Clevo d410e....data loss???!!!

Hey people!
I hope someone can help me here.....I've just turned on my laptop to find loads of files and software missing. I've got different wallpaper too.

Basically all the files in 'My documents' are gone, everything that was on my desktop has gone too. I noticed that my recycle bin was still full with everything that was in there before. Although,having restarted again, my recycle bin is now empty!!

Could anyone please explain what might have happened and if theres any way of getting my files back?

 

First, don't turn the system on any more until you've developed a plan of action; even though the visual indicators have disappeared (i.e., folder and file icons and the like) everything is still there on the drive, and you should be able to recover the data from the hdd even if you cannot restore the system directly; however, each time you turn it on, you run the risk of writing over something and corrupting the overwritten file.

 

Thanks shyster.....I guess I'll take it in and get the files recovered then, I dont really want to turn it on and mess with it myself

 

I don't know how much experience you have monkeying around with the file system, or what your comfort level is, but with a little help from everyone here, you should be able to largely do it yourself, and it'll be a heck of a lot cheaper than sending it in; however, you're the best judge of your abilities and comfort level.

 

From my experience with data recovery,be prepared to have lost a few folders.
Either somebody was messing with your computer or you had an attack(hacker or worse a stinkin` virus).

 

Just thinking a bit (I know, it really hurts when I do that ) - is there any chance that you logged in on a different user account by mistake?

Unless the answer to that one is a definite "yes" (with a resounding slap to the forehead), I'd take the current hdd out of the notebook, put it in an external enclosure, and plug it into another computer to see what you can see on the hdd. If you don't have another computer available, then I'd just put a new hdd in the notebook, install the OS onto that drive, and then use it to see what you can see on the old hdd.

 

haha...I did think that for a brief second when I saw the different wallpaper...but unfortunatley not.

I've spoken with a friend who's going to take a look at the HDD....hopefully I wont have lost too much.

Its weird...was just thinking the other week that I should buy an external hard drive to save all my important files


Anyway, thanks a lot guys....if I need any more help I know where to come!