i have lost everything

just got my PC back, it needed formating??
i had to sign up to tiscali again...........but all my music & photos have gone

have you actually formatted it yet? there are lots of free programs that will be able to recover your files

took it back to shop on saturday, just got it back all done

if its been formatted then all data, software etc everything has been deleted I'm afraid.

That's scandalous, if a repair shop didn't think to back up your data or at least prompt you to do it before bringing it in I'd be going mental!!

For everyone else, make regular backups of your data, a USB high capacity drive isn't expensive.

Originally Posted by arenalife

That's scandalous, if a repair shop didn't think to back up your data or at least prompt you to do it before bringing it in I'd be going mental!!

AMEN!

There is absoluetly no need to EVER format a machine & loose all data held on the C drive. If your data was never on the C drive, then it's even more inexcusable.

How many freebies can they give you because of the inconvienence they've caused? Did they call you to ask if they could format it before they did so?

That's like your bike going into a dealership for a service, getting it back, and getting the bill for the new tyres they fitted without asking!

Hovi5, do yourself a favour, never, EVER go back to that shop again (unless it's to complain!) and if you have any more computer issues, post on the forum from the library, us geeks will sort you out.

they did say it may need formating, but i did not know i would lose everything. its all the music i had which in more anoyed over as it tooks ages to get it all on there.

i got a black screen saying windows coundnt load then 4 options at the bottom 1 was start windows normaly.

Originally Posted by hovi5

they did say it may need formating, but i did not know i would lose everything. its all the music i had which in more anoyed over as it tooks ages to get it all on there.

i got a black screen saying windows coundnt load then 4 options at the bottom 1 was start windows normaly.

They had to format your machine because it didn't boot properly? WTF?!?!

I'm sure there's some governing body that you can report these cowboys to.

On that black screen, there will of been "Start Windows in Safe Mode with Networking" and a "with Command Prompt" option... either of those would of probably started your machine, shut it down, restart normally, and the problem usually goes away. Not always mind.

Do me a favour, call in to the shop, and get them to WRITE DOWN in detail the reason that they thought it warranted a format. If it's simply the easiest fix, then you need to be looking at compensation for inconvienence IMO. As far as the shop is concerned, you had data for work on there, and personal finances. They won't of looked in detail to see it wasn't there.

Once you get a written statement from them, post it on the org (or PM to me).

Cowboy's like that destroy all faith that people have in IT folks & it really gets my goat. Even if there was a legitimate reason to format it, your data should of been backed up by them, and replaced once Windows was installed again.

i did try to start it with the differant options on the black screen but none worked

i wall told it needed formating bacause there was virus's which they could not remove

Originally Posted by hovi5

i did try to start it with the differant options on the black screen but none worked

i wall told it needed formating bacause there was virus's which they could not remove

LMAO at that!

So there's a virus huh? What kind of virus was it? Normal generic windows virus? Install Windows on the machine (without formatting), byebye virus. Data still intact.

Boot sector virus? Install windows on the machine (without formatting), byebye virus, data still intact.

Firmware "virus"? Only ever affect specific firmware, not hard to work out what it's infected. Update firmware to latest provided by manufacturer. Done. No loss of data/settings whatsoever.

Sorry, but I'm missing something here, there was no need to format that machine!