What ever is going on in the world of archiving and storage on PC's??

[truedelphi]

My household is comprised of two humans who' re both writers.

Some of the writing we have created goes all the way back to the days of Wordstar files.

One of the things we now depend on is our Memeo "Tetra" byte storage and back up unit.

Over the years, as our personal and business related files have come to comprise over 6 gigs of memory, with M's music and film projects compiling a hundred times more, such a device is of great use.

But here is what is happening:

(Sorry this is so long, but don't know how to quickly and concisely explain it.)

Let's say that two years ago, I hooked the backup unit to the computer that was being used at that time. I find on the Backup Unit (Which our computer considers to be "J" part of My Computer) the folder I want, called "MAF'sBakup2009." That folder contains some 420 megs worth of info. Some of the sub folders are related to computer programs, but many of the sub folders are personal writings and information, etc.

So let's say that say the time that this folder had been put on the "J" device, it had numerous sub folders. Many of them labelled things like "Slam Poetry" or "Stolen Election2004." After those folders were installed onto the "J" device so many years back, I double checked to make sure that the files that I thought should be there were there. They were.

And so two years ago, when searching for a piece of Slam Poetry, I could find it by looking in that subfolder, which Memeo had faithfully preserved.

As time went on, over the last two years, I could transfer the personal files we were needing to a computer we were using, and all the files would transfer.

But as of the last three months, when I attempt to transfer the Big Folder called MAF'sBakup2009, when I click into that folder to find the sub folders - I end up shocked! Only the sub folders representing computer programs are there. So Adobe Illustrator Seven is there, and many other program folders. But the personal folders are not there!

I am talking about hundreds of sub folders!

This does not seem to matter as far as what model, make of computer or OS that I am using.

It is occurring on the one year old Toshiba with Windows Seven that Mark was given as a gift. Today, the last computer to be so badly affected is my old XP that has been upgraded to only use Linux. I could get the personal files on that computer even two months ago, but recently, less than two weeks ago, there was an upgrade to the Linux program and now I cannot!

What is going on? IS THIS A VIRUS, or what?

Any suggestions, ideas or information would be appreciated.

[PoliticAverse]

1. Is this the only storage device you have those files on? n/t

[gvstn]

2. Using Windows try a chkdsk on that J drive.

Plug in the external drive and go into My Computer. Right Click the J: drive and select Tools. Then go to error checking and select only the first box (if this doesn't work then you can go back and select both boxes). Then hit Start and let it see if it can fix the file system index.

With only 6gb of data if you can find the needed files it is well worth buying a couple of USB flash drives which will only be about $10 (on sale) for that storage amount, to have a few extra copies.

[bananas]

4. chkdsk is a really bad idea - could cause permanent loss of the data.

chkdsk is not a data recovery tool, what he needs is a data recovery tool.
chkdsk will "fix" problems by making them go away.
There are data recovery tools which will actually recover much or all of the data.

[gvstn]

6. chkdsk actually works.

I've never had it do any damage.

It may not recover data but if the file system index is recoverable it will do it.

Have you ever had chkdsk destroy files? I don't think so from my experience.

The OP may have to go to recovery software but I would start with chkdsk.

[bananas]

8. "It may not recover data" - but that's what he wants to do.

chkdsk just makes the file system consistent.
Yes I've seen it destroy files.

[gvstn]

10. I'm going again to say that using just the first box ticked will not destroy files.

It just won't happen. The OP is trying to figure out where those files have gone and looking at the index is the first place to check.

That it happens in Linux too, is rather distressing and may require data recovery software.

I have an old version of PowerDataRecovery that is free if you choose the "I'm a home user" button when first starting the program. Be sure to choose that option. http://www.mediafire.com/download/i4d4e2allk4ynd7/pdr6nolimitfree.exe

I still would do a chkdsk first because it is easier.

[truedelphi]

15. I really don't even know how to do a chkdsk function anymore.

i used to do stuff like that back in the days pre-Windows - when computers were Dos this or DOS that and things like chkdsk were line entered into DOS command system.

