I think I just lost a bunch of email

[LibraryLady]

This morning like a good girl I did a live update from Norton Security and then re-booted. When the computer started up, it gave a bunch of messages about orphaned files (poor little things) and recovering files, and such like. Then I discovered I could not access my email through Outlook. I had been meaning to install Thunderbird for a while, so I did, and the files that transferred over from Outlook to Thunderbird were dated from 2005. I've lost all my addresses and email since then.

Is there a way to get them back?

Please help.

And as always, I blame Lisa.

[MortFurd]

Given the messages you mention ("orphaned files" "recovering files,") it sounds bad.

Best case you've got (or had) file system corruption. That's probably gone, but then so are your files.

Worst case, you've got a bad hard drive that caused the corruption. In this case, the problem will get worse. The drive is a time bomb ticking away under your data.

How to tell what's wrong? Surest bet is to take the PC to a competent technician and have the drive checked. Keyword SMART. If the tech gives you a stupid look when you mention SMART, then find another tech.

SMART is the montiring system built in to all modern harddrives. A SMART monitoring program can check the status of the drive and tell the tech if the drive is OK or if it is dying.

[LibraryLady]

That's not what I wanted to hear. :(

[666]

It's clutching at straws but do/did you have Outlook set up to delete files from the server? If not, you may be able to re-download any which are still retained there.

Good luck!

[MortFurd]

That's not what I wanted to hear. :(
Well, I didn't figure you wanted to hear some warm fuzzy stuff about how your files are in a better place and are happier now. :)

Search your hard drive for folders named FOUNDNNN where NNN is a three digit number. There's a chance your missing files are in there, though you might be hard pressed to recognize them as there's no guarantee they'll have their correct names.

If you are comfortable using the command line, you might check smartmon tools (http://smartmontools.sourceforge.net/) and check the drive out yourself.

Download the installer, then open a command box and give the following commands:
"C:\Program Files\smartmontools\bin\smartctl" -t short /dev/hda

Wait a few minutes then:
"C:\Program Files\smartmontools\bin\smartctl" -a /dev/hda

Watch out for the spaces in those commands, and include the quotation marks.
Look for a big fat FAILED, and check the Reallocated sector count and the Current pending sector count.

If you get a failed, a read error, or either of the two mentioned above is anything but zero, then you need a new drive.

If you try it and can't figure out what it all means, post the text here and I'll give you a hand.

[LibraryLady]

Smartmon? I've got a Jamaican computer?

I'm taking it to the nice people at Geeksquad tonight or tomorrow. Yes, I could probably be talked through all of this for free, but I'd rather have a real doctor than try alternative medicine. :)

I'll keep you informed.

:brk:

[illogical]

I'm taking it to the nice people at Geeksquad tonight or tomorrow.

the sad part is that the people here likely know more than the Geeksquad. people who are good at those jobs move into higher level stuff.

[LibraryLady]

Well, be that as it may, the nice Geeks tell me my hard drive is dying.

A moment of silence please.








Thank you.

I'm having them install a new hard drive. Yes I know buying a new computer is cheap, but this is cheaper and I haven't had a raise for nearly 8 years now.

[a_unique_person]

Norton is also a worry. I have sworn of their products. If you want a cheap anti-virus without the mammoth baggage of Norton, AVG free edition is still worth using.

What Operating System are you using?

[Starthinker]

Not to derail or anything, but we have a geeksquad at our Best Buy here in Mason and anyone I've heard of taking a computer in there has had a hard drive replaced, almost reguardless of the problem. I think it's their way of re-installing the OS and cleaning up the problem without doing any real troubleshooting. That is better than a business I worked at when I first moved to Mason who told their techs "your job is to sell a new computer to anyone bringing one in for repair, at all costs." I didn't last very long there as I've turned out to be honest.

[LibraryLady]

Well, whatever. Too late now. I still don't have my 'puter back...this is at work before work begins.

I run Windows (Microsoft XP). It matches what I have at work which is important.

I'm not a happy person right now, but it could be worse. Nick's getting lots and lots of attention. The little attention hog.

[LibraryLady]

I have ordered my wonderful new computer from Dell (Inspiron 530,Intel Core2 Duo processor E4400 (2.00GHz 800FSB) w/Dual Core Technologyand 2MB cache ) which should arrive this week. I will be back full time on the forums once I get set up, and then everyone needs to WATCH OUT!

However, Nick is now thoroughly spoiled with all the attention. So I'd better watch out too.


:yahoo

[Wowbagger]

I can probably recommend some data recovery experts, if no one else is able to recover the old data you want, from the old hard drive.

[LibraryLady]

I can probably recommend some data recovery experts, if no one else is able to recover the old data you want, from the old hard drive.

Thanks, Wow. Or Wow, thanks! I might take you up on it. Once I get the machine and see how my back up files pan out, I'll let you know.

[LibraryLady]

I'M BACK I'M BACK I'M BACK

:Dancing_laugh: :sehellobaby: :sehelloooo: :sewhoohoo: :sewazzapp: :sehellobaby: :w2: :yahoo

I'M BACK I'M BACK I'M BACK

[a_unique_person]

I see the new computer has some new, improved font sizes and colours than the old one.

[Soapy Sam]

Uh-oh. Better put the books back.

[Soapy Sam]

ps. You know why nobody in Wales will buy a Dell?

[Gord_in_Toronto]

ps. You know why nobody in Wales will buy a Dell?

No? Should I ask my Dad who was born on Pontypool? :confused:

[webfusion]

I'm having them install a new hard drive. Yes I know buying a new computer is cheap, but this is cheaper and I haven't had a raise for nearly 8 years now.


Which was followed by:

I have ordered my wonderful new computer from Dell (Inspiron 530,Intel Core2 Duo processor E4400 2.00GHz 800FSB w/ 2MB cache) which should arrive this week.

What am I missing here?



Is this the computer you ordered?
[IMAGE LINK]
http://www.techgadgetforums.com/files/diamond_laptop.jpg