I was trying to organize my images and I accidentlly deleted over a years worth of images!!!!!!! All my recent shoots are gone! I'm gonna be sick! what do I do?!?
I'm scanning with data recovery software hoping I can at least get the TIFFS back, but I don't think it'll recover the raw files. I feel so sick to my stomach.
There are programs and companies that can get back your pictures for you, even if they are raw and even if you emptied the recycle bin.
Here is an example but do some research before you just go out and get one. If it were me personally I'd take it in somewhere to someone who knows what they are doing. My photos are very important to me and I wouldn't mess around.
It happened to me once, with my music. My step father, who was reaaally good with computers worked some magic and recovered it all. But, the first thing he told me was "do NOT save anything on your hard drive until it's fixed". It's the only advice I can give you :(. Good luck!
I've got no real advice just sincere sympathy. In our last few weeks living in Samoa our only PC was hit by lightning down the phone line- I had unplugged everything from the power when the storm started. Our oldest managed to get maybe a 10th back but essentially we lost pretty much all our digital photos. I still feel really sad when I think about it. I really hope you are able to recover your pics ;(
Anytime you delete a file from your computer's hard drive or any other storage device, it's still there until you write something else over that file. Deleting a file doesn't erase the file, it just tells the computer that, that section of storage is now available to put new data on it.
So here's what you do to get your files back.
First, pick up an external hard drive. (when you start recovering files, you want to put them on a different drive so you don't overwrite any files you're recovering)
Next, download and run recuva from http://www.piriform.com/recuva. When it asks where to put the files it recovers direct it to your external hard drive. It may take quite some time to run especially if it's a large drive, but I've had very good luck with the program.
The single most important thing is that you don't save any more files until you've used the recovery software. Don't upload new photos from your camera to your pc, try not to visit any websites, or use your browsers private browsing mode (most should have one these days) so no cache gets stored on disk. This'll maximise the chance of the areas of the disk where the images still reside not being overwritten.
Hi Shannon, As a person with some knowledge (and working) in IT, and also someone that had seen my backup hard drives failing with thousands of my photos, I would advide you to do the following:
- assuming you are still scanning your drive, let the process go to the end.
- if the recovery is not what you wanted, DO NOT DO ANYTHING TO THAT DRIVE. Just turn off the computer and take it (or just the drive) to a place/shop/helpdesk center that as the proper tools to do a thorough search.
- the result may be very good but it may be just what you have right now (I was very lucky, 100% recovery of 5 years photos)
- it will be expensive, be prepared...
I really can imagine what you are feeling right now... GOOD LUCK!!!
I'm posting from my iPod cause I'm afraid to touch my computer until I get everything backed up to my extern HD. Luckily I had some file recovery software on my computer. The process took all night, but it recovered over 10,000 raws, tiffs, & jpegs. I'm going to do a back up & check to make sure my most recent shoots are recovered.
With that many files I'll never know if everything was recovered. I'm am definately going to start doing weekly backups.
It is these kinds of threads that make me so happy that I joined this site- people helping other people :) you guys are the best!! Shannon I'm glad you were able to recover all ( or most of your photos )! What a horrible thing to happen :(
Good idea with the weekly backups - but I'd suggest doing redundant backups, and keep one set of backups at a different physical location than your house. (In case of fire or robbery) I keep a 1 TB external drive at my mom's house and update it every time I go visit.
I was able to get most of my images back. Some came back corrupt, some I'll have to re-edit from scratch. I guess I'll have to chalk this up to lesson learned and to be thankful I was able to get most back in one format or another.
Thank goodness you were able to get most of them! What a tragedy it would have been to lose them all. I can't imagine how sick you must have felt yesterday. My computer has been acting funky lately, I should probably look into better storage myself. It's the family pictures I'd miss the most.
I'm so glad you were able to recover at least most of your files! My heart just sank for you when I read your initial post. I've lost a day's worth of shots here and there, and I know how miserable that felt... I couldn't imagine an entire year!
You would be shocked at how many things are "deleted" that are actually stored on you computer. In fact, if you do a system restore on your computer for the day before you "deleted" them then your system should bring them all back!
**** GASSPPP* IM soooooo sorry!!!!!!!!!!! oh I really hope you get them back.... ohh mann.... I am in pain just thinking about your situation... good luck with everything =T
I am sorry, I can't be of help. I just wanted to stop by and wish you good luck in recovering all your pictures. I totally feel your pain, I can soo so so empathize. *hugs*
Marne, that is what I was thinking but didn't want to say for fear that I don't know enough about IT. Running a system recovery actually took care of a virus one time for me. Brought everything back to normal.
So glad you got your files back! Wow, backups are impt.
Write a Reply
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
Here is an example but do some research before you just go out and get one. If it were me personally I'd take it in somewhere to someone who knows what they are doing. My photos are very important to me and I wouldn't mess around.
http://www.stellarinfo.com/digital-media-recovery.htm
So here's what you do to get your files back.
First, pick up an external hard drive. (when you start recovering files, you want to put them on a different drive so you don't overwrite any files you're recovering)
Next, download and run recuva from http://www.piriform.com/recuva. When it asks where to put the files it recovers direct it to your external hard drive. It may take quite some time to run especially if it's a large drive, but I've had very good luck with the program.
- assuming you are still scanning your drive, let the process go to the end.
- if the recovery is not what you wanted, DO NOT DO ANYTHING TO THAT DRIVE. Just turn off the computer and take it (or just the drive) to a place/shop/helpdesk center that as the proper tools to do a thorough search.
- the result may be very good but it may be just what you have right now (I was very lucky, 100% recovery of 5 years photos)
- it will be expensive, be prepared...
I really can imagine what you are feeling right now... GOOD LUCK!!!
With that many files I'll never know if everything was recovered. I'm am definately going to start doing weekly backups.
Thanks everyone for your advice
So glad you got your files back! Wow, backups are impt.