URGENT! What is the best utility for recovering a deleted file? (msWindows XP)

On Aug 18, 1:14*am, ship wrote:
On Aug 17, 3:30*pm, "Brian Cryer" not.here@localhost wrote:



"ship" wrote in message

....

Windows XP Pro SP3 (+ all the latest patches)
ms Word (Office 2003)

Hi

I just managed to synchronise my data in the wrong direction (using
FolderMatch v3.5.0), and I have lost a couple of critical msWord
documents.

Any views on what is the best utility to recover them?

For recovered deleted files I've found undelete-plus to be excellent.
(www.undelete-plus.com, I suggest you download the trial version.)

Of course if Leythos is right (and he generally is) about overwritten files
not being deleted then this might not be of any help (but I suggest you try
it anyway).
--
Brian Cryerwww.cryer.co.uk/brian

Sorry - but Undelete Plus is one of the most useless pieces of
software
that I've EVER come across. A poor start is that the Start Scan and
Start Undelete texts do not
sit correctly on their button graphics. Then the "Undelete Selected
files to:" *doesnt work at all
it is impossible to select a directory with it.Then the file types
failed to list even a single
MS Word file. Sorry but this software is useless, bl**dy useless.

Ship

P.S. I was testing Undelete Plus verion 3.0.0.602 (c2009)
Oh and the Filter was graphically all over the place and also
unusable
even if you tried hard to use it (

On Aug 18, 1:14*am, ship wrote:
On Aug 17, 3:30*pm, "Brian Cryer" not.here@localhost wrote:



"ship" wrote in message

....

Windows XP Pro SP3 (+ all the latest patches)
ms Word (Office 2003)

Hi

I just managed to synchronise my data in the wrong direction (using
FolderMatch v3.5.0), and I have lost a couple of critical msWord
documents.

Any views on what is the best utility to recover them?

For recovered deleted files I've found undelete-plus to be excellent.
(www.undelete-plus.com, I suggest you download the trial version.)

Of course if Leythos is right (and he generally is) about overwritten files
not being deleted then this might not be of any help (but I suggest you try
it anyway).
--
Brian Cryerwww.cryer.co.uk/brian

Sorry - but Undelete Plus is one of the most useless pieces of
software
that I've EVER come across. A poor start is that the Start Scan and
Start Undelete texts do not
sit correctly on their button graphics. Then the "Undelete Selected
files to:" *doesnt work at all
it is impossible to select a directory with it.Then the file types
failed to list even a single
MS Word file. Sorry but this software is useless, bl**dy useless.

Ship

P.S. I was testing Undelete Plus verion 3.0.0.602 (c2009)
Oh and the Filter was graphically all over the place and also
unusable
even if you tried hard to use it (

"ship" wrote in message

On Aug 17, 3:30 pm, "Brian Cryer" not.here@localhost wrote:
"ship" wrote in message

...

Windows XP Pro SP3 (+ all the latest patches)
ms Word (Office 2003)

Hi

I just managed to synchronise my data in the wrong direction (using
FolderMatch v3.5.0), and I have lost a couple of critical msWord
documents.

Any views on what is the best utility to recover them?

For recovered deleted files I've found undelete-plus to be excellent.
(www.undelete-plus.com, I suggest you download the trial version.)

Of course if Leythos is right (and he generally is) about
overwritten files not being deleted then this might not be of any
help (but I suggest you try it anyway).
--
Brian Cryerwww.cryer.co.uk/brian

Sorry - but Undelete Plus is one of the most useless pieces of
software
that I've EVER come across. A poor start is that the Start Scan and
Start Undelete texts do not
sit correctly on their button graphics. Then the "Undelete Selected
files to:" doesnt work at all
it is impossible to select a directory with it.Then the file types
failed to list even a single
MS Word file. Sorry but this software is useless, bl**dy useless.

Ship

What's wrong with XP's own undeleter? I've had it do very adequate work
for me as long as the files weren't overwritten. The less space you
have on a drive, the more likely to be overwritten the files are, BTW.

"ship" wrote in message

On Aug 17, 3:30 pm, "Brian Cryer" not.here@localhost wrote:
"ship" wrote in message

...

Windows XP Pro SP3 (+ all the latest patches)
ms Word (Office 2003)

Hi

I just managed to synchronise my data in the wrong direction (using
FolderMatch v3.5.0), and I have lost a couple of critical msWord
documents.

