Advice needed re: recovering software deleted when pc crashed

[Tottsy]

I am running windows XP Home on AMD computer bought in 2005, when service pack 3 tried to install. My computer crashed and it told me to put the disc I created when I first bought the pc in so that it could retrieve everything, which I did, and everything seemed fine. However, when sp3 tried to install again, the same thing happened. This occurred twice, and by then a programme I used all the time was lost. This is Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition 1.1.

I got help from microsoft support and they guided me through altering a number in the registry in safe mode, which I did. I then installed SP3 in safe mode, which worked and my computer is now OK.

However, I had photos in the Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business software which I no longer have, and I have tried to find it on the web, but apparently this is no longer available and I cannot find it anywhere. I have scoured the web and come across software which you can use to retrieve data from a wiped hard drive. My questions are two fold: 1) Do you think these programmes are safe and should I use it, as I don't want issues with my computer now it is stable. 2) Does anyone know where I can get this Adobe software? I have tried other photo software and quite frankly they leave me cold.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Janeygee]

I have wiped photo files before by mistake and used freeware file recovery programs to retrieve them. One that springs to mind is Recuva from the guys who do CCleaner, I'm sure there would be no problem with that. Just Google the program name and see what sort of feedback you can get from the net.

It also depends on what you have done to the HD before, reformating etc, then you may find that a lot is missing.

As regards the Adobe prog. I am surprised it is unavailable. I would have thought Adobe had it available or at least a prog which would allow access to old files that were generated by one of their progs.

[KenB]

Hi and welcome to ExTS

 

it told me to put the disc I created when I first bought the pc in so that it could retrieve everything

Was this a recovery disk?

If so - the machine would have been taken back to factory settings ........all installed software / files / photos removed.

Is this the case?

 

As Janeygee says - Recuva is a very good ( free ) piece of software.

However, there are one or two things you need to be aware of

 

1. If your photos have been erased - the more you use your computer the less likely is the possibility that you will be able to get them back.

( basically, the sectors on the disk where they are get overwritten )

 

2. You cannot install Recuva on the same partition ( presumably C: ) from where you are trying to recover the photos.

You would probably need to take the hard drive out and attach it to another computer. Recuva would be installed on this other computer

 

You can get Recuva from here:

click here

[Tottsy]

Hi thanks for those replies, it is the Adobe software I need to receover, I put everything on a disc (fortunately) about 2 months before the crash, so I have got my photos etc. But the Adobe software came through on the first receovery and on the second, but not on the third. When I go into safe mode, it scrolls up F partition 2, so I guess it has all gone.

I went to Adobe and asked them about the software I want and they said they no longer have it and pointed me to a new one (£200 plus) which I don't fancy buying, especially if it is not like the one I had.

As regards using a different drive, I wouldn't have a clue where to start, but thanks anyway.

[KenB]

it is the Adobe software I need to receover,

The Recuva software would not do this anyway - it is used for recovering files / photos etc.

 

Have you tried searching for "Adobe" or "Photo Delux" in Start > Search ......All Files and Folders ?

[Tottsy]

Yes, I have tried that, and there are files there but when I click on them it says "invalid or corrupt".

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, you say the Adobe software was OK after the first recovery and also the second when using your own created disks.

Was the software pre-installed, in other words, already there when you bought the computer?

If so there may be a copy of the program on the recovery disk.

I am not sure if an individual program could be salvaged from that disk though, so maybe someone else can advise on that.

 

Nev.

[Tottsy]

No, I put it on the computer, I transferred it through a disc from my old one in 2005, and it came through on the first and second crash by itself, but when I put the disc in to put it back on the pc, it wouldn't go on, so something has obviously changed.

[Tottsy]

Sorry, when I say disc, not the recovery disc, an ordinary disc. The recovery disc when it went in (on the pc's instruction) there was nothing to see, it just put everything on the pc. However, when I made the recovery disc, it told me to put a disc in for "tools". When I put recovery disc in, it asked if I wanted to use the tools to do it myself, which I declined. However, do you think I could use the "tools" disc to look for it, if I dare - don't want to mess the pc up!!!

[Plastic Nev]

Sorry, but a bit confused here, the Adobe software, is that on a disk of its own? and not an original part of the computer when you bought it?

 

Nev.

[Tottsy]

It was on the computer I had before the one I have now, so I have no disc for it. I transferred it from this old computer onto this one in 2005 and it worked.

[Plastic Nev]

I take it that the old computer no longer exists so you can't do it again?

How did you make the transfer work by the way as programs should be properly installed not just the program files copied from one computer to the other, although with some simpler programs it can sometimes work that way. (I have done it, so know it can)

It is maybe looking like you have lost it for good though now, so if you can describe exactly what you used the old Adobe program for and how you used it, there is a chance there may be another program that can do the same things.

 

Nev.

[KenB]

I found a thread that suggested that the Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition 1.1. software came bundled with ( in this case ) the software for a HP scanjet printer.

 

If you have any old printer CDs take a look at those - you may get lucky.

