MAJOR PANIC - All my files have disappeared!!!

[Erin Salmon]

Hi,

I like to think I'm in control of my computer, but evidently Bill has other ideas...

I have a 40GB HDD partitioned into a variety of drives, one of which is SWAP, one for games, multimedia, Program Files etc...

On my E: (program files) there is a folder called "Program Files", containing (you'd never guess) program files...

I went to load Winamp from the start menu lauch panel only to find it had disappeared. All my other programs in the start panel don't work either. A quick look in E:/Program Files/ Revealed that all of my 6GB of image editing, web design and multimedia software had GONE!

The only file there was a 688KB file called install.exe, which belongs to a small program called Cyd_Gif somethingorother...

I tried to install the Gif thingy a few days ago, into the offending folder, and removed it a few minutes later having decided it was crap. Evidently, it tookwith it Flash MX, Dreamweaver UltraDev, Fireworks 4, Adobe Photoshop 7, Winamp and a few other minor programs.

Those of you who have used some of these pieces of software will know how complex they are, and re-installing them, only to have to painstakingly restore ALL my settings would take the best part of a week!

I do have all the original CDs etc, but I really don't want to have to do that.

The only other thing I've recently been tinkering with is my SWAP file. It was originally on a 2GB Partition with a 2GB min, and 2GB Max swap size. I was finding this too small for photoshop's desires, so I moved the SWAP to a free 8GB partition, but then wanted to use it, so I moved it back. Could this have done it?

I haven't lost documents, files etc, just the programs, but I can assure you, THIS IS NOT COOL!

Whatever you can do would be godlike!

Thanks,

Erin

[-=JM=-]

Umm, I can't really offer much help.

But welcome to the new forums Erin.

[Erin Salmon]

Cheers JM,

They're pretty sweet aye...

:)

Erin

[Merlin]

Hmm - you have a minor problem then?

Since the drive partition is still recognised, chances are that data recovery using a DOS based program is unnecessary.

Install EasyRecovery Pro which will allow you to recover deleted files from within Windows.

Depending on your ethics, http://kickme.to/FOSI


Should EasyRecovery Pro not recover the file then either try data recovery from DOS or spend a week reinstalling.

In either case, consider regular backups - you do have a CD burner?

[Merlin]

Btw - Fosi doesn't like firewalls

[Erin Salmon]

Hi,

Thanks Merlin. Considering it's 28.2MB, and I'm on 56K, I'll leave it for another time and settle for a free penis enlarger for the timebeing :)

Looking at the technical side of this (I'm talking about my partition!), what exaclty happened, has anyone solved the puzzle?

Thanks again,

Erin

[Merlin]

Fine.

As to your other question - if the files have not been hidden and the folder settings changed, since the folder "Program Files" still exists, then there appears to be no damge to the partition table or data index (depending on what the partition was formatted as).

Consequently since the files have vanished, one could assume that a virus got into the system (unlikely) or the registry got corrupted and when Cyd_Gif was dumped, it removed all the rest . . . equally improbable.

Why did it happen? - dunno but it did after you removed Cyd_Gif Studio Pro so I would look there.

Solution - since you want the penis enlarger and not any freebees, you will have to reinstall.

[mikebartnz]

There is a program called Repoman or something like that from somewhere like the Netherlands which can recover data from anything except a physically damaged disk. Could be worth a try.. Just don't write anything to that partition until you have recovered what you want.

[bmason]

I've had programmes delete all sorts of stuff that they shouldn't have when I tried to remove them (registry, system folder, ... everything).

In this case it probably was the gif programme since it left its installer which would have been in use when it was deleting your stuff.


If there was nothing at all in the folder then it could have been an error in your fat table.

[robo]

Erin
I have a bad feeling about this.
I assume you have looked in the recycle bin and have tried undeleting with Norton Utils?
robo.

[|llus|oN]

Youve probably already checked but just in case ........ I dont suppose its something like "Windows Explorer/veiw/options/veiw/hide file types"?

