Heartbreaking computer "mistake"

[BostonBanker]

It feels silly to be so stressed out and upset about something that ultimately doesn't hurt anyone, but I've been falling apart for the last 24 hours. I took my computer in to a local shop last week. It's been slow, I know the virus software needs updating, etc. I am NOT very computer literate, but had brought it to another place a couple of years ago with the same issues, and they did an amazing job. That place is gone now, of course, so I had to find a new place.

They claim there was a "miscommunication". They reloaded my entire operating system, and didn't back up anything. Eight years worth of photos, gone. All I have left are the ones on Facebook and Photobucket. Photos of the last time I visited Boston before he died...photos of friends who now live out of state or out of the country...countless pictures of Meg and Tristan...the last few pictures of a family friend before she became sick and died quickly of cancer. All day, I've been remember other photos that are now gone and started crying. I feel like an idiot.

After originally telling me there was no way to get them, the guy is now saying he thinks he can get them back, and will do it for free. I felt like he was being incredibly unsympathetic at first, but now he seems like he's genuinely trying to help. I can't get the computer in to him again until at least Tuesday because of work and the holiday. Do any of the computer savvy people here know if it really is possible to get them back? Honestly, I want my whole freaking computer back. All the programs that are gone, all my music (tons of it), every little thing. But nothing is upsetting me like the pictures. Is there hope?

Oh, and the first person who suggests backing them up on an external hard drive will be smacked with a wet noodle. Because honestly, not helpful right now. Advice for the future that I've been given.

 

[Tankstar]

IM NOT computer savy AT ALL. But I know the feeling. I had some guy do the same thing to my computer. erased EVERYTHING on it. I was heart broken. as I had my life (ok not really) on there, pictures galor, 1000's of them, that i was just waiting to get printed but kept forgetting (Imagine some one coming in to print of 1000's of pictures at once lol)It is a sick feeling. I really hope you can get them back. I never got mine back, but I never asked if it was possible as I was just s upset and angry

 

[Izzy's Valkyrie]

*hugs* when I had my computer stolen my freshman year I felt the same way! I lost four years of pictures and music with NO way to get them back so I feel your pain. There are supposed to be sort of after-image type things left once a computer is wiped so there may honestly be hope for your pictures yet but don't be too hopeful because it might not work.

My dad,instead of telling me "I told you so" bought me an external hard drive for my next birthday afterward.

Good luck!

 

[scob89]

After formatting and reinstalling the OS, I would say there is a 1% chance you can get some of it back, If that. I don't know about the laws there, but here the computer shop MUST keep a backup and you MUST sign and agreement that any data on the computer will be lost.

And really you should of had them backed up before you brought it to the store, but if you didn't sign anything that said all data could be lost then they could not have wiped it all without keeping a backup.

It really sounds to me like they guy is trying to cover his ass and keep out of trouble.

 

[Miakoda]

I lost a ton of photos as well when my computer crashed. The geek guy at Best Buy did his best to bring them back, but it was to no avail. I had seen the screen of death before it passed on to computer heaven.

So I know the feeling. I lost pics of Cole when he was a baby, I lost almost every dog picture I had taken before 2006. I lost pics of me in college including my soccer pics. It does suck and you have every right to cry.

On the other hand, I have been told that sometimes they can bring things back. I have no idea how they do it and the explanations are faaaar beyond my mental technology understanding, but it seems that sometimes they can. I've especially heard that once a hard drive is erased it never fully is erased. So I wish you the best!

Also, I now have an external hard drive. I LOVE it!

 

[Lizmo]

Ack, I know how you feel. My computer crashed and I didn't have all my pictures backed up so I lost alot of them. ((((hugs))))

 

[Laurelin]

I had something similar happen to my computer. Seriously, I know the geek squad is way expensive but I tried everything else first only to hear the computer was dead. I took it to the geek squad and they got all my files back somehow.

 

[Renee750il]

There is hope!

 

[sparks19]

Oh geez I'ms orry. I kind of know how you feel. except it was my own fault and I only lost a few pictures but they were some really cute pictures that I am still sad I lost.

 

[Island dog]

Hope you can recover them all!

 

[scob89]

When you erase a file, it is always still there, until something else replaces it. I can tell you already that your programs will not be recovered, pictures and music, may be recovered.

 

[AndrewF]

Don't install anything on the computer until this has been resolved. There are programs which can be run to recover lost photos/music, but nothing can over-write the space they inhabited on the hard-drive or the odds of getting any sort of recovery become somewhere next to impossible.

Hope they can get the media back for you!

 

[4dogs3cats]

I have lost a ton of pics with TWO laptops crashing.

My brother was able to get all of them back one time, and another time he wasnt.

It all depends on what he did. My hard drive CRASHED due to a VIRUS. He used an old something or other, and took all the pics off, ruining his something or other in the process because of the virus.

But I would say depending on HOW he reformatted, he MAY be able to get them back

fingers crossed!

 

[Fran27]

I saw your update on facebook... That's awful. I would be very upset too. I hope he can recover it.

 

[Dekka]

HUGE ((((((((HUGS))))))))) it does hurt.. it hurts you. Memories are precious, and pics help us keep the memories vibrant. I would be just as upset as you!

Fingers crossed he can get them back.

 

[Doberluv]

Oh I am so sorry. Yes, like Dekka said, it does hurt. It would kill me to lose my photos. I hope they can get it back for you. Next time, put everything on a back up.

(((((HUGS))))) Sending my best vibes for a full "recovery."