Author Topic: Lost prior backups so cannot restore (Read 14998 times)

Travelinspirit · « **on:** May 03, 2015, 09:42:06 pm »

Dell Inspiron 1750
Vista

Hiya,
I was trying to clean out my computer and I erased all of my prior backups(suggested as a way to free up space). Then, everything went to hell and I need to restore to a previous date. But, Everything is gone.

Is there a way to retrieve all of those backups?

I tried a backup from yesterday, prior to me screwing everything up, but it will not restore to previous version.

Screen resolution is wacked, cannot use video or iTunes. And all added software programs are gone as well, DivX, iTunes, etc.

Heeeelp please.
And I am NOT tech savvy.
Thanks so much!

Boggin · « **Reply #1 on:** May 04, 2015, 01:57:13 am »

You could try booting up into the Advanced Boot options by tapping F8 (usually) as you switch on to select Safe Mode and retry the restore point from there, or select Last Known Good Configuration to see if either of those helps, but it's always best to create regular full system images onto external media - either on DVDs or an external HDD.

When you save the images on an external HDD, the newer one will overwrite the old one, so you need to check everything is AOK before creating the new one.

Shane · « **Reply #2 on:** May 04, 2015, 01:48:54 pm »

System restore is something I never used or like, mainly because it stores all the old backup points to the same drive! So if the drive fails you lost all your back ups.

A backup is nothing more than a copy and you a proper backup should always be kept on another drive, such as an external drive.

In this case there isnt normally anyway to get the old restore points back, so instead we should fix what is wrong with the system

So what exactly is going on?

Shane

Travelinspirit · « **Reply #3 on:** May 04, 2015, 09:57:33 pm »

Well, I noticed while watching video that something was wrong. Video could not load, voices not matching video. I just figured it is because I have too much junk on my computer. So, I tried to uninstall things that I thought were things I did not want or need.

I didn't know what Bonjour was, apparently really important for iTunes😝
I got rid of duplicate items, HP stuff, and any add on items that I must have accidentally agreed to, weather thing, some TV watching thing, things I did not do on purpose.

Once I did this clean out, I restarted and my desktop changed completely. The resolution was fuzzy and huge and all icons were gone.

I did your windows fix in entirety and now I am at a loss.

I was close to full memory but I did not want to take it somewhere to have it cleaned out. Dumb!
So, I honestly do not even know yet what all is gone. I was hoping to just restore to a week ago when it was running poorly but intact.

I cannot thank you enough for your time and I am happy to "donate" or pro version, whatever is best.

Travelinspirit · « **Reply #4 on:** May 04, 2015, 10:07:43 pm »

There is a black box on startup taskeng.exe
Never there before.

Oh, I tried to re download iTunes after I screwed it up and it will not complete the download properly.

Just tried F8 startup and chose "last known good configuration" and it is no different. Screen still fuzzy and desktop funky.

Photos won't open
"The procedure entry point ?ROUND@@YAJN@Z could not be located in the dynamic link..."
I do not know what ?ROUND @@ is.

Boggin · « **Reply #5 on:** May 05, 2015, 07:13:58 am »

Anything that you have uninstalled will be lost but some of the files could still be in the Recycle Bin unless you have emptied that.

If you haven't used the computer too much since getting rid of that stuff, you could see what you can recover with EaseUs http://www.easeus.com/datarecoverywizard/free-data-recovery-software.htm or AsofTech http://www.asoftech.com/articles/recover-data-after-system-restore.html although I don't know if the latter is a freebie.

Shane · « **Reply #6 on:** May 05, 2015, 10:59:15 am »

Sounds like you may have uninstalled the video card drivers, which is why everything got real big on you

What is the make and model of your computer and I can go find the video drivers for you.

Shane

Travelinspirit · « **Reply #7 on:** May 05, 2015, 11:16:41 pm »

It is a Dell Inspiron 1750
Thank you pay-it-forward-man
Do you think I would do best to take it somewhere?
I will try your suggestions!

Boggin · « **Reply #8 on:** May 06, 2015, 12:51:29 am »

Using the Advanced Boot options, if it boots up into a working Safe Mode with Networking you can go to Dell Support and enter the Service tag which will let you drill down into the support pages to find your video drivers.

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Products/?app=drivers

Shane · « **Reply #9 on:** May 06, 2015, 04:45:55 pm »

Ok The drivers are here
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/inspiron-1750/drivers

I forgot to ask if you are on 32 bit or 64 bit version of windows. Looks like there is ATI and intel drivers, so just have to see which one you have

Shane

Travelinspirit · « **Reply #10 on:** May 08, 2015, 06:57:04 pm »

Hiya,
It is in CHKDSK mode
We shall see.
Feel like I want to try to backup docs, photos and anything I can onto disk or external HDR. Then take it somewhere.

Do you know the best way to backup that kind of thing without using restore/backup in control panel area?

Travelinspirit · « **Reply #11 on:** May 08, 2015, 07:18:31 pm »

And if you reply before Monday, I am telling your wife:) have a great weekend.

If you lived in MN I would bring a massage table to your house and work on you and your wife:)

Boggin · « **Reply #12 on:** May 09, 2015, 05:32:20 am »

Quote from: Travelinspirit on May 08, 2015, 06:57:04 pm

Hiya,
It is in CHKDSK mode
We shall see.
Feel like I want to try to backup docs, photos and anything I can onto disk or external HDR. Then take it somewhere.

Do you know the best way to backup that kind of thing without using restore/backup in control panel area?

You could use drag & drop to copy stuff onto an external HDD and with photos, you can highlight them all and do copy en bloc.

Shane · « **Reply #13 on:** May 11, 2015, 07:15:26 pm »

Sorry in the middle of having to move the wife and kids soon and trying to keep work caught up lol

So any updates on how things are going?

Shane

Travelinspirit · « **Reply #14 on:** May 13, 2015, 07:56:11 pm »

Too scared to do anything. Slowly trying to save things on an external HD:) I shall keep you posted!