Any views on what is the best utility to recover them?

For recovered deleted files I've found undelete-plus to be excellent.
(www.undelete-plus.com, I suggest you download the trial version.)

Of course if Leythos is right (and he generally is) about
overwritten files not being deleted then this might not be of any
help (but I suggest you try it anyway).
--
Brian Cryerwww.cryer.co.uk/brian

Sorry - but Undelete Plus is one of the most useless pieces of
software
that I've EVER come across. A poor start is that the Start Scan and
Start Undelete texts do not
sit correctly on their button graphics. Then the "Undelete Selected
files to:" doesnt work at all
it is impossible to select a directory with it.Then the file types
failed to list even a single
MS Word file. Sorry but this software is useless, bl**dy useless.

Ship

What's wrong with XP's own undeleter? I've had it do very adequate work
for me as long as the files weren't overwritten. The less space you
have on a drive, the more likely to be overwritten the files are, BTW.

(Cross-post read in a.w.w., replying to all. Followups not set)

On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:53:43 -0400, Leythos wrote:

In article stupidly long , says...
So it's not clear whether my sychronisation software (FolderMatch)
will have deleted the file or have overwritten it in some way.


I'm going to bet that it OVERWRITES the files, not deletes them - but I
have no way to know for sure.

That'd be my guess as well.


If you've INSTALLED ANYTHING on the drive, or written ANY new data to
the drive, there is a reasonable chance that you've overwritten any
deleted file or block.

When you do this, immediately remove the drive, don't even shutdown
windows as file writes happen during shutdown - remove the drive and
install it in a second computer and run the undelete software from the
drive in the second computer, not from your data drive.

What procedure are you recommending here? Just yank the power plug out of
the socket and then open up the PC to remove the drive?

--
John
Or rip the living heart, still beating, out of the patient?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087469/

(Cross-post read in a.w.w., replying to all. Followups not set)

On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:53:43 -0400, Leythos wrote:

In article stupidly long , says...
So it's not clear whether my sychronisation software (FolderMatch)
will have deleted the file or have overwritten it in some way.


I'm going to bet that it OVERWRITES the files, not deletes them - but I
have no way to know for sure.

That'd be my guess as well.


If you've INSTALLED ANYTHING on the drive, or written ANY new data to
the drive, there is a reasonable chance that you've overwritten any
deleted file or block.

When you do this, immediately remove the drive, don't even shutdown
windows as file writes happen during shutdown - remove the drive and
install it in a second computer and run the undelete software from the
drive in the second computer, not from your data drive.

What procedure are you recommending here? Just yank the power plug out of
the socket and then open up the PC to remove the drive?

--
John
Or rip the living heart, still beating, out of the patient?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087469/

"John Hosking" wrote in message
...
(Cross-post read in a.w.w., replying to all. Followups not set)

On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:53:43 -0400, Leythos wrote:

In article stupidly long ,
says...
So it's not clear whether my sychronisation software (FolderMatch)
will have deleted the file or have overwritten it in some way.


I'm going to bet that it OVERWRITES the files, not deletes them - but I
have no way to know for sure.

That'd be my guess as well.


If you've INSTALLED ANYTHING on the drive, or written ANY new data to
the drive, there is a reasonable chance that you've overwritten any
deleted file or block.

When you do this, immediately remove the drive, don't even shutdown
windows as file writes happen during shutdown - remove the drive and
install it in a second computer and run the undelete software from the
drive in the second computer, not from your data drive.

What procedure are you recommending here? Just yank the power plug out of
the socket and then open up the PC to remove the drive?

--
John
Or rip the living heart, still beating, out of the patient?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087469/

That is the one time I would do just that, pull the plug or turn it off with
the power switch on the power supply in the back (if so equipped.) Just
wait for any drive activity light to go out. That way, the heads get parked,
nothing additional is possibly written to the drive and whatever is there
will remain there. Most of the time when the data is recovered, the drive
is replaced in the original computer and power is applied Windows will start
normally. Only once in a while will windows have to be repaired.

"John Hosking" wrote in message
...
(Cross-post read in a.w.w., replying to all. Followups not set)

On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:53:43 -0400, Leythos wrote:

In article stupidly long ,
says...
So it's not clear whether my sychronisation software (FolderMatch)
will have deleted the file or have overwritten it in some way.


