I think I broke my computer, please help!

[Mike Harrison]

Originally Posted by squirrel

I wish I could help you get it back how it was, but I can't, your application software is gone. If you don't have the original installation discs for it, then you'll need to go shopping.

Computers teach us in rather brutal ways the importance of an uninterrupted power supply, good data backup habits, etc. I'm sorry you had to learn this lesson the hard way! hopefully someone else reading this will be able to prevent a similar thing happening to them, because you posted this.

Are you sure? I have the ability to re-install the old programs, I just don't know where the cd keys are. At least I think this is the case, if i go into my C: drive for some reason all of the old stuff is there in program files. I'm assuming I can just find the install file or whatnot in the jumble of files they have in each folder. For instance, if i go to program files>microsoft office can I install it from there without the disk? If not, then I'm in more trouble than I thought....

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Mike Harrison

Are you sure? I have the ability to re-install the old programs, I just don't know where the cd keys are. At least I think this is the case, if i go into my C: drive for some reason all of the old stuff is there in program files. I'm assuming I can just find the install file or whatnot in the jumble of files they have in each folder. For instance, if i go to program files>microsoft office can I install it from there without the disk? If not, then I'm in more trouble than I thought....

Did you look through your hard drive? I believe you only reinstalled files to your OS folders, so your documents, music, etc. are most likely still preserved. You may wish to backup all your document-type files if you have the opportunity now.

However the OS reinstall wiped your registry, so while the application folders may still exist, Windows doesn't have the information necessary to run those applications. Reinstallation of each app is the only way to go.

If you have any application-specific files that are important to you (e.g. saved game files, tax return data for Turbo Tax, etc.), I'd suggest backing those up before reinstalling your games, programs, and such.

[llama]

ive had files randomly dissapear from my hard drive before (probably has something to do with my moded anti hacking software) but i used a program that searched my hard drive for files that were 'deleted'

what is really happening when you have something deleted is that the index (call number or recognition code) is destroyed but the file is still there until it is over written so if squirrel is correct in saying that when you booted up after the unplug, you unintentionally reinstalled the operating system, then you can probably look online for a drive restoration program and get back at least some of your files etc. (i don't have such a program anymore nor do i remember what one might be called since i haven't had to use one since my last reinstall of windows)

im not guaranteeing this will be possible though because if i am correct you may have had some sort of funky electrical signal that passed through your comp when it was unplugged (possibly your cat was batting at it and it unpluged and pluged back in rappidly) and that wiped some part of your hard drive that was being written on at the time... idk just a theory

[Mike Harrison]

I seem to have retained all of my files, I just can't open any of them because I don't have any of the programs installed. Anyways thank you all very much for your help. It seems right now my best bet is to go dumpster diving through my basement for the cd keys. Apparently i can call Microsoft and they might have my product key for Office on their database, that's really the most important program i lost. I'll be checking back here if anyone comes up with any great ideas. Thanks again guys, really appreciate your help.

[Bsteckler]

There are places (and programs) that will recover data off of a wiped HDD. google "hard drive recovery".

[Chris27]

When your cat unplugged your computer, the hard drive was likely reading/writing something important. Hard drives don't like suddenly loosing power and any file that it was writing may be corrupted, in your case an important Windows file. When you restored your computer using the hp restore disks, it copied your "Documents and Settings" folder to someplace safe, wiped your hard drive, and then installed windows and the other software your computer originally came with. Everything that was not in your "Documents and Settings" folder is now gone. This explains why your desktop (a subfolder) is still intact, including the shortcuts to your apps, but those applications no longer exist as the "Programs" folder was deleted. You really can't recover a deleted application and you likely already wrote on top of the data already. You are going to have to reinstall everything. The CD keys should be on a sticker on the back of the cd case (why do you have to go dumpster diving? did you throw away the cd cases?). In the future backup you computer every now and then. There is plenty of software available that can copy an image of your harddrive to a few DVD's which you can restore back to when necessary.

[JamesBrown]

Originally Posted by Bsteckler

There are places (and programs) that will recover data off of a wiped HDD. google "hard drive recovery".

True Hard drive recovery is expensive and only works if the data on the hard drive has not been over written. This type of procedure is typically used as a last resort for hard drives that have crashed containing original data that can not be replaced or would be expensive to replace, ie original software.

[Bsteckler]

I thought that when an HDD writes it doesn't exactly center the heads on top of old data and writes a little off-center, and that there were programs that could make the HDD read what had been written over.

[Chris27]

Regardless, file recover is a pain in the butt to do. It is really only used for recovering really, really important irreplaceable documents, not to recover deleted applications. It is also really really expensive. Typically the name and address of the file is not preserved so even if you recovered all the files of a program, your computer wouldn't know what to do with them as they would no longer be organized in the proper directories they were installed in.

