Accidentally reformatted, having problems recovering files

[Windows7Guy2012]

Hi, Windows7Guy2012 here. Long story short, I accidentally reformatted my pc a couple days ago. The first thing I tried to do, was to use the emergency backup. That restored a couple of the files but not most of them that I wanted. Particularly, the midis.

So then I tried EASEUS and that worked pretty well for most stuff. But it still couldn't locate some of the files I wanted. I was able to recover most of the midis, however, for some reason the recovered files are unplayable. Can someone tell why this is?

I also study Japanese and have this program called JWPCE. It saves files in ".jce" format. EASEUS has not been able to find or recover these.

I also wanted to recover my Firefox bookmarks and have not been able to find them.

So should I just give up on recovering this stuff? Or is there a better solution?

 

[DavidE]

Hello and welcome to SevenForums.

I'm not sure what actually happened here.
I think you'll need to clearly detail this for the experts here to best help you.

Some questions that would help...

What did you do to reformat the PC?
Did you reformat the partition/drive with the operating system ( C: )?
What did you do for the "emergency backup"?
Do you have your data on a different partition/drive from the OS, such as "D:" ?
Is that what you reformatted?
Are you booting the PC from the reformatted drive/partition, or did you attach the drive to another PC to work on this?

You may still be able to recover more files, but it might cost $...
If you are using the PC where the data is in an "active" partition/drive, the more you use it, the more chance of over-writing the data and losing it.

regards,
david

 

[Windows7Guy2012]

Hello and welcome to SevenForums.

I'm not sure what actually happened here.
I think you'll need to clearly detail this for the experts here to best help you.

Some questions that would help...

What did you do to reformat the PC?
Did you reformat the partition/drive with the operating system ( C: )?
What did you do for the "emergency backup"?
Do you have your data on a different partition/drive from the OS, such as "D:" ?
Is that what you reformatted?
Are you booting the PC from the reformatted drive/partition, or did you attach the drive to another PC to work on this?

You may still be able to recover more files, but it might cost $...
If you are using the PC where the data is in an "active" partition/drive, the more you use it, the more chance of over-writing the data and losing it.

regards,
david

To format the PC I used the recovery disc that I made when I first got windows 7. There was an option to make an emergency backup that doesn't get erased when you format, which I made.

I think I reformatted the C drive which was the main one on the OS. I guess in the end I am willing to spend money. but that may take a while to get.

 

[DavidE]

Hi Windows7Guy2012,

Based on you're reply, I'm guessing you have your OS, programs, and data all on the same drive/partition (C).
I'm also guessing your hard drive has only one partition - the C drive.

I've never been in your situation as i understand it.
Maybe someone with first hand experience will see this and jump in.

It sounds like you are now running an OS on a recovered C drive, trying to recover "lost" data on that same C partition, to the same C partition.

Assuming i'm correct:

I would remove the hard drive from that PC and attach it to another PC for any further recovery attempts.
The more you run the OS from that hard drive, the more likely you are to over-write data you want to recover.
Trying to recover data from and to the same partition is problematic in itself.

I think you're in a situation where you need to decide how valuable this data is, and what you're willing to spend.
There are more free recovery programs that may help, and some paid that are reasonably priced (< $50).
If you have to go to a Data recovery "service", expect much more, probably $1000 or more.
I don't want to suggest any programs right now, as using any of them could result in more unrecoverable data.

If you don't have a 2nd PC, or are not comfortable removing an HD to attach to another PC, understood.
If so, maybe you have a tech friend that can help with this.

When you get this issue resolved, going forward i suggest:

• Using a partition imaging program such as Macrium, Acronis, etc. for your OS.
• Setting up partitions for OS and data so your data is not lost if you have to recover the OS.
• Planning a backup/restore strategy.

Hopefully my reply is not overly confusing!

best of luck with this,
david

 

[jumanji]

I entirely agree with DavidW7ncus: The more you run the OS from that hard drive, the more likely you are to over-write data you want to recover.
Trying to recover data from and to the same partition is problematic in itself.

Well, as I see it, it is a difficult situation and as suggested by David, you have to access your harddrive from another OS or with a data recovery software that runs from an external media and that which does not write anything onto it.

You can try the following.

1. Run a Linux OS from a pendrive and check whether you can recover any data. This http://www.sevenforums.com/software/198909-lucid-puppy-way-recover-files-non-bootable-computer.html may help you do that.

2. Try PhotoRec. PhotoRec - CGSecurity The one singular advantage: Photorec ignores the file system, this way it works even if the file system is severely damaged and it does not write anything to the drive being recovered. http://www.sevenforums.com/software/193467-guide-using-photorec-recovery-software.html

There may be other paid software that may help but only someone who has used such software can suggest from their experience. If you buy and then find that it didn't help that money spent is a waste.