Deleted Picture Folder

[TheTalker]

This is the second time I've accidentally deleted a picture folder with no way of getting it back.

I did a system restore but that didn't return my pictures. Does anyone know of anything I can do to get these pictures back?

I'm using Windows 7 x64

 

[CommonTater]

This is the second time I've accidentally deleted a picture folder with no way of getting it back.

I did a system restore but that didn't return my pictures. Does anyone know of anything I can do to get these pictures back?

I'm using Windows 7 x64

Looked in your Recycle Bin?

 

[richc46]

Welcome

This will get it back. Plus you will be surprised by everything else it finds

DmitryBrant.com DiskDigger

You can also try back up and restore, which is part of your OS, that will work, too.

Try back up and restore first.

 

[richc46]

System restore only restores the OS. Back up and restore is for personal documents

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/648-restore-backup-user-system-files.html

 

[TheTalker]

Wow!!! I can't believe it! Diskdigger actually worked. This is amazing!! Thank you so very much Rich. I didn't think it would work because I used tools like this twice before and they both crashed.

 

[richc46]

To help others tell which one you used.

Make sure that you have back ups made, for system restore and back up and restore, by default. You may need it again.

 

[TheTalker]

System restore only restores the OS. Back up and restore is for personal documents

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/648-restore-backup-user-system-files.html

I have a question about this. If I back up drive C, (that's where my pictures are located), will the backup made be as big as the drive itself?

 

[richc46]

It should be compressed. It is suggested that you back up the HD on a separate hard drive, in case of hard drive failure.

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express/

You also have the capablity to back up with system image, part of the OS.

 

[TheTalker]

To help others tell which one you used.

Tell them the one that worked or the ones that didn't work?

It should be compressed. It is suggested that you back up the HD on a separate hard drive, in case of hard drive failure.

Free Backup Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery Free Edition - Overview

You also have the capablity to back up with system image, part of the OS.

I'm still new to all of this and a bit confused. I'm backing up the library files, make a system image and am putting it on my external harddrive.

Compressing as in using WinRar or PowerArchiver and compressing the files? And then extracting them when you want to restore them?

 

[whs]

There are various ways to backup your pictures:

1. Easiest is to just copy the whole folder to an external drive, USB stick or even amother partition in the system.
2. Next level would be to define a seperate data partition and backup that partition. I would use free Macrium because it is the easiest to use, fast and reliable.
3. The ultimate procedure is to image the whole system including the data (partition if any). Again I do that with Macrium. This video tutorial shows you the whole cycle. I have scheduled the imaging for every morning when I turn on the machine. This way I always have a recent image and can face any situation during the day.

Note:
1. If you loose just 1 file, you can retrieve that from the images seperately. No need to do a full restore for just 1 or 2 files.
2. you don't have to worry about compression. Macrium does that automatically. With the default compression ratio, the image ends up to be about 55% of the source.

 

[richc46]

To help others tell which one you used.

Tell them the one that worked or the ones that didn't work?

It should be compressed. It is suggested that you back up the HD on a separate hard drive, in case of hard drive failure.

Free Backup Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery Free Edition - Overview

You also have the capablity to back up with system image, part of the OS.

I'm still new to all of this and a bit confused. I'm backing up the library files, make a system image and am putting it on my external harddrive.

Compressing as in using WinRar or PowerArchiver and compressing the files? And then extracting them when you want to restore them?

Yes, just tell us which method that you used. I made two suggestions to help you find your pictures. You reported that it worked and I was very happy for your. I merely, suggested that you report which method you used, so other members may be helped.

 

[TheTalker]

I used DmitryBrant.com DiskDigger and it worked! I was able to retrieve my pictures. It was fast too! Had the pictures back in about three minutes. Thanks so much Rich!

There are various ways to backup your pictures:

1. Easiest is to just copy the whole folder to an external drive, USB stick or even amother partition in the system.
2. Next level would be to define a seperate data partition and backup that partition. I would use free Macrium because it is the easiest to use, fast and reliable.
3. The ultimate procedure is to image the whole system including the data (partition if any). Again I do that with Macrium. This video tutorial shows you the whole cycle. I have scheduled the imaging for every morning when I turn on the machine. This way I always have a recent image and can face any situation during the day.

Note:
1. If you loose just 1 file, you can retrieve that from the images seperately. No need to do a full restore for just 1 or 2 files.
2. you don't have to worry about compression. Macrium does that automatically. With the default compression ratio, the image ends up to be about 55% of the source.

Alright, I'm going to try this method. Thank you.

 

[richc46]

I used DmitryBrant.com DiskDigger and it worked! I was able to retrieve my pictures. It was fast too! Had the pictures back in about three minutes. Thanks so much Rich!

There are various ways to backup your pictures:

1. Easiest is to just copy the whole folder to an external drive, USB stick or even amother partition in the system.
2. Next level would be to define a seperate data partition and backup that partition. I would use free Macrium because it is the easiest to use, fast and reliable.
3. The ultimate procedure is to image the whole system including the data (partition if any). Again I do that with Macrium. This video tutorial shows you the whole cycle. I have scheduled the imaging for every morning when I turn on the machine. This way I always have a recent image and can face any situation during the day.

Note:
1. If you loose just 1 file, you can retrieve that from the images seperately. No need to do a full restore for just 1 or 2 files.
2. you don't have to worry about compression. Macrium does that automatically. With the default compression ratio, the image ends up to be about 55% of the source.

Alright, I'm going to try this method. Thank you.

Thank you for reporting back. You can, also, try system image for an image of your hard drive. It is already part of your OS. Macrium, as suggested, is also very good as is Paragon.

 

[TheTalker]

What exactly is a System Image and a Restore Disk?

 

[richc46]

What exactly is a System Image and a Restore Disk?

I am not sure where you read those terms; from me or WHS, but I think this is what you mean when you refer to a restore disk.



System Image is built into your OS. Type System Image, in help and support, by start and you will get a complete description.

 

[TheTalker]

Okay, I know what a System Image is now.

But I have another question. What is the difference, besides one being a CD, between a System Image and Bootable Rescue CD? (The latter is from Macrium.) Is the latter used in case the System Images can't be reached?

 

[whs]

The system image is a copy of your system (e.g. on an external disk). The Rescue CD contains the program (plus a little Linux distro to run it) that pulls your system image in. This has to be laoded from the CD reader (the boot sequence in your BIOS may have to be set to load from CD first - but most times the BIOS is already set up that way). The assumption is, that in most cases when you have to load the image that the whole system is dead. But loading from CD is always possible.
If you watch the video I made, it should become clear. (I know, 30 minutes is long but it explains the whole cycle).

 

[TheTalker]

I'm watching the video now and am about 18 minutes in. I think I understand now.

I first store the System Image on an external hard drive. If my computer won't start or something then I mount the Restore CD, press F10 at the bootup screen and then go through the Macrium setup and choose the image I want from the external hard drive that I saved it to.

Is this correct?

 

[richc46]

Dont know about f10 etc, but yes you are correct.

 

[TheTalker]

Oops, I'm probably wrong about the F10 thing. Sorry. It might be Esc. Whatever button accesses the Boot Menu.

I'm going to ask WHS if he can send me the pictures that he shows in his guide.

Thank you very much everyone for your help!!