But that was over two decades ago.

So how do I do a chkdsk command now?

[gvstn]

19. It is pretty simple.

Just go to Computer or My Computer and right click the C: drive, then select Tools and then Error Checking. Just leave the first box ticked and hit Start. It will ask to schedule for next restart so say yes, and then reboot. It will run for a couple of minutes and then you can check to see if any of your files are now visible.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. You might want to look into file recovery programs such as TestDisk and PhotoRec ...

http://www.cgsecurity.org/

There's also CAINE, Recuva, R-Tools, and others. Several are free, some are upgradable for $$$.

Probably best to unmount and shutdown that disk until you have a file recovery program in hand -- the longer you use it, the worse your chances of recovering data.

[bananas]

5. Agree - he needs a data recovery tool.

I know these are discussed on photography boards.

[truedelphi]

7. Thank you for your answer -

So by "Disk" you are meaning the Memeo back up unit? (It is now unhooked from any and all computers and sitting in a closet.)

But of equal concern - the files that were on the unit I am using to type this, they were there until Linux started in sending me a dialogue box (If it was linux!!) saying I should approve the latest software upgrade. Usually I never approve anything like that but I thought linux was virus proof, so that even if i was spoofed, then linux OS would protect me.

But now those personal files on the computer are gone too!

[eppur_se_muova]

9. Memeo appears to be just the software; that "unit" I *assume* is a hard disk ...

though they might have been sold together as a "backup unit". If that's not the case, let me know. If it shows up as "drive J" it could be a hard disk, solid state disk, or removable media drive, but hard disk is most likely, especially for several GB.

Linux is not virus-proof, and upgrades are frequent for most distros of Linux. Most distros are probably safer than Windows, though, TBOMK.

I'm not a true expert on this (I've had to deal with this only a few times), but vanishing files sounds like a serious hard disk issue. Unfortunately, by that point you may need a real expert to recover files. It *may* be that the directories only have been corrupted, but that the files are still there. In a case like that, repairing the directories may require a real Unix file system guru present in the flesh. If you feel reasonably certain that the hardware is likely functioning OK, and you are willing to run a small risk, you could try something like this: (1) d/l a boot CD like CAINE or Knoppix and boot your computer from that. (2) connect the backup unit and turn it on. Then mount the unit **read-only** (CAINE mounts *all* drives read-only by default) and run TestDisk or Autopsy to the point that you can tell if your files are still there or not. If they are, you can connect another disk (or USB flash drive), mount that as writable (icon at bottom center of screen in CAINE), and save your files to that. There is a pdf file containing a tutorial on using CAINE at that site (CAINE.org) but the instructions for mounting a writable drive are wrong (out of date?). I haven't used Knoppix myself; it does come as a boot disk with TestDisk and PhotoRec installed, but wouldn't boot on my computer.

If that doesn't do it for you, there are still other options, but they require more and more expertise (more than I have, for sure). I recently tried something called "file carving" with Foremost and that was complicated by a quirk of the type of files I was trying to recover; other, more "standard" file types would probably have been recoverable with Test Disk or PhotoRec.

Above all, be patient; you may have to try several options. As long as you don't damage the drive further your files are *probably* still there, from what I can tell. The more free space on the drive, the less likely any files have been overwritten (and rendered unrecoverable).

BTW, you can also create something called a "disk image" -- basically a carbon copy of all the data on the disk, raw files as well as directories, but this requires a drive larger than the one you are copying. It's a good idea to do it, though, if you suspect the problems you have are a sign of imminent hardware failure. Later, you can recover your files from the image, without having to mount the original disk. I *think* you can create a disk image with the software I've already mentioned, but you can also do it with the "disks" accessory in Linux (be **careful** though! -- you can also delete whole partitions/disks if you click the wrong button), also known as gparted (if you're doing command-line Linux especially).