I'm going to bet that it OVERWRITES the files, not deletes them - but I
have no way to know for sure.

That'd be my guess as well.


If you've INSTALLED ANYTHING on the drive, or written ANY new data to
the drive, there is a reasonable chance that you've overwritten any
deleted file or block.

When you do this, immediately remove the drive, don't even shutdown
windows as file writes happen during shutdown - remove the drive and
install it in a second computer and run the undelete software from the
drive in the second computer, not from your data drive.

What procedure are you recommending here? Just yank the power plug out of
the socket and then open up the PC to remove the drive?

--
John
Or rip the living heart, still beating, out of the patient?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087469/

That is the one time I would do just that, pull the plug or turn it off with
the power switch on the power supply in the back (if so equipped.) Just
wait for any drive activity light to go out. That way, the heads get parked,
nothing additional is possibly written to the drive and whatever is there
will remain there. Most of the time when the data is recovered, the drive
is replaced in the original computer and power is applied Windows will start
normally. Only once in a while will windows have to be repaired.

"ship" wrote in message
...
On Aug 18, 1:14 am, ship wrote:
On Aug 17, 3:30 pm, "Brian Cryer" not.here@localhost wrote:

"ship" wrote in message

...

Windows XP Pro SP3 (+ all the latest patches)
ms Word (Office 2003)

Hi

I just managed to synchronise my data in the wrong direction (using
FolderMatch v3.5.0), and I have lost a couple of critical msWord
documents.

Any views on what is the best utility to recover them?

For recovered deleted files I've found undelete-plus to be excellent.
(www.undelete-plus.com, I suggest you download the trial version.)

Of course if Leythos is right (and he generally is) about overwritten
files
not being deleted then this might not be of any help (but I suggest
you try
it anyway).
--
Brian Cryerwww.cryer.co.uk/brian

Sorry - but Undelete Plus is one of the most useless pieces of
software
that I've EVER come across. A poor start is that the Start Scan and
Start Undelete texts do not
sit correctly on their button graphics. Then the "Undelete Selected
files to:" doesnt work at all
it is impossible to select a directory with it.Then the file types
failed to list even a single
MS Word file. Sorry but this software is useless, bl**dy useless.

Ship

P.S. I was testing Undelete Plus verion 3.0.0.602 (c2009)

I'm using version 2.9.8.0. I've successfully recovered lots of deleted stuff
with it, and its now part of my standard toolkit. But I've been around long
enough to accept that what works for one person may be a pile of **** for
someone else.

Oh and the Filter was graphically all over the place and also
unusable
even if you tried hard to use it (

Interesting. I've seen this on other software products so I know what you
mean. Whilst I don't see this on my pc, I do agree that its a sign of poor
testing.

Well, if it doesn't work for you then I do hope you find something suitable
that does.
--
Brian Cryer
www.cryer.co.uk

"ship" wrote in message
...
On Aug 18, 1:14 am, ship wrote:
On Aug 17, 3:30 pm, "Brian Cryer" not.here@localhost wrote:

"ship" wrote in message

...

Windows XP Pro SP3 (+ all the latest patches)
ms Word (Office 2003)

Hi

I just managed to synchronise my data in the wrong direction (using
FolderMatch v3.5.0), and I have lost a couple of critical msWord
documents.

Any views on what is the best utility to recover them?

For recovered deleted files I've found undelete-plus to be excellent.
(www.undelete-plus.com, I suggest you download the trial version.)

Of course if Leythos is right (and he generally is) about overwritten
files
not being deleted then this might not be of any help (but I suggest
you try
it anyway).
--
Brian Cryerwww.cryer.co.uk/brian

Sorry - but Undelete Plus is one of the most useless pieces of
software
that I've EVER come across. A poor start is that the Start Scan and
Start Undelete texts do not
sit correctly on their button graphics. Then the "Undelete Selected
files to:" doesnt work at all
it is impossible to select a directory with it.Then the file types
failed to list even a single
MS Word file. Sorry but this software is useless, bl**dy useless.

Ship

P.S. I was testing Undelete Plus verion 3.0.0.602 (c2009)

I'm using version 2.9.8.0. I've successfully recovered lots of deleted stuff
with it, and its now part of my standard toolkit. But I've been around long
enough to accept that what works for one person may be a pile of **** for
someone else.

