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Data Recovery
In December, I reinstalled XP on my PC due to corruption in the XP files. At the same time, my DVD burner started to go out -- the burner I was using to backup and save all my important files. I checked the DVD after burning, and saw all the important file names had been saved before reinstalling XP. Unfortunately, the burner DID save all the files, but did not save any of the data IN a lot of the files (I ended up with a lot of files with -0- data in them). I lost a LOT of important data, nothing life-ending (so far), but some representing a lot of personal items or work put into them.
I am wondering if there is a way to recover that lost data somehow from my hard drive without potentially harming my reconstructed hard drive files. If anyone had any good suggestions, I would appreciate them!
- The DVD I burned was before the reinstall -- it is the item that has the file names but NOT any data in the file.To follow up my issue, I spoke with a local PC tech person, who told me that when I reinstalled XP, that process also overwrites any partition from which I was hoping to recover any data. If that is correct, that means the lost data is just that, lost.
- try to copy the DVD using an iso copier. there might be something wrong with the DVD that for some odd reason gets fixed when it's copied. if you don't already have one, there's a 30 day trial version here --> http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/download/trials_1_ENU.html (if anyone else know of any other .iso copiers, i've been moving away from windows and starting to forget stuff) i've fixed a few scratched CD's by copying them so it might help out in your case also.
Jim Hardin
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Posted January 20th, 2008 10:00
How you burned the DVD's is of interest… Since XP cannot burn any DVD, you must have used some Burning software to accomplish this.
What did you use?- I used Nero's DVD-burning software.But, there seems to be a lot of questions about the DVD I burned. I KNOW the lost data is not on the DVD.My question involves whether or not I can recover the lost data from my hard drive, once I reinstall Windows XP. I have been hoping that the lost data, even though I reinstalled XP, MAY still be on my harddrive somewhere and possibly recoverable. I have been told by a Best Buy "Geek Squad" member that, once I reinstalled XP, I also overwrite any partition where the PC might have saved the lost information. So, if thst's correct, the data may be lost.I am hoping that someone can either confirm that the data is lost forever, OR that someone may have a way to recover the data.
Jim Hardin
2 Intern
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2053 Posts
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Posted January 22nd, 2008 17:00
@lmendol wrote:
I used Nero's DVD-burning software.But, there seems to be a lot of questions about the DVD I burned. I KNOW the lost data is not on the DVD.My question involves whether or not I can recover the lost data from my hard drive, once I reinstall Windows XP. I have been hoping that the lost data, even though I reinstalled XP, MAY still be on my harddrive somewhere and possibly recoverable. I have been told by a Best Buy "Geek Squad" member that, once I reinstalled XP, I also overwrite any partition where the PC might have saved the lost information. So, if thst's correct, the data may be lost.I am hoping that someone can either confirm that the data is lost forever, OR that someone may have a way to recover the data.
Every time you use your HD, you are overwriting any chance of recovering anything…
You might be able to get a recovery outfit that can extract something but it will run you thousands of dollars!
I am not familiar with Nero, but I do know that it nearly impossible to write a Zero byte file when burning! I suspect you used a "backup" portion of their software and the Zero byte file is simply a listing for the recovery program to use. In other words I think everything is there, you just don't know how to use the recovery program to get it…
Why don't you ask Nero?
jdelidc
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Posted January 19th, 2008 13:00