Windows 10: Lost a lot of files, need help getting them back

f14tomcat, can your advice be carried out via a usb or dvd boot, with the proper stuff on either media?

 

The situation has changed a bit. Using a program called ShadowExplorer, I was able to get everything from my desktop looking the way it was before this mess happened, but a majority of the files are incomplete - for instance, audio files won't play and images either won't display or consist of corrupted nonsense. Some of these I can just redownload from where I got them, but a large portion of the content on my computer is original. Is there a way to fix these files through Recuva, ShadowExplorer, or something else?

 

This is the program I was referring to when I said there were ways to "explore" the Restore Points. If the shadow copies have been successfully recovered, it can be used to open, explore, and copy any/all files available. It must run under the OS you are recovering to, not from an external bootable media. And the Shadow Copies (Restore points) should be in the OS, not external. All that is stored in the hidden system file System Volume Information.

System Restore Explorer | Nics Blog

The program you used, Shadow Explorer, seems to do similar functions, I've never used it. As far as any corrupt or incomplete files, look for other Shadow Copies you may have that are accessible and see if you can copy from them. Any original work that can't be downloaded and is corrupt and not on any Shadow Copy or stored anywhere else (i.e - no backup), is probably gone.... you'll just have to accept that fact and recreate. It's unfortunate for you, but I do not know of any way to create something out of nothing. Maybe someone else does. With images, you can try to open them in Paint or some other image editing program, and save again. Audio files you might try a program called Audacity to see if it will open them. Download | Audacity®

As you are recovering, you should be doing a series of backups, just in case a step you take undoes or breaks the work you have already done. Don't wait until you have it as pristine as possible. Anything could happen...you goof up, lightening strike, Drive failure... anything Murphy could think of.

You can get a 1TB external drive for $60-$70, or better. Avoid using the Windows native backup, it is too inflexible (others will argue it is not). Many, many use the free version of Macrium Reflect and it is highly recommended and easy to use. It also can be run from a bootable USB/DVD and is independent of the operating system.

Macrium Reflect Free


I really wish you all good luck getting your data back together. If there are any other issues, please post back. TC

 

Just for anyone else who reads this thread in the future:

Installing anything else on the system, or simply running the system, will overwrite data you need to recover.

Booting from @Kyhi's recovery media, you can use Recuva to recover your files to another drive, and not overwrite anything.

Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

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Luckily for me, not only have I uploaded a lot of my original work to file sharing sites or sent it to friends, I also have literally everything that I haven't introduced to my computer in the past five months on an older computer, from which I did a system transfer earlier this year. I think a few things will end up being lost forever, but for the most part, I should be able to restore what I need.

 

I am so pleased you will be ok. Your first post indicated you were in a big pickle, without any way out, no mention of previous system still intact or file sharing services or friends having copies. Many posts and suggestions later, you appear to be ok.

If you are satisfied with where you are right now and need no further assistance, please mark this thread as solved. Thank you.

 

I wouldn't say the issue has been completely resolved, but I'm certainly in a better position now than I was when I made the post. The damage could potentially have been reduced if I'd used Recuva prior to the system restore, or avoided entirely if I'd just been able to ignore the ghost file. In the end, it's all on me, but I'm hoping I'll be able to bounce back without too many problems.

 

A firm I've dealt with in the past is Koll Ontrack, can recover data but is not cheap. Over 15 years of increases and the thousands of pictures one saves, music, data, etc., it may cost $1000.00 compared to the last one I had done for $350.00, it was a bargain as it had the company's books on it.
Kroll Ontrack - recognized leader in legal technologies and

 

But as resolved as it's going to be, without resorting to a potentially expensive recovery service. That is, of course, your choice. If there is nothing else you would like us to do, please mark this thread as Resolved.

 

Well, considering the data itself has mostly been overwritten and doesn't seem to exist in a complete form anymore, I don't know how much they'd be able to do.

 

You'd be surprised. Of course, it will cost you. Kroll Ontrack is good.

 

Are you going to retrieve what you can from the old computer, sharing services and friends? You mentioned earlier you had that. Is that still an option?