Computer Help Needed ... File Recovery ..

Halifax · Mar 23, 2010

Here's the situation ...

My computer (Windows Vista OS) crashed while I had an important Excel file open.

Upon rebooting and trying to reopen the Excel file, I got an error message saying that the data was corrupted .... Excel tried to "repair" the file, but basically, all of the data is gone.

So I'm wondering if anyoner knows of any software program that can find and recover an earlier version of the Excel file (an hour / day / week earlier) ?

I have a back-up copy of the Excel file, but it's nearly a month old, and a lot of new data has been entered into the file since then.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Coaster · Mar 23, 2010

Have you tried Restore?
If you were adding to the existing file it should return you to it.
Not any new additions but the old file.
Go back 1 day and see.

Computer
Maintenance
Backup and restore

GL

Halifax · Mar 23, 2010

Coaster said:
Have you tried Restore?
If you were adding to the existing file it should return you to it.
Not any new additions but the old file.
Go back 1 day and see.

Computer
Maintenance
Backup and restore

GL

I think you're talking about System Restore.

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure System Restore doesn't restore data files like Excel, Word, etc.
I have tried that before (and also this time), and the data files always stayed the same.

I think System Restore only restores the "programs" themselves.

boxcardrew · Mar 23, 2010

Did you already try all of these?
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/HA010346561033.aspx

Halifax · Mar 23, 2010

boxcardrew said:
Did you already try all of these?
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/HA010346561033.aspx

I just tried those, and none of them work.

Somehow, everything in the file got wiped out when the computer crashed (the current file size is 0 Bytes). The file will open, but there is nothing in it.

I think that I have to try to find some software that will go back a few hours or a few days and retrieve an earlier version of the file.

Thanks for the link, though; it was certainly worth a shot.

Dr.Pepper · Mar 23, 2010

Think about moving over to Windows 7. Best operating system I've dealt with hands down. Kills Vista and pleasantly outruns XP by a landslide.

Halifax · Mar 23, 2010

Dr.Pepper said:
Think about moving over to Windows 7. Best operating system I've dealt with hands down. Kills Vista and pleasantly outruns XP by a landslide.

I think I'm going to do that very soon.

LOL ... it won't take much for Windows 7 to be better than Vista ... Vista is brutal.

ConansHammer · Mar 23, 2010

I feel your pain. I back up important files by saving frequently but more importently sending a copy of my important files to other computers that I own.

Wanger · Mar 23, 2010

Halifax said:
I think you're talking about System Restore.

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure System Restore doesn't restore data files like Excel, Word, etc.
I have tried that before (and also this time), and the data files always stayed the same.

I think System Restore only restores the "programs" themselves.

Did you run System Restore while in Safe Mode?

jwblue · Mar 23, 2010

You might need to spend some money to get a tech in there.

I would ask here.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/index.php

Dr.Pepper · Mar 23, 2010

Honestly, don't waste your time or money on this issue unless you can apply hard monetary value to the file in question. Based on everything you've said, it sounds like it's a goner.

System restore doesn't touch files, as it's designed for corrupted installs, driver errors, etc. The way the system is set up won't allow it t constantly re-cache files just in case you lose one to this sort of error.

On the other hand, Windows 7 does have this nifty new tool called 'Previous Versions' which is designed to answer the problem posed by XP/Vista with regards to file problems.

Ex: File having issues in W7, you've saved over a document on accident -- right-click, previous versions, apply previous version of available listed.

Vista & XP just don't have the wherewithal to deal with these file errors. It's a pain, unforgiving, and infuriating.

This is why you need to backup as often as possible. Even if it's just a flash drive plugged into your CPU all the time. Create a folder of important docs on your desktop and constantly back them up onto the flash drive.

If that isn't an option, you've got month to month online backup services like Mozy which at minimum, are a workable solution.

Good luck and this situation will probably affect you in a way where you won't ever allow it to happen again.

PoppyRivers1 · Apr 21, 2010

Re:

Halifax....First of all please do not overwrite your file as it would create more complications while recovering your files from your hard disk.One more thing your data is not gone at all it would be recovered untill you had saved the last work..You must try a recommended recovery tool for your lost data , i had used Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery which is efficient and powerful possibly this software will help you a lot.The software has a free demo version which will show you the recoverable files on preview but you can't save then you download a full version and resume the recovery process...Great Windows Guys

FearTheRaven · Apr 21, 2010

dagger. I work in IT and these types of system crashes with files open are very rarely recovered.

quantumleap · Apr 21, 2010

Do you have Autosave or Autorecover turned on?

If so, you can recover your file by following these steps:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HP101407291033.aspx

PoppyRivers1 · Apr 22, 2010

Re:

FearTheRaven....
I don't think so, the rarely case is then if you had overwritten your files otherwise chances are really good to recover these files....

Computer Help Needed ... File Recovery ..

Search

Halifax

New member

Coaster

Don't assume people in charge know what they are d

Halifax

New member

boxcardrew

New member

Halifax

New member

Dr.Pepper

New member

Halifax

New member

ConansHammer

New member

Wanger

New member

jwblue

New member

Dr.Pepper

New member

PoppyRivers1

New member

FearTheRaven

RX Dream Team

quantumleap

Oh boy!

PoppyRivers1

New member

Forum statistics

Share this page