Aaaaarrrghhhhh. Restoring backups
Discussion
Thanks to everyone who helped me yesterday when my notebook's hard drive took a turn for the worst. Being the generally careful person that I am, I recently started backing up the 'My Documents' folder on my laptop over the home WiFi network onto my desktop's hard drive. I have found the back up file, all 175 Mb. Now this is where I start to feel a bit sick....
When I made the back up, I opted for incremental backup on the basis that it would not have to rewrite loads of data everytime. I don't know if this was right - but essentially I just wanted to backup everything in the My Documents folder.
When I restore the folder to my notebook - all I get are all the folders that I used to have - but none of the various files inside them.
Have I cocked up here, or am I just doing something wrong. Would be nice to see al my data back safe and sound (though most of the really important stuff I have copied onto my clients network anyway - but that's not the point!).
Help!
When I made the back up, I opted for incremental backup on the basis that it would not have to rewrite loads of data everytime. I don't know if this was right - but essentially I just wanted to backup everything in the My Documents folder.
When I restore the folder to my notebook - all I get are all the folders that I used to have - but none of the various files inside them.
Have I cocked up here, or am I just doing something wrong. Would be nice to see al my data back safe and sound (though most of the really important stuff I have copied onto my clients network anyway - but that's not the point!).
Help!
Thanks. The software I used was the back up programme in Windows XP Pro.
I can only find one back up file and when restored, it brings up a host of the right folders, but all empty. I did not know that this may only append a back up file to use in conjunction with a master one. If this is the case and I cannot get my stuff back, then I am stuffed and definitely been mis-sold to!
I can only find one back up file and when restored, it brings up a host of the right folders, but all empty. I did not know that this may only append a back up file to use in conjunction with a master one. If this is the case and I cannot get my stuff back, then I am stuffed and definitely been mis-sold to!
Don't panic just yet. Your data is still on the old HDD even if you can't read it ATM. First, download the eval copy of restorer2000 (google for it) and run it against the old HDD. That'll find anything if it's there regardless of the state of the MFT. If it isn't there, the electronics have probably failed. Specialist recovery companies can probably rebuild your plattens on new electronics, but it ain't cheap >£1000.
HTH.
HTH.
BliarOut said:
Don't panic just yet. Your data is still on the old HDD even if you can't read it ATM. First, download the eval copy of restorer2000 (google for it) and run it against the old HDD. That'll find anything if it's there regardless of the state of the MFT. If it isn't there, the electronics have probably failed. Specialist recovery companies can probably rebuild your plattens on new electronics, but it ain't cheap >£1000.
HTH.
HTH.
Thanks but old HDD is now in the post on way back to Hitachi on an RMA. I could feel that the disk was spinning up - but sadly that was the only vital sign. There was also something loose inside it. Attached it to my desk top and tried some data recovery software but it just could not get access to the drive other than to report its model and size. Resigned myself to the fact that it is buggered.
ATG said:
Did you manage to restore any files at all? 175MB just for a directory structure sounds unlikely. At the very least, any file that you have changed since you started running your backups ought to be available.
what aldi said!
what aldi said!
Edited by ATG on Wednesday 28th June 22:50
That's what I thought. That's a lot of data for empty folders. Trouble is, that is exactly I am getting. I get a full structure of folders nested within folders (that is how I organise my work) but when drilling right down to the lowest level, no word, excel, pdfs etc to be found. Most puzzling - but then I have not tried this 'fantastic piece of robust software' that comes bundled with all that is XP Pro
Linux looks so sexy at the moment.
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