Just a wild thought. ;)

[kiwibeat]

solution install another HDD and keep all vital data on it plus do backups onto cd I also use goback so if i install a prog i dont like I can also undo whatever went on prior to the installation this has saved my PC about 50x in the last month as i am always twaeking or tempted to install the latest bit of new software that often conflicts with my AMD thunderbird system running 98 sec edition

[Graham L]

What happened? Obvious. They made a simple uninstall routine for their programme, (compulsory to get Windows official accepance).

If it uses 688K, that would be about the volume of the Windows calls needed to implement the equivalent of the DOS command: del *.* Just be grateful that they didn't make it: deltree /y \ ]:). But they wanted you to keep their programme. You didn't, so they punished you.

Bit of a barsteward, Erin. :-( :-( But I don't think you can blame Bill for this one. X-(

[Erin Salmon]

Hi,

I don't have norton utils, but I'll see if I can get it "the student way" for a day or two.

I do intend to download the program Merlin suggested, but I'll have to pick a period when no-one else want to use the phone, and I don't want to sleep... The penis enlarger was a joke (just so you know)...

I can't really afford a second hard drive, and I'd need to install another IDE controller card as all my spaces are filled up with various drives

Graham, I have a more than slight nasty inclination that you may be correct. When the program uninstalled it didn't use an uninstaller, but rather the deleting thingy with a progress bar. Also VERY VERY VERY VERY (ok point made) suspicious that after deleting the contents of my folder, it placed ITS OWN install in the place of all the existing files...

I'd call that heavy hinting wouldn't you?

I might see if I can find a contact address for these Cyd_Gif guys and send them something interesting, any suggestions? A Cave Weta?

:)

Erin

P.S. I'm going to test Graham's theory by installing it in another folder with just a text file in it, then remove it and see what happens. I'll post the results later... :)

[Erin Salmon]

AHA!
OHO!
EHE!

GRRRRR!

Graham was correct, uninstalling Cyd_Gif Studio will remove the entire contents of the directory in which it was located, and place Install.exe in it's place...

@#$%@#$%^@#$^@#$ DIRTY TACTICS!!!

BASTARDS!!!

SLY ******S!!!

Let's get them...

Man that makes me as mad as I was when I saw Rivaldo's "AHH MY HEAD" incident...

#$!T%!#$%!#!!!!

Any ideas for a suitable punishment?

Jeepers these ******s are going to get it...

:(

Erin

[Graham L]

And the reason its own "install.exe" survives is that it is "open" at the time. (That should have given an error message ... at least in DOS it would).

Hell, I was joking. Obviously, they weren't.

I hate it when it comes true.

[mikebartnz]

Repoman (http://www.diydatarecovery.nl/) is the program I mentioned in an earlier post.

[Erin Salmon]

Hi,

I'll have a crack with the Demo version of Repoman when I next get near my PC... thx.

:)

Erin

[Biggles]

Erin - are these the folks in question?

http://www.cydsoft.com/

Sounds like the product advertised ont their site - wouldn't hurt to send em an email and ask them to explain themselves.

I quick search on Google seems to find plenty of references to Cyd Gif without there being any negative stuff about uninstall. I wonder if the copy you installed had been tampered with?

[Graham L]

Maybe it said in the README file, that it should be put into a directory of its own. ;-) However, there is no excuse for an uninstall that will kill a system directory. It's probably not malice, but incompetence of that order is not far off malice.

[Erin Salmon]

Hi,

I DID install it in it's own folder:

E:/Program Files/Cyd_Gid/***

It wiped the folder in which its folder was located.

:)

Erin

[Erin Salmon]

Hi again,

I didn't use Windows Paint because it lacked some of the file formats and animation capabilities I wanted.

I now have a whole host of software to do this, but thanks to Cyd_Gif, it's gone.

I think a feature article in PCW and the Cave Weta would constitute a reasonalbe punishment!

:)

Erin