Watch is video and take their recommendations.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tekzilla

Folkvictorian,
I can't give any advice but I can tell U something U have found out the hard way. BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP. Flash drives are pretty cheap now. Every time you make a change back it up before U leave the computer. Something that important I would backup on 2 flash drive just in case.
I hope some of the others can help you.
Dar

2 free programs to try however since it sounds like he formatted the drive it may not be recoverable.
FreeUndelete

Recuva

I am trying to understand what happened and why, you say the disc drawer drive to me that sounds like you were trying to get a cd or dvd which you put into the cd/dvd drive to play?? that drive is totally different than your C drive which is your Hard Drive. CD/DVD drives can and do go bad in which case you can simply have that replaced.
Messing with the C/Hard Drive and formatting it would not really be the way to go to try to remedy that.

So can you tell us exactly what was happening, what was done and what the results are. Give us the version of windows please.

also you may want to read this about your current program
Spyware, viruses, & security forum: Iolo Scam

there are many excellent programs we can suggest to you which are free so next time please check here before paying for anything and what ever you do please do NOT use any registry cleaner type programs.

Please also list what security programs you currently have on the pc and are you fully updated on AV and windows updates.

Thank you, Mike, Sugar, and Ravencajun. I downloaded the Recuva from Tekzilla and it worked, but sadly the files had already been written over. Recuva is incredible and located many many files.

The good news is that we didn't lose any photos since I'd backed those up to disks about a month earlier and put them in our safe deposit box. When we got the disks back and loaded them onto the computer, the "new" photos wrote over the top of the docs we'd lost.

Losing the word docs is inconvenient but not the end of the world. Yes, I should have backed them up and I've learned my lesson! What's the greatest is that I could put a question on this forum and get great answers in less than an hour! Thank you all again.

Maybe for transcribing those docs the 2nd time around look into dropbox .. it will sync your transcription doc folder to an online server & save copies of deletes even. Sort of would act as a running back up for you maybe.

Think its 2gb of storage free .. an extra 250mb for you and the person .. if you come from a referal... me ;) =

Here is a link that might be useful: DropBox

I signed up using your link Mikie.

Pooh Bear

Thanks Pooh

go to the online help link, and then Forums.. look around at the forums. You learn lots there about many things dropbox, its interesting like here too.

DropBox is one of those great things, super handy, lots of ways I use it... for me.

Mikie, this might be just the thing for DD's friend. One of those guys with lots going on, business and personal in several locations. I'm going to send her the link. How could you get the referral credit if they sign up? Thanks, Sandy

drop box is great! comes in handy for lots of stuff.

Thanks, Mikie! I signed up, too, using your link. :)

Thanks Sandy !! - that link above to "DropBox" is coded to me. Anyone clicking that special url, if they register while initially accessing dropbox from it, then I should get an extra 250mb of free storage there for the referral & they also get 250mb extra above the normal free space amount.

If you keep an eye on the dropbox forum, you will see from time to time easter egg hunts or contests to get more free space. Interesting & quite HARD!!. Think I have 4.5Gb free space now.

Thanks abreeze too.

Mike: I signed up using your link also. Thanks.

What I don't understand is this:
I have two users on my laptop (both mine). One is for personal stuff, the other for business.

When I downloaded DropBox, I downloaded within my Personal desktop. Do I have to download it again when I'm in in my other "busines" profile? Again, both of these are on the same laptop so it seems redundant to have to download it again. I checked "all programs" on my business user side, but don't see anything for DropBox....though I do see it on the Personal user side which is where I downloaded it initially.

I hope this makes sense. Thanks.

You got another one, Mikie. Just downloaded it. What a neat idea. Wish I had it a few months ago when I had all the trouble.

Thanks a bunch,
Jane

Thanks Debbie & Jane !

Debbie... I searched DropBox site & yes it seems you do need to install on each user account. Of course you can use the same login/password to access the one/same dropbox account.

Here is a link that might be useful: Two dropbox users on same PC

There is also a DropBox for Android smart phones.

Thanks Mikie. I'll read up on the link.

Mikkie, You can add another 250 to your account. I just signed up, too. Thanks for the link.

Sorry, I got an extra k in your name. :(

Thanks janette.. just helped a friend understand how make an online photo album/slide show .. so simple. I like dropbox, use it daily, would be lost without it now.