Oh and the Filter was graphically all over the place and also
unusable
even if you tried hard to use it (

Interesting. I've seen this on other software products so I know what you
mean. Whilst I don't see this on my pc, I do agree that its a sign of poor
testing.

Well, if it doesn't work for you then I do hope you find something suitable
that does.
--
Brian Cryer
www.cryer.co.uk

Try use EasyRecovery. It is better or Ghost (norton)

"ship" wrote:

Windows XP Pro SP3 (+ all the latest patches)
ms Word (Office 2003)

Hi

I just managed to synchronise my data in the wrong direction (using
FolderMatch v3.5.0), and I have lost a couple of critical msWord
documents.

Any views on what is the best utility to recover them?

I had a look inside the Recycle bin, but they aren't there.
There is no sign of any temporary Word (2003) files in the directory
in question through windows explorer.
I tried running something called FreeUndelete - but it couldnt see any
trace of the either of the files.

I am now trying to run a scan using something called Active@ UNDELETE
7.2.017 (DEMO).
On problem is that the scan is taking a very long time (estimated at
about 50 minutes for my 111.8 GB)...

The other problem is that my PC only has the one disk drive so I am
rather scared that I am over-writing the disk as I go... (arrrgh!)

- Any advice?


Ship
Shiperton Henethe

Try use EasyRecovery. It is better or Ghost (norton)

"ship" wrote:

Windows XP Pro SP3 (+ all the latest patches)
ms Word (Office 2003)

Hi

I just managed to synchronise my data in the wrong direction (using
FolderMatch v3.5.0), and I have lost a couple of critical msWord
documents.

Any views on what is the best utility to recover them?

I had a look inside the Recycle bin, but they aren't there.
There is no sign of any temporary Word (2003) files in the directory
in question through windows explorer.
I tried running something called FreeUndelete - but it couldnt see any
trace of the either of the files.

I am now trying to run a scan using something called Active@ UNDELETE
7.2.017 (DEMO).
On problem is that the scan is taking a very long time (estimated at
about 50 minutes for my 111.8 GB)...

The other problem is that my PC only has the one disk drive so I am
rather scared that I am over-writing the disk as I go... (arrrgh!)

- Any advice?


Ship
Shiperton Henethe

"Satoichi" wrote in message

Try use EasyRecovery. It is better or Ghost (norton)

"ship" wrote:

Windows XP Pro SP3 (+ all the latest patches)
ms Word (Office 2003)

Hi

I just managed to synchronise my data in the wrong direction (using
FolderMatch v3.5.0), and I have lost a couple of critical msWord
documents.

Any views on what is the best utility to recover them?

I had a look inside the Recycle bin, but they aren't there.
There is no sign of any temporary Word (2003) files in the directory
in question through windows explorer.
I tried running something called FreeUndelete - but it couldnt see
any trace of the either of the files.

I am now trying to run a scan using something called Active@ UNDELETE
7.2.017 (DEMO).
On problem is that the scan is taking a very long time (estimated at
about 50 minutes for my 111.8 GB)...

The other problem is that my PC only has the one disk drive so I am
rather scared that I am over-writing the disk as I go... (arrrgh!)

- Any advice?


Ship
Shiperton Henethe

The OP should run the REpair option and have the disks and keycode handy
in case it's needed. Or another install in-place. Available by booting
from the CD.

"Satoichi" wrote in message

Try use EasyRecovery. It is better or Ghost (norton)

"ship" wrote:

Windows XP Pro SP3 (+ all the latest patches)
ms Word (Office 2003)

Hi

I just managed to synchronise my data in the wrong direction (using
FolderMatch v3.5.0), and I have lost a couple of critical msWord
documents.

Any views on what is the best utility to recover them?

I had a look inside the Recycle bin, but they aren't there.
There is no sign of any temporary Word (2003) files in the directory
in question through windows explorer.
I tried running something called FreeUndelete - but it couldnt see
any trace of the either of the files.

I am now trying to run a scan using something called Active@ UNDELETE
7.2.017 (DEMO).
On problem is that the scan is taking a very long time (estimated at
about 50 minutes for my 111.8 GB)...

The other problem is that my PC only has the one disk drive so I am
rather scared that I am over-writing the disk as I go... (arrrgh!)

- Any advice?


Ship
Shiperton Henethe

The OP should run the REpair option and have the disks and keycode handy
in case it's needed. Or another install in-place. Available by booting
from the CD.