HELP!!! RECOVER Public Pictures Folder AFTER reformatting harddrive!!!

[largy24]

Hello,

I have a major problem. Because my laptop was having problems involving the 'blue screen of death', I chose to backup my files to an external portable harddrive before reformatting the entire drive.

However, when opening the backup folder, I discovered that my art folder, located in the 'PUBLIC PICTURES' folder was not to be found.

What is the BEST method to recover the files from the 'PUBLIC PICTURES' folder? I had almost 5GIGS worth of pictures.

I KNOW there is a way to recover the files, but not sure if they will even be located in the Public Pictures folder. Is it possible that after reformatting, Windows 7 relocated the contents of the 'Public Pictures' folder to another place on the drive?

Is it possible to restore the folder to previous versions AFTER reformatting the drive?

Can someone PLEASE help me?? This is seven years worth of photos I saved that I'm desperately trying to recover.

THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH for your patience and assistance.

 

[largy24]

Can someone please help me? I'd really need to recovery these files WITH the exact file names associated to them.

Does anyone know of a free method to recover them from the 'PUBLIC PICTURES' folder AFTER reformatting the harddrive?

Would appreciate any help!!

 

[largy24]

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

 

[SIW2]

What kind of format did you do?

If it was a quick format - you should be able to recover files .

Full format , nope.

 

[SIW2]

If you did a quick - and you haven't written anything to it since, you should be able to get full recovery.

You need an operating system from which you can see the quick formatted drive.

If you only want pictures, Zar is the one.

Demo version includes fully functional image recovery , free.

Digital image recovery - ZAR usage demo

It doesn't have to ba card or camera - you can point it at a drive.

 

[largy24]

Hi!!! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR YOUR REPLIES!!!

I'm not absolutely sure which kind of reformat was performed. What is the difference between
a QUICK format and a FULL format?

Currently, I'm using PhotoRec to recover the files, but since then I mistakenly recovered ON the desired
drive, 6GIGS worth.

What should I do at this point?

 

[SIW2]

STOP.

Do not wite anything to the same drive you are recovering from.

If photorec is finding files - looks like it was quick format.

Copy the files you already recovered onto another drive.

Continue recovering - always recover to another drive.

If photorec lookes like it is doing the job - may as well keep using that.

 

[largy24]

Okay....Do you know of ANY way to recovery the ORIGINAL file names and the Dates created? I am recovering THOUSANDS of photos from artists, and previously they were named a certain way.

I saw that 'Wondershare' might be able to do it, but is there an open source software or alternative to recover
original file names?

THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOO VERY MUCH for your speedy replies and assistance by the way!!! You are a GODSEND!!

 

[largy24]

Separate question regarding the same issue:

So, because of the 'blue screen of death', we backed up the OLD backup and a NEW backup to an external harddrive.

Do you know where the files from the 'PUBLIC PICTURES' folder would be located WITHIN the backup folder?

I searched it constantly, but was AMAZED that Windows 7 didn't backup the 'Public Pictures' folder within the
Backup folder.

Am I missing something? I know that the folder was worth almost 4.5Gigs of pictures, both PNG and JPG.

Is it possible to still save myself from all this recovery trouble by just navigating to the correct folder, maybe a
'hidden' folder within the backup file? That way, ALL the original file names and 'original created date' names would
still be intact.

THANKS AGAIN for your input!!!

 

[SIW2]

Try Recuva - tick under options restore folder structure.

http://www.piriform.com/recuva/download/portable

 

[largy24]

THANKS!!!!!!!!!

So you're saying that RECUVA can find the 'public pictures' folder FROM the backup folder?

Or are you recommending that I use RECUVA for my current PhotoRec recovery folder?

 

[SIW2]

Do you know where the files from the 'PUBLIC PICTURES' folder would be located WITHIN the backup folder?

Did you use windows inbuilt backup?

I don't use it - perhaps you needed to specifically tell it to include any public folders.

Recuva is a file recovery tool - like photorec - it's easy to use - I expect it will get the filenames after only a quick format.

You would need to scan the drive again - this time using Recuva.

 

[largy24]

Should I download RECUVA on my external harddrive and run it from there or does it need to be on the primary drive, where the data is being recovered from?

Will it restoe restore the 'folder structure' to the backup folder I already have on my external drive?

Or are you telling me to select the 'folder structure' for recovered files from the PhotoRec process?

I just want to be clear about your instructions.

THANKS for clarifying, SIW2!!! I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU!!!

 

[largy24]

THANKS!!!

Just to clarify, should I use RECUVA for the existing backup file, and it will restore the 'public pictures' folder with all the information intact?

Or are you saying that I should use RECUVA to restore the 'folder structure' for my current PhotoRec process?

THANKS for your help!!!

 

[largy24]

Yes, I used the Windows 7 in-built backup and stored it on an external hardddrive.

 

[largy24]

Question about recovery:

I noticed that PhotoRec recovers files, but not at the original file size. Sometimes, I've found the exact same file in its original size. Is it typical to find duplicates of files in this manner? Is there still hope that I can recover the file in its original size with Recuva?

THANKS SIW2 for answering my questions. I really don't mean to overwhelm or frustrate you. I'm just grateful for you reaching out to me and for your patience.

 

[SIW2]

Sorry, had to go out - there is real lfe too, you know.

Run recuva from another drive - under options select restore folder structure - point it at the drive you quick formatted

Scan the quick formatted drive - restore the files it finds to any drive EXCEPT the one you quick formatted.

( I don't think Recuva will be able to do anything with the files you previously recovered using photorec)

 

[largy24]

SIW2, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. And it's totally understandable that you must live a life outside of helping others, for your happiness sake.

When I get a chance, I'll use Recuva to scan the formatted drive and will await for the results.

Do you honestly think it will recover the original file name along with its meta data?

Does it give me the option to scan only PNG and JPG files before beginning the process?