[Tottsy]

As far as I can remember I did it with a CD, also with a flash plug, but maybe I didn't!! Maybe I installed again with the scanjet printer, like you say it came bundled with that. But I sold the printer along with the software. I have looked through my cd software programmes and it isn't there. Also I have looked for something similar, but cannot find it. As I said earlier, when I search for Adobe PhotoDeluxe there are folders on my pc, but when I click on them it says invalid or corrupt.However, when I made the recovery disc, it told me to put a further disc in for "tools". When I put recovery disc in, it asked if I wanted to use the tools to do it myself, which I declined. However, do you think I could use the "tools" disc to look for it, if I dare - don't want to mess the pc up!!!

[Plastic Nev]

Worth a look in the tools disk, it may or may not be self executing, so be ready to stop it loading when you put the disk in, the disk drawer release button being a last resort to stop it loading. If it doesn't self load, you should have the option to look at the files it contains if it opens a window with options in it. If no window, go to my computer, then a right click on the disk drive should reveal that, again via the options. Look and see if it is there.

 

Otherwise, if you can let us know what exactly you used the Adobe software for, we might just be able to find something similar.

 

As a start in that direction, have you looked at one called PhotoFiltre?

 

Here is a link for the free download http://photofiltre.free.fr/frames_en.htm

 

On the page that opens, click "Downloads" on top left, then at the top of that page "English version with setup installer and Ask Toolbar". or alternatively, click this link to start the download straight away.

Once downloaded, to wherever you store downloads, doubler

http://photofiltre.free.fr/images/floppy.gif English version with setup installer and Ask Toolbar

 

Once you have it downloaded, double click to start installing, they say you should be able to uncheck the install of the Ask Toolbar during the install. If not or you miss that, it can be removed through the normal "remove programs".

 

Nev.

 

N.

[Tottsy]

Hi, yes, might try that with the tools disc.

The reason I would prefer it back from my pc is because before when it came through, it had kept all the things I had on it. I use it a lot to create collage - ie put different things together, but erase the background first so that I have a complete picture.

I have looked at the photo filtre, might try it. I have downloaded a few photo software, but have not liked them. I suppose I am used to the Adobe one.

[Tottsy]

I tried the disc, it started to load and a window came up saying "start recovery" I cancelled it and looked at the pc, it shows the disc in there, but no option to view what it was. I don't think I want to let it "start" as I may not be able to just go to a search programme! Think that is a no go area as my pc is working absolutely perfectly now. Have put adverts on various sites asking for the Adobe software and even the scanjet software, but no joy. I guess it is too old now. Someone will have one somewhere, but don't know what else to do.

[RandyL]

I'm sure I probably missed something here but I think this is the point.

 

Adobe photo software uses a proprietary default file format for their images. They are very strict about protecting that file format. If the file was saved with a PSD extension for instance then only their software will open it.

 

Of course it also gives the option to "save" in a different format that other programs will open. If you did not do this then you will need the Adobe photo software to use these files. If you do not have such installed you will get those errors.

 

If you right click the file and choose properties it might show you the information to determine this.

 

Unfortunately this is a common problem when a file has been saved in such a way that only that program can use it.

 

Like I said. Adobe is very strict about the file types they have exclusive rights to.

 

Try converting with a program like Irfaview. http://www.irfanview.com/main_download_engl.htm

[Plastic Nev]

If RandyL is correct about the photo's themselves, Irfanview is an excellent file type converter and may make the photo's viewable and even usable if that is the case with them.

 

I tried the disc, it started to load and a window came up saying "start recovery" I cancelled it and looked at the pc, it shows the disc in there, but no option to view what it was.

 

with the disk in but cancelled from starting, go to my computer and it should show the disk is in the disk drive. Right click on the disk drive, you should see an option to view files and folders on the disk. Click on that and then you should see a list of everything on it.

 

You can also do that with the other recovery disk you made. If not sure about what the files shown are for, copy and paste both of the lists here and we may be able to point out the one you want.

 

Nev.

[Tottsy]

RandyL,

 

Right I have searched on pc and right clicked on Adobe PhotoDelux which is the largest file of 37kb (zipped).(I saved all the pics as J.Peg, it is the actual Adobe I want to open and retrieve, not the photos separately, They will be in that software in the "hold"). When right clicking on it it shows in the "advanced" tab - file is ready for archiving. Do you think if I unclick this it might open?

 

Plastic Nev,

 

I dont seem able to copy them, but there are folders with different languages, then below that there are "bootfont" with different languages and then 12 different versions of WIN51. Probably can't make much sense of that!!

 

Probably doesn't help much I guess.

[Tottsy]

Have tried unticking the "advanced" tab and still cannot open it.

[RandyL]

I think you are trying to open Adobe Photoshop as a retrieved file. You can not do this. You need the original exe file which would be on a disk. Then you need to actually install it not just open it.

 

There are new and old versions of Photoshop that range in price up to $600 if I rember correctly. This is not the type of software that you can just copy from one computer to another.

 

If you don't have the original software with the license key then you can not install it. No work arounds on this. Even if there were it would not be legal.

 

I'm afraid that if you want to use Photoshop you will need to purchase it.

 

There are old versions of PhotoDeluxe that you can purchase from resellers but personally I never trust these. They are cheap but you never know.

[Tottsy]

It isn't Photoshop I was using - it was Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition 1.1. I had it installed on the pc I had before this, I transferred it to this pc, and worked OK, it crashed, and transferred again, but this third time it isn't there, apart from folders still on my pc which lead nowhere. I have looked for it everywhere I can think of, but to no avail. Looks like I am going to have to live without it - but thanks for your help.