Big Trouble - Files Deleted

[Redneck]

I deleted .mp4 files my wife kept for later viewing on a Mac Mini. The trash can has been emptied already.

Is there any way to get those files back?

[picman]

By chance did you have Time Machine activated?

I use these two for regular maintenance - they both do file recovery and are good to have around: Disk Warrior and Techtool

Seen, but haven't used:
Data Rescue and FileSalvage

[picman]

Also, don't do anything the will write files. (if those files are really important, just leave the computer off until you decide how to recover) Your files are still there, they are now just marked as free space to be used - anything you do will possibly overwrite your missing files.

[Redneck]

Thanks for the tips. These tools all run around $100 and that's just not worth it for me. I had Time Machine running but I specifically excluded the HDD with the video files on it. So that's not going to help.

[Buddha]

I tested 5 data recovery freeware applications over the same deleted data some time back and nothing came close to this one.
The best by far is from Main Page - CGSecurity. It's their data recovery utility and includes a specific utility for photos which I have put to good use. It may also be called TestDisk.
It works very well, but its operates from the keyboard with DOS commands. That probably won't be an issue. When it asks you to where to put the files and provides a Drive as the only choice, use the Right and Left Cursor keys to go up and down in the Drive Menu, and the Up and Down keys to go up and down with a Drive or a Directory.
It will allow you to recover files to a file which you designate. It allows you to look at recovered files as it works, and it periodically starts new folders so they aren't all crammed into one large one.
Good luck.

[Redneck]

Thanks for the tips, my wife got finally used to the thought that her files are gone. Problem solved.

[Cajungaltx]

Originally Posted by Redneck

Thanks for the tips, my wife got finally used to the thought that her files are gone. Problem solved.

no it's not.....you might THINK it's solved....but a word of advice would be: spend the money, recover her files.....cause the minute you lose any of yours.....you spend ONE more minute/dollar/comment than you did about deleting HERS and your ass is on an open flame.....

[andyz]

Also, if it were my wife, the files may be gone, but she would remember it forever! I'm with Donna, I'd try to get them back.

[picman]

Originally Posted by andyz

Also, if it were my wife, the files may be gone, but she would remember it forever! I'm with Donna, I'd try to get them back.

....if we could just copy that attribute of the womens mind into a hard drive.

[LouDog]

system restore?

[Buddha]

System Restore won't recover his wife's files. It doesn't do that. It will just quickly re-format his hard drive in effect, returning his computer it's original configuration and wiping out his user files, too.
Depending on how vindictive his wife is, that may just be enough to get Redneck out of hot water.

[LouDog]

Originally Posted by Buddha

System Restore won't recover his wife's files. It doesn't do that. It will just quickly re-format his hard drive in effect, returning his computer it's original configuration and wiping out his user files, too.
Depending on how vindictive his wife is, that may just be enough to get Redneck out of hot water.

lol

[Redneck]

Ha ha, thanks for caring about my marriage, guys.

Originally Posted by andyz

Also, if it were my wife, the files may be gone, but she would remember it forever! I'm with Donna, I'd try to get them back.

She will remember forever anyway, no matter if I get the files back or not. It doesn't make any difference.

Again thanks, I think she's over it by now. It wasn't like her wedding or child birth video or anything like that, just some (a lot) of her favorite TV shows from Germany. She has been collecting them but now they're gone for good, I hope. Gives her more space on the hard disc for new shows. Isn't that great?

[Cope]

I used Recuva a couple of months ago. I was surprised at what I was able to restore. Don't know if they have a Mac version.

Recuva - Undelete, Unerase, File and Disk Recovery - Free Download