[truedelphi]

16. I am answering you line by line to make sure I comprehendf everything

you' re discussing -

You say:


Memeo appears to be just the software; that "unit" I *assume* is a hard disk ...

though they might have been sold together as a "backup unit". If that's not the case, let me know. If it shows up as "drive J" it could be a hard disk, solid state disk, or removable media drive, but hard disk is most likely, especially for several GB.


I never thought about that - you are probably right that Memeo is the software and the unit is something else.

it is a stand free unit, like a very small Hard Drive unit. (It is about 20% in terms of its size in space of my old XP HD case. But has a gazillion times more memory.)

Next part you are discussing I wanna make sure we are in total comprehension of -

If you feel reasonably certain that the hardware is likely functioning OK, and you are willing to run a small risk, you could try something like this: (1) d/l a boot CD like CAINE
or Knoppix and boot your computer from that. (2) connect the backup unit and turn it on. Then mount the unit **read-only** (CAINE mounts *all* drives read-only by default) and run TestDisk or Autopsy to the point that you can tell if your files are still there or not. If they are, you can connect another disk (or USB flash drive), mount that as writable (icon at bottom center of screen in CAINE), and save your files to that. There is a pdf file containing a tutorial on using CAINE at that site (CAINE.org) but the instructions for mounting a writable drive are wrong (out of date?). I haven't used Knoppix myself; it does come as a boot disk with TestDisk and PhotoRec installed, but wouldn't boot on my computer.


What do you mean by "d/l "- never heard that acronymn. (probably you mean download?)

And where do I get this boot CD like Caine? Or else Knoppix?

[eppur_se_muova]

18. Yes, d/l is download. Here are some links for the live CD's:

Knoppix is here: http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
CAINE is here: http://www.caine-live.net/

Since you mentioned that you had been running Linux on at least one computer, I was assuming that at least one of you was a little more familiar with Linuxy things than you seem to be, so I was sparing in details. Both the links below have buttons you can click on to download an "iso" file. This may take quite a while to finish! After you dl the iso file, just double-click on the file and see what application opens. It should be one that allows you to burn the iso to a CD; if not, hunt through the applications you have to find one (it may be under "multimedia&quot . The details will depend on what OS and applications you are using. Once you have burned the CD you can insert that CD and reboot, then mount (read-only mode, remember!) the disk you are trying to recover files from.

As I said before, Knoppix did not boot for me. Your mileage may vary.

One thing that did not occur to me earlier is that you may have been hit by ransomware -- this is a particularly nasty bit of malware that will encrypt your files and demand money to decrypt them. I hope that doesn't turn out to be the case -- these are essentially impossible to beat.

BTW, you do have a malware protection program like MalWareBytes installed, don't you ?

[BlueJazz]

11. In Control Panel, do you have "Show hidden files, folders and drives" turned on ?

[truedelphi]

12. I should have that turned on - but maybe the spouse turned it off.

it is definitely worth checking on!!

[truedelphi]

17. The computer where I would really like to do that is now converted to

Linux, and I am unclear about where a Control Panel etc is in terms of using Ubuntu OS installed there.

Do you happen to know about that?

[hobbit709]

13. One of the reasons I make backups on more than one location.

I have 2 sets of 2 Tb external drives-each set has one copy of my data files. One of these days I'll go through them and delete all the duplicates and completely outdated files-there's probably at least 50 Gb worth of them. I don't think I still need drivers for equipment and OS's that are no longer in use.
I also have about 4 128 Gb flash drives with copies of my critical data files.
My SSD boot drive is imaged to another SSD drive that sits in the bottom of the case without being connected.

[Sunlei]

14. My Mom was a writer, and her & my Dad would edit & interview for other writers. & teach.

You writers generate a lot of files! Mom and Dad are both gone now. Mom had a paper file system that filled an entire room, with cassette tapes of interviews in every file. interviews by phone , interviews in person. My family saved them all. They both never trusted computers to store their finished work

I suggest using flash drives ($5-$10 each) to store everything. Small, portable and easy to store hundreds in a small container.

[truedelphi]

20. I certainly wish I had gone that route now!

And yes we do generate a lot of printed material and many many computer files.