[Mike AA]

If all your files are still intact but you cant start the programs you will have to reinstall the programs. If you use office download open office. IT runs all the same things but its free. Visit a local store that sells computer equipment and get yourself a UPS. You may spend $30-$80 depending on how long you want the computer to run but you wont have the issue of the cat unplugging the cord and shutting off your computer. UPS' are also good for power surges and some come with software that if your computer were on during a power outage and you weren't home it would save everything for you and shut down on its own. I have saved many projects by having a UPS. Also replace the recepticle so its a tighter fit.

-Mike

[Kevin Sevcik]

Ooohhh. The mis-information and helpfully wrong suggestions in this thread are painful. Here's your situation:

1. Your cat helpfully killed your computer in the middle of some sort of important write to a windows system file or the registry or some such. You could have probably fixed this using your original install disk and doing a repair install.

2. Your HP Restore move quite helpfully laid a fresh install of Windows XP down on top of the burning rubble that was your old XP install, wiping out your old registry and all its useful info about your installed applications, etc. And almost certainly also wiping out any relevant system restore info which could also have saved you.

3. As you have discovered, all your old files, folders, and applications are intact. Your windows install simply doesn't know about your previously installed applications. Your hard drive is fine for the moment (always excepting your cat) and your personal files and data are in no serious danger. (Unless you have blackmail material on said cat.) So any suggestions for data recovery services, etc. are pointless. Similarly, call to your local favorite Geek Dogs on Call computer repair service will prove similarly unhelpful and will likely only result in a recommendation that your computer needs more RAM and/or a formatted hard drive with all your data truly lost.

4. So now to the actual solution. As suggested, your only option is to painstakingly hunt down all your application CDs and reinstall them. The files in your programs directory are only particularly good for running and uninstalling the applications, not reinstalling them. The one exception is if your computer originally came with office installed on it by HP. If so, you might find the necessary install files in C:\i386 or some other cryptically named folder. If you can't find the CDs, you're stuck with buying new copies or trying out the free, open-source equivalents.

[OScubed]

For sure you should immediately do the following:

• Copy files that are in documents and settings profiles to CD or DVD
• If possible buy or borrow a USB drive to make backups to as well. You can continue to use this drive to make future backups of your system. the USB drive should have more capacity than your current hard drive (preferably double)
• When you make the backups be sure you backup all the hidden and system files underneath the documents and settings directory. Go to folder options/View and be sure that you can see both hidden and system files before making your backup copies.
• You cannot make a new user with the same name to restore the files - that will just create another profile something like JDOE.{machinename} instead of JDOE. You CAN do that, but then you should login once as JDOE, logout, then login with a different account with admin privs (like the HP Administrative account) and COPY all the files (including hidden and system files) from JDOE to JDOE.{Machinename} (or whatever name the system gives the profile).
• You will need to re-install and re-authenticate your applications to access the files.
• DO NOT do a system restore, or other tool until you are SURE you have backups in at least 2 places of the files you CAN get to.

This will restore the files to their rightful place within the profile. Be sure to patch your machine again - as none of the windows or office patches you formerly downloaded will have been applied.

This will be a long and painful process, but no worse in most cases than installing a machine from scratch.

So - lesson learned, how do we prevent this in the future:

• Get a backup device large enough to hold 2x the capacity of your hard drive
• Get a copy of a good backup program - I'd suggest Norton Ghost as it does a great job of backup, and has a "restore anywhere" option
• Set up a rigorous schedule to backup your system based on how much data you can afford to lose (at least weekly)
• Your computer and everything it's attached to should be on a UPS - preferably an APC ups (www.apcc.com)

The rule of thumb I always use (after over 30 years of doing technical support) is BACKUP and FAIL - in THAT ORDER! Because the other direction is too painful to contemplate....

Cheers,
Lee

[matt91]

I have a HP.... i had a problem like that and even if you entered the "system recovery" for a few seconds it corrupts your OS. What i would do is just go through with the system recovery, yes you will lose every thing but if you take it to a computer store they will most likely tell you the same thing.
Good Luck!

[Jim E]

Sorry to say your applications are probably lost. Unless you have an OS backup with Ghost or another imaging program, better start looking for the CD Keys. The keys are in the registry.

Please backup any personal data ASAP before doing anything.

I've used the Office open-source program equivalents. They seem pretty good to me.

There are programs out there that put all of those forgotten keys into a comprehensive report that you can print out or view in html format. It's probably too late now since the OS was wiped, but it is worth a try. Do a web search on 'PC Audit' to find the free personal PC audit software programs available. Some are better than others.

[Chris27]

Originally Posted by matt91

I have a HP.... i had a problem like that and even if you entered the "system recovery" for a few seconds it corrupts your OS. What i would do is just go through with the system recovery, yes you will lose every thing but if you take it to a computer store they will most likely tell you the same thing.
Good Luck!

Or you can just boot off the Windows CD, select "repair install," and not lose anything. If you don't have an extra hard drive, it would be a good idea to partition your current hard drive and keep everything important off the Windows partition. This way, if you ever have to format your Windows partition, your other partitions won't be touched. However, you would still have to reinstall all of your programs again. It is still a good idea to have backup disks because if your hard drive dies, than your SOL. I have had two die on me.