Large Marge Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 Please help! I lost my USB key and am fucked! Is there anyway to recover files I've worked on recently from my PC, even if they weren't saved there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattm Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 most likely not. If you have used the computer since then there is even less of a chance unfortunately (and the initial chance is very slim). If you'd saved a copy to the hard drive then you could probably recover it but, well, poopy situation. I've lost 3 USB keys so far and they all hurt so I've learned never to use them. I guess that doesn't much help but don't get your hopes up. Even if you had saved them to the hard drive the chance to recover is slim unless you pay for it. Sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Large Marge Posted May 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 Shiza. Figured it was a long shot. Thanks though.Me so fucky - wish me lucky! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phishtaper Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 it depends on the file. sometime programs like word or excel will cache the last files used internally and you may be able to recover them that way. most likely gone, tho'. sucks. sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouche Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 Never depend on a tiny little 1 inch USB key or memory card to have the only copy of anything important. they're meant for transporting data, not storing.I don't know of any tricks that would recover your files if you've never saved them on your computer. I'm not sure why you wouldn't have ever saved a file on your computer. Maybe you did at some point? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wavinginthewind Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 Never depend on anything 1 inch and tiny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basher Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 A temp version of the file may be on your HD. Do a seach for *.tmp and look for a file last updated around the time you were working on it. You may have to rename the file extension to match the original file type, like .doc for a work file. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backbacon Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 Maybe if the file used to be saved somewhere you could go to that containing folder and go to properties then previous versions and choose a past date of that folder that would have had the file. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattm Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 Problem with tmp files is that they usually aren't an actual copy of the file, at least with word and other MS products, most often they are a list of the changes that were made to the good file, this keeps the file size smaller.If you are looking for these, MS uses specific names for it's tmp files. For example, Word will make tmp files that resemble wrdxxxxx.tmp (where xxxxx is anything, it's the wrd representing word that's important). If you want to go this way, you'll have better luck getting the text back by opening the file in a program like notepad and looking for blocks of text, not fun.Everyone should listen to bouche, don't ever use a USB key as the only storage. Here's my trick: Start a gmail account. When you have things you need to keep a copy of, email them to your gmail account and they will be there. Also, save them on your USB and on your computer then you're good to go...Another thing I've seen with a found USB stick was a file on the stick in the mail folder that was called READ_ME_IF_LOST.txt and inside it had the email address of the person and a note saying there would be a $20 reward. I emailed them and they got their USB stick back (I didn't accept the reward). Most people probably wouldn't do that but I hate losing the stupid things so if I find one I will always try to figure out who it belonged to and at least get them their files back if possible (put them up for download or email if getting the stick back is not possible). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouche Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 Maybe if the file used to be saved somewhere you could go to that containing folder and go to properties then previous versions and choose a past date of that folder that would have had the file.what are you talking about? What previous versions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phishtaper Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 jesus marge, look what you've done. you may have started a geek riot! (I hope it wasn't irreplacable) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattm Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 (edited) On windows networks there is the option to do backups and offer a tab in the properties dialogue which contains these backups. In other words, you can go to the previous versions tab and you can select any date available there and see the folder on that particular date, copy the files out, etc. We have that setup here at Algonquin for students and staff. The backups are done at 2am every night and you can always right click your network drive and see the last month or so worth of backups. It's a great idea but requires your networking team to have set it up this way. I'd post a screenshot but some idiot found some movies on mattm.ca and got me shut down by posting the links in forums (got kicked off the hosting for copyright infringement, oops, put them in the wrong folder). That's for a file but you can have it setup for entire folders as well... The time of the Geek has come Edited May 9, 2008 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 Most people probably wouldn't do that but I hate losing the stupid things so if I find one I will always try to figure out who it belonged to and at least get them their files back if possible (put them up for download or email if getting the stick back is not possible).Good man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now