Computer Help - Lost File Recovery

[Snoop Doug]

Hi folks

Sorry to trouble you but Mrs Snoop has lost an important piece of college work somewhere in the depths of the laptop . All I can find is links to the file - not the file itself. Any ideas on how to recover "lost" stuff. Sony Vaio Windows Vista (yeah.....I know)

It's a word document by the way....

[Snoop Doug]

the battery conked mid file (I think) and we can't find it - tried searching using windows tools but no luck. When I say link to it I mean in the recent folder - like a shortcut. It ain't in the bin either. This is Mrs Snoops nutrition project for college (couple of days solid work) the reason why she couldn't make last nights talk

We'll keep looking - keep the suggestions coming ta

Snoop

[Snoop Doug]

tried autorecovery and whilst there is a location listed - it's empty
downloading some undelete stuff now - already tried a couple not much going on tho....

Cheers - Snoop the Lost

Assuming I get a result will of course post it up here

[Colin.Steadman]

Although I work in Unix and not windows, A sys admin at work says that Ontrack is the industry standard.
I can borrow his copy if you're ok about installing it yourself.

[Snoop Doug]

[size=75]edit: ie: is there a folder next to the recovery line?
if there is click modify, then navigate one level up the directory tree, then RIGHT CLICK the folder you just came up from (eg its probably called word) and say EXPLORE.

this will open that folder in a new window that you can explore properly and see if theres anything in there[/size]

just tried that marco - nowt there - still trying another recovery programme - may give the other one you posted a try if this doesn't work....

Cheers - Snoop

edit - tried the other link and still nowt - this baby is gooooooone

Think I'll get Mrs Snoop a memory stick for her birthday - how exciting

Cheers for the ideas

[Phil L]

Snoop - loosing a file is so fustrating especially on something you have put a lot of effort into - so you and Mrs Snoop have my sympathies. It does seem a bit odd the file has just disappeared.

As suggested in the earlier postings the best bet would be to try and locate some temp files used by Word, hopefully left around when you computer died. Have you made sure that you have the "Show hidden files and folders" enabled (in Folder Options -> View in explorer)? If they are showing, then try Seagate's File Recovery program to locate any files that have been deleted - it the easiest and best I have come across - you can download a trial here (which is a fully working version I believe): http://services.seagate.com/diysoftware.aspx

[huw williams]

...and in future, get her to write it out in longhand, photocopy it in triplicate placing one copy in a safety deposit box.

Bloody computers... worthless the lot of 'em

[Snoop Doug]

Good point Huw. We found a print out of the first 7 pages last night. So - in an attempt @ chivalry I retyped it for Mrs Snoop.

[Snoop Doug]

I never found it - tried several file recovery softwares, all the advice posted here plus also, I turned the laptop upside down and shook it up - nothing fell out - no files....nothing

[Andrew G]

Did you kick it. All electronic equipment needs a kick from time to time to re-allign the circuits.