2012 20:44

My USB stick. On which are all my photos, all my work, is buggered.

I don't know what happened to it. I tried to open it and it said that before I could use it, it must be formatted. Well, since I have been using it, I knew that couldn't be right! I can't retrieve anything from it.

All the children's photos. All my work! hundreds of template policies and procedures.

My cash flow forecast! I have no clue what's coming out when!

I am truly up shit creek in a concrete canoe. And I don't have nose plugs. Or a snorkel. and the people who live on the banks of the creek have constant diahorroea.

If you tell me how I can fix this, I will snog you, shag you, give you all my money, kick david cameron in the nuts or wear a placard declaring you God and walk round the streets of london ringing a big bell.

Take your pick. Just SAVE ME!!

OP posts:
HappyCamel · 14/07/2012 20:50

Oh boy, I guess you don't have it backed up. Firstly, try it in another computer. Secondly, don't panic, a quick google will find you data recovery companies where you post it off and they only charge you if they can recover it. It worked for my dad with a faulty SD card, they replaced the bit of it that accesses the data; the actual info was fine.

ithastobeNAICEham · 14/07/2012 20:51

Do you have another machine you can plus it in to?

Take it to pc world on mondaay, if you can. They will be able to help you

Original poster
HecateHarshPants · 14/07/2012 20:54

nope. not backed up. I have tried it in the laptop, same thing.

OP posts:
NicholasTeakozy · 14/07/2012 20:55

The only thing I can think of that might help is forensic data recovery. If it's only been overwritten once the data should be recoverable. Good luck, and don't format stuff you want to keep.

rhondajean · 14/07/2012 20:59

Hecate. Be honest here.

Did you take it put your pc without doing the green arrow shut down??????

Original poster
HecateHarshPants · 14/07/2012 21:00

I didn't format it! That's the message that flashed up when I inserted the usb.

Like I said, I knew that couldn't be right, since I use the disk! I never said I formatted it. I didn't. Sorry for not being clear.

The fact that it was telling me it needed to be formatted made me know it was fucked. When I clicked to open it - it just can't open.

I have done nothing to it.

OP posts:
rhondajean · 14/07/2012 21:01

Did you just pull it out last time you used it and it was ok????

BlackOutTheSun · 14/07/2012 21:02

had a google and found this

www.recover-computerdata.com/digital-photo-recovery.html

Original poster
HecateHarshPants · 14/07/2012 21:02

Green arrow shut down? What the holy hell is that? I save the file, close it down, close the file thingie - list of files held on the usb - and take it out. Am I supposed to do something else before removing the disc?

Be gentle with me or I'll cry again!

All my children's photos.

I wonder if they're still on cloud backup at the office? Do you know if cloud backup stores lots of previous backups or overwrites?

OP posts:
Original poster
HecateHarshPants · 14/07/2012 21:03

Yes. I did. Closed it down and pulled it out.

Am I not supposed to do that?

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rhondajean · 14/07/2012 21:05

Right. Most pcs you are supposed to go to the bottom right of the task bar. There is a green arrow there. If you click it will say "safely remove disk h" or whatever.

It will then shut down your pen drive and say its safe to take it out.

Plug it into your pc and look see if the arrow is there.

I have done this with one several years ago. I had just completed a three thousand word essay on a wednesday night that was due in on the Friday.

The bad news is you may not get everything back. The good news is, if this is the problem, with the right software you should at least be able to recover part of what was on the disk.

Original poster
HecateHarshPants · 14/07/2012 21:07

yes, the arrow is there.

I never knew this Blush

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MotionOfTheOcean · 14/07/2012 21:10

Do you not keep copies of these files on your computer?USB storage devices have a high failure rate and can go just like that.

rhondajean · 14/07/2012 21:11

I knew it was there but still never used it! And I did it a hundred times with no problem.

The forensic software should find some of your files, it will probably lose some of your later work though.

It was a lesson to me in backing up and also in shutting down properly so you aren't alone. Hope you get the kids photos back, you can rewrite polices Sad

Tee2072 · 14/07/2012 21:13

As I said on your other thread, stop using a USB stick for this. They are so unreliable, especially when removed a lot.

Buy an external hard drive. Back up to that.

Original poster
HecateHarshPants · 14/07/2012 21:16

I did have copies on the computer - and it was all backed up to cloud backup - hence my wondering if perhaps cloud backup keeps old backups or just overwrites, iyswim.

but my husband Angry bangs on and on and BLOODY ON about 'space' on the computer. How if you store anything on the computer, it slows it down. He is forever bloody messing with it. removing programmes. Hmm that I need! Cos he hasn't got a clue what he's doing (neither do I it appears!)

So he deleted all my pictures etc from the main pc. On the grounds that they take up a lot of space and I have them on the USB.

Yes, it's the children's photos that's upsetting me. All their toddler pics. I can never get those back.

OP posts:
Original poster
HecateHarshPants · 14/07/2012 21:17

Yes Tee, thanks I will do that. It just doesn't get me my babies photos back I was hoping there was something that could do that. I could kick myself.

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Tee2072 · 14/07/2012 21:17

Your husband is wrong. Tell him I said so.

The Cloud, I think, will only replace, not keep old versions. Not sure though, depends, I think on your cloud and which cloud it is and what your settings are.

Tee2072 · 14/07/2012 21:18

Seriously, try sending it to a data recovery firm. They might get some of them for you.

I learned my lesson when I lost all my wedding pictures that I had on disk. I have multiple back ups of everything, including on Flickr etc.

rhondajean · 14/07/2012 21:19

From my experience, the software recovered what was on the disc up to a few saves back (ie about two thirds of my essay so a couple of late nights got it redone).

He's right about space on the pc but honestly, buy an external drive, we have one and iTunes, photos etc are on it. Word documents etc don't take up much space but photos and music and videos can. It also means if you replace of you just plug in the external drive to the new one. You can even buy portable ones. They are a few quid but much cheaper than you used to be and worth every penny.

Don't cry, honest. You won't make the same mistake twice. (plus it sounds lime his fault haha)

Original poster
HecateHarshPants · 14/07/2012 21:19

what about the other pc? That's where they were deleted from. Now, is there any way to undelete things that have been deleted and recycle bin emptied?

OP posts:
Original poster
HecateHarshPants · 14/07/2012 21:20

and yes, I will send the usb off to someone. Thanks

OP posts:
rhondajean · 14/07/2012 21:20

If you replace your pc

Tut my poor typing iPad and wine don't mix sorry.

rhondajean · 14/07/2012 21:21

Wellll

The police have software that can recover anything you had on your pc I believe.

I don't know what it's called or where you get it.

SofiaAmes · 14/07/2012 21:24

Depends on your cloud backup system whether old files are there or not. Some keep them for a short period of time. Also some (the one I use - crash plan) will let you backup an external hard drive that is not attached all the time to your computer. So I store my music on an external hard drive (it's not at all on my computer) which I am slowly (it takes forever) backing up to the cloud. If the external hard drive dies (likely at some point as they don't last more than a few years generally), I will have a backup.