My computer crashed this morning.... I guess

**mom23boyz** · 01-22-2009, 04:05 PM

I was able to restore it with a system recovery HOWEVER...it said my data files wouldn't be affected but all of my documents are gone

and all of my pictures. Anyone know if I can recover them or am I SOL?
TIA

**homesteadmamma** · 01-22-2009, 05:45 PM

I'm computer illiterate, however I just wanted to say how sorry I am this happened to you. Hope you can get them back.

**TexasPeanut** · 01-22-2009, 08:26 PM

Did you do a complete system recovery back to how it was brand new (in which case you lose everything) or did you do a system restore? Either way, you might try doing a system restore to a specified date and see if that helps you any. That is if you are on Windows. I don't know how things work on Macs.

Go to ... All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

Click on "restore my computer to an earlier time" when the program opens. Check to see when your most recent to date restore point was and click it. It should be on a little calendar in there so you will see it. Your computer will return to what it was on that exact date, Pics, docs etc. included. Anything after that restore date that you have added would of course be lost.

But, if you did a complete system recovery or something very odd happened, you may have lost all of your pics and things and can't get them back even in system restore.

Your computer automatically sets its own restore points every so often and before updates are done to major programs. You can also select to set up when it will make a restore point or you can manually go in and select "create a restore point" when the programs first opens and create a restore point immediately (like right before you add or download something and aren't sure about what it will do). That way should anything happen that isn't totally catastrophic to your computer you can at least go back to the previous week/month/etc. or whenever you need to in order to have it up and running smoothly again.

I do suggest every so often going and creating a restore point, if you do not set it up to do so on its own. Also, if you do keep a lot of personal documents, pictures, etc. on there you might look into an external hard drive to use for a back up. That way you can save all of that important stuff to the external back up drive and always have it should anything happen to your computer, or look into a small and cheap jump drive for your usb port just to save your pictures to or your documents. Again it will just be extra protection for those things so you will never lose them because you have them safe on something other than just your computer.

Also...there is a worm malware thing going around attacking computers, specifically windows users. If you've been to any blog or site lately and clicked a link that took you somewhere that just didn't look quite right, you may have been a victim of it.

Here's a link http://www.internetnews.com/security...Big+Threat.htm

Try the restore point and see if you can get back to a more recent date nearer to yesterdays date or before your computer crashed. Try that and see if you are able to retrieve any of your personal things.

**mom23boyz** · 01-22-2009, 08:57 PM

I was able to retrieve my pictures by reinstalling my Kodak software but I am afraid the documents are gone. I guess I did the restore because I did the whole restore point which restored it from when I redid everything so as of right now....the docs are gone. Sad but I can start over. the pics were my biggest thing!!!!
If anyone else has a suggestion as to how I may be able to locate those docs.....????? Thanks again Crystal

**lisettelovebug** · 01-22-2009, 11:08 PM

doing a system restore should not do anything to your documents. The only thing it usually gets rid of is any programs you have downloaded or installed on your computer since the restore date.

What I would do (besides getting all your pictures burned onto cd-r, dvd-r or zip drive, or you can upload them to winkflash.com). is to go back into the system restore ...
All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore
See, if it has anything that says revert back or try to do another system restore to an earlier point. If you have all your pics somewhere else it won't matter. Also, check your recycle or trash bin (there's usually an icon your desktop) and just make sure they are not in there. I find it really weird that as soon as you installed the kodak again the picd were there. This makes me think they are there somewher and you just need to figure out where.

Even if you do not find them, there are some things I would do. I would make sure you have all the updates for windows (I'm assuming this is what you are using) GO here: http://update.microsoft.com/microsof....aspx?ln=en-us and it will tell you if it is up to date. Also while you are at check Internet Explorer or Firefox for possible updates. I have had a lot of probs with IE so I use Firefox more (plus there is some really cool stuff on Firefox).

Also, I would make sure your anti-virus is up to date and run that. Make sure it is set up to run at least every couple days at the minimum. Also, make sure that your anti-spyware program is updated and run that through too. ( I use AVG for virus and Spybot for spyware - both are free).