I think I broke my computer, please help!

[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.

I am not an expert myself but I have had two similar type incidents, if you're files are there thats a good sign, first if you have a way of backing them up to another drive, DVD, USB drive or whatever for safety that would be first priority in case you accidently do more damage while restoring then system.

Now once you have restored the operating system and it is stable then you would need to re-install youre programs, for example re-install Word and then then word files/documents will open. If you don't have youre keys then thats a problem.....

sounds like you're files are ok but you lost you're apps by trying that system recovery option which my the way has never worked for me, I just went through all that last month with a laptop and ended up buying a new Hard Drive and starting over but I did have everything backed up to one of those external storage drives.

As for the keys, keep the CD cases and for software you purchase online print off the KEY or just type a memo with the name of the software and the key on it and make sure it is correct, I do that now after having to re-purchase about four pieces of software after my last crash and I store those pieces of paper in the same bin where I keep all my installation disks and stuff.

As for you're CAT, first of all the plug should not be that loose and you should replace the receptacle as loose connections like that can get very warm and bad things can happen, secondly this cat is obviously a bit of an electrical safety expert, perhaps the cat learned engineering indirectly from you via you're involvement in robotics? and the cat was just doing the right thing and unplugged the computer from a loose and unsafe connection or perhaps.......the cat just wanted to sent you a message that it was time to go to sleep

He/she knew which plug to disconnet eh? smart cat that's all I can say, wish we had people like that where I work.

,

[Mihai]

"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."
The expensive stuff (like $3000) is for when your HD is physicall damaged. They have some cheaper methods of recovery if you need to recover things you "deleted".

Did that "loading stuff" take a while? If it didn't take too long what most likely happened is that your OS got "repaired" (meaning some system files were reinstalled) and it faked you out and said it "deleted" stuff. Meaning the stuff is still there, but it's not being accessed and waiting to be overridden (If that is the case you can recover the data using software like http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/col...ds/files.html).

Hm, well I've had some goofy experiences with system restore (never good), I suggest never using it again...ever.

If you need Office I can hook you up. I have this cool version that gives you unlimited installs ;-).

[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.