Need to recover photo files... HELP! My computer flat lined last week an even though a tech was able to get my machine back to working, none of my photos files will open. It seems as...

jgdean Loc: NC, USA

My computer flat lined last week an even though a tech was able to get my machine back to working, none of my photos files will open. It seems as though most files were corrupted.
I have a Lenovo Idea Pad, Windows 7... any help will be appreciated.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

jgdean wrote:

My computer flat lined last week an even though a tech was able to get my machine back to working, none of my photos files will open. It seems as though most files were corrupted.
I have a Lenovo Idea Pad, Windows 7... any help will be appreciated.

Go out and buy two 1TB external drives. You will be able to backup (twice) all your future pictures. If the computer tech can't recover your pictures, it doesn't look good. I wouldn't give up hope, though. We have some geniuses here who might have a solution.

Try Recuva. It's free and has a good reputation.

Brenda IS Scottish Loc: GOLDEN Colorado

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/software/recover-lost-photos-how-to-repair-corrupt-images-1117764

web review of programs that specifically recover photo files.

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

jgdean wrote:

My computer flat lined last week an even though a tech was able to get my machine back to working, none of my photos files will open. It seems as though most files were corrupted.
I have a Lenovo Idea Pad, Windows 7... any help will be appreciated.

Hi JGdean,
Can you 'see' the photo files on your hard drive? You might try opening them with a different viewer on the hunch that the problem may be with the viewer or program you're trying to open them with. Just a possible .....

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

This has been discussed soooooo many times look in the search facility above

recovery programs

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/search.jsp?q=recovery+programs&u=&s=0

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

jgdean wrote:

My computer flat lined last week an even though a tech was able to get my machine back to working, none of my photos files will open. It seems as though most files were corrupted.
I have a Lenovo Idea Pad, Windows 7... any help will be appreciated.

If your image files are truly corrupted on your HD then you are probably SOL'd without $$$$$ and professional help ...... even then recovery may not be possible.

Not to rub salt in your wound but please embark on a back up plan for all your important files. That back up plan should not rely on just one back up HD or CD. You need two back ups minimum and if you want to protect against real tragedy (fire, theft) one of those should be off site.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

xxMeanKittyxx wrote:

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/software/recover-lost-photos-how-to-repair-corrupt-images-1117764

web review of programs that specifically recover photo files.

Thanks for the link :thumbup: ....I hadn't seen this comparison of image recovery programs before.

The better ones have a "try before buy" which should fit the OP's needs. Too bad the best only have a ~60% success rate and work only on JPEGs.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Piniform's Recova http://www.piriform.com/recuva

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

St3v3M wrote:

Piniform's Recova http://www.piriform.com/recuva

Steve, Recova is basically an undelete program which probably won't work for the OP's problem of corrupted image files.

Recova is a great program for what it does and if time is of no concern the OP could try it but the recovery success rate is likely to be 0% or there about.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

robert-photos wrote:

Steve, Recova is basically an undelete program which probably won't work for the OP's problem of corrupted image files.

Recova is a great program for what it does and if time is of no concern the OP could try it but the recovery success rate is likely to be 0% or there about.

This brings up an interesting point and maybe an easy fix. What editing program did you use before you burned down your computer and did you already reinstall it? Some, not all, post processing programs will change the file extension on your photos. If it is proprietary it will need the program to open them. If this is not the issue Recuva is worth a try.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

St3v3M wrote:

This brings up an interesting point and maybe an easy fix. What editing program did you use before you burned down your computer and did you already reinstall it? Some, not all, post processing programs will change the file extension on your photos. If it is proprietary it will need the program to open them. If this is not the issue Recuva is worth a try.

I don't think I'd ever use a post processing program that would change my image file type without my directing it to do so. Which programs do you know of that do such a thing? Please list as those would be ones I'd avoid like a plague.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

robert-photos wrote:

I don't think I'd ever use a post processing program that would change my image file type without my directing it to do so. Which programs do you know of that do such a thing? Please list as those would be ones I'd avoid like a plague.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Photoshop
Photoshop files have default file extension as .PSD, which stands for "Photoshop Document." A PSD file stores an image with support for most imaging options available in Photoshop. These include layers with masks, transparency, text, alpha channels and spot colors, clipping paths, and duotone settings. This is in contrast to many other file formats (e.g. .JPG or .GIF) that restrict content to provide streamlined, predictable functionality.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

St3v3M wrote:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Photoshop br Ph... (show quote)

Yes, if in PS with layers, etc. when I close or save an image it defaults to .PSD .....BUT.....my original is not altered.....a copy as a .PSD is made. My original JPEG or RAW file is not altered.

Your previous post indicated that somehow a post processing program would automatically change the file extension of an image file therby corrupting it or making it unreadable by, say Windows Photo Viewer, without the proper codecs installed.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

jgdean wrote:

My computer flat lined last week an even though a tech was able to get my machine back to working, none of my photos files will open. It seems as though most files were corrupted.
I have a Lenovo Idea Pad, Windows 7... any help will be appreciated.

Be grateful that you lost most of your data. It should encourage you to backup next time. Many people who recover their data, still don't learn this lesson.

phillduplessis

jgdean wrote:

My computer flat lined last week an even though a tech was able to get my machine back to working, none of my photos files will open. It seems as though most files were corrupted.
I have a Lenovo Idea Pad, Windows 7... any help will be appreciated.

You can use photo recovery tool from http://www.softwarerecovery.org/photo-recovery-tool.html to repair your photos from your storage device.