recover recycle bin contents?

i just deleted something i actually need only a couple hours ago. is there a simple way of getting it back? i have my restore option turned off and i'm on vista.

 

Go to the free software thread and download Recuva..

 

Try holding down every button on your keyboard, that could do it. If not, try it anyway, I'd be interested in what would happen .

But seriously, try googling 'restoring deleted files', there seem to be a lot of programs you can download which will recover files for you, don't use your comp too much until you restore it (as it's less likely to write over where the file was) and just make sure you don't do anything like defragging, that will really screw up the chances of getting it back.

 

Recuva (at www.piriform.com) is a great, free choice. But use the computer in question as LITTLE as possible until you get the file back.

In Windows, when a file is "deleted," it simply means that the space it takes up on your hard drive has been marked as "available" and will be overwritten as necessary. The more you use the computer, the higher chance that the data will be overwritten, and therefore lost forever.

-Peter

 

recuva was of no help i'm afraid.

when i check the properties of my recycle bin it says 8.13 GB HP_RECOVERY, is there hope i can restore it back to how it was 15 hours ago even though i thought i had it turned off?

 

Have you used the computer(I mean copied files and deffragged)??? if you did any one of them chances are you cannot get it back.

 

haven't done anything but light net browsing and downloaded recuva as well as 2 other programs that didn't help.

 

Try PC Inspector File Recovery (free), it's the only one out of a couple I tried that could still see the file and I was able to recover it. Now I'm more careful about backing up but I still have it installed, just in case.

EDIT: Also, if it's a data file, you could try using the software, if the file is corrupted, you should be able to save it as a .txt file. Then you should be able to go into it and copy/paste the uncorrupted data into another file.

 

Are you using vista business? it has file restore built into it.

 

vista home

is pc inspector file recovery for vista? the copy i downloaded says it only goes up to xp.

 

I've been using it on Vista. I don't pay attention to what OS it says it runs on, heck, if it doesn't work in Vista, I'll just try to emulate XP SP2 under compatibility.

 

Recuva is great.

 

He said it was of no help.

 

if vista has that auto-backup (shadow storage?) then can't you just go back to the last save point that still had the docs you need? dunno how to do it or if it is possible, just trying to figure out how to use vista myself actually.

 

He can't use that feature as it is only present in Vista Business and Ultimate SKUs... He is running Vista Home...

 

Try this: Personalization -> Change desktop icons -> then re-check Recycle Bin