Topic: Overwritten file

[Clive]

My son's girlfriend has overwritten an important university file with an identical filename.  I know it's unlikely, but is there any chance of her retrieving the original?  Just to make matters more complicated for you   it's a Mac.   :heehee:   Yes, I KNOW this is a PC forum blah blah blah.  

[Simon]

I'm sure that one of our fabulous band of brothers and sisters will be able to help Clive.

Me?  Haven't a clue!  

[Sandra]

Cant find any software that says files can be recovered if overwritten Clive although there are loads for deleted ones or formatted drives.
I did find this company that says it can do it but how expensive or successful they are is an unknown quantity to me.
Hope it works if its her last resort and no one comes up with anything else  

http://www.vogon-data-recovery.co.uk/

[Clive]

Thanks very much for that Sandra.  To make this even more complicated (as if it isn't bad enough!) she lives in Montreal so I would suspect she needs a Canadian company to carry out the work.

[Sandra]

They probably have a branch there Clive as initially I found the USA site and then the UK one from there.
Had another look since I posted the addy and it looks like it may be using a sledgehamer to crack a nut as it talks about having teams of specialists looking at the problem  
Unless it is irreplaceable,extremely important data I think it will turn out to be way too expensive  

[Simon]

Just a thought, but is there nothing similar to System Restore on a Mac?

[Clive]

Would system restore have solved that on a PC?  I have a feeling that it doesn't work in that way.  Can anyone add anything to Simon's suggestion?

[Gemini]

Nope Clive, system restore wouldn't work it leaves files untouched but I can't add anymore. I'm afraid, I think as Sandra says its gone without probably very expensive help  

[Sandra]

It appears that Macs have a utility that can do similar to windows restore but it has to have been installed and manually backed up onto another partition,similar to ghosting I would summise.
I came across this from a Mac user saying what features from XP he would like to see included in future Mac OSs :

System Restore: This isn't quite the same as the Restore CDs that come with a Mac (which can return the computer to factory condition in a single process). The Windows XP version of System Restore is more akin to Power On Software's Rewind. Microsoft's version takes periodic snapshots of the condition of your system as you install new applications and drivers. If something goes wrong, you can return the system to a previous state, just before all hell broke loose. Yes, there's a third party solution on a Mac (or will be when Power On comes up with a Mac OS X version of Rewind). But doing it on the system level has got to be a real plus and one sure way to help in the event of a disaster.


As Gem said its system restore anyway not file restore.You would need a very large drive if XP was going to automatically save all the info on your PC every time it or you created a restore point.
I assume she hadnt backed that folder or file up anywhere Clive?

[Clive]

Thanks for all your help on this.  I've passed it on to him and he will inform his girlfriend.

[Big_Boss]

has overwritten an important university file

If it was that important shouldnt you have a backup?

[Clive]

Well Big_Boss, that's women for you isn't it?  

[Big_Boss]

Well Big_Boss, that's women for you isn't it?  

Im sure she will learn by her mistake, or maybe not  

[Rodders]

Just as a footnote, I met the guys from Vogon at a seminar a few years ago in darkest Woking.  They really know their stuff, but don't work cheaply.  And they are named after the characters from 'Hitchhikers Guide' by the way.  

Not a lot of people know that.  

[Tony]

I dont know if Roxio GOBACK works on Macs but that would have solved the problem if it does. The personal addition reverts your drive to safe points in time, the Deluxe version can recover individuale files if you want. OK it will not help her out this time around but it will next time if she installs the program.

For instance just looking at revert hard drive to 'safe points' for today I have five safe points latest being 10 mins ago, then one hour ago, two hours , five hours and earliest is the start of the day according to your PC clock. Looking at the GoBack log there are three reverts points for yesterday, and three for the day before, and two for the day before that, and one for day before that.

Anyway here is the site link http://www.roxio.com/en/products/goback/faq.jhtml#6