Accidentally wiped, or, deleted my OS while restoring backup

Novice2 · 26 Mar 2016

Was having problems with my desktop pc. Tried to restorefrom an old backup. Accidentally restored an empty back up. (The foldercontained an aborted backup attempt. So it was blank. This virtually wiped theoperating system - win7 Ultimate) The pc will no longer boot. When I manage to boot into thesystem with the backup program, I discover that the my os partition is nowunallocated. So, I can't even restore the correct backup. Can' anyone help me?Full disclosure: I am virtually computer illiterate. My computer "wiz kid"who built it is away at school. My little girl is in Middle School, and needsthis badly. Help!

Sad Dude.

ignatzatsonic · 26 Mar 2016

What backup program are you using?

A proper good backup should be able to restore to an "unallocated" space, assuming that space is large enough.

More details needed about your backup methods and exactly what error messages you may be getting.

What makes you think you have a "correct backup"?

Do you have an ordinary Windows installation disc?

Do you have a separate backup of your personal data or is all of your personal data backed up only by this "correct backup" that also supposedly includes your OS?

Novice2 · 27 Mar 2016

ignatzatsonic , I use Nero BackItUp.
I believe I have a correct back up.
Why? I had been using this program for our computers, and never had a problem before. This arose because I was not careful enough to delete the folder of the aborted backup. This, often times has a size in kilobytes, or megabytes (low values). And that was what I restored - accidentally. Having a minimal knowledge of computers, I believe this formatted the os partition and size became smaller, and the bulk, unallocated. I know this because when I boot in with Nero, that's the info. I gather.
Yes, I do have an ordinary windows installation disk. It does not boot in for me to do anything. Neither does any other program like Partition Wizard or Spotmau which would have enabled me to go in and reclaim the space.
Any personal data and info. we have in on a separate partition on the hd. (2 partitions - one for os, the other for data).

whs · 27 Mar 2016

Yes, I do have an ordinary windows installation disk. It does not boot in for
me to do anything

Did you change the BIOS boot order in order to boot from the DVD.

Novice2 · 28 Mar 2016

No. Both my F2 and F12 do not open up their respective "pop ups", "dialogue" or what ever it is called. So, couldn't change it.

whs · 28 Mar 2016

Try ESC and F8

Novice2 · 28 Mar 2016

Will try.

Novice2 · 30 Mar 2016

Didn't work.

ignatzatsonic · 30 Mar 2016

I've never heard of a PC that did NOT provide a boot menu that was accessible through a particular key during the boot process.

I seriously doubt your PC is any different.

Which key varies.

It's up to you to figure that out by the process of trial and error if nothing else.

It is likely an F key or the delete key.

Bringing up the menu can be finicky.

You might have to press the key once per second.

Or twice per second.

Or just hold it down throughout the boot process.

If you don't know the key or press it in the "incorrect" way, you will get no reaction at all.

We have no idea what you are doing and must rely on your descriptions.

Sky Ranch · 30 Mar 2016

I think Igs is right about being the DEL key for Gigabyte mother boards.