Thanks for your comments.
 
(note: The files seem to be intact, it's the file structure that was scrambled.)

Crashplan has been running on her machine for quite a while and it looks like it will allow her to recover the files that were moved (disappeared) from their proper folders. Of course even when she gets the files recovered she will still be left with the scramble-moved partial directories scattered throughout her userid space.

Not knowing how or why it happened, she's worried that after she gets things all put back together it will happen again.

Not running as admin is a good idea. I don't know if running as user (she doesn't install programs) would have prevented this, but I'll try to get her to change.

Mark



Stephen Partington wrote:
Some tips and pointers. With windows never run as an admin except to install software.this is true of Linux as well but is handled more gracefully. Also a current antivirus with a known reputation. And use a secure browser with the ability to shut off 3rd party plugins except when needed.

This is my quick list.

Further down the line I suggest a backup routine to disk, there are a number of foss options that can work. Backup to network across the internet or internally is also a good idea. I have been toying with the idea of owncloud lately. It's like havering a personally managed Dropbox.

 Some things you can do is sweep file types up into buckets and that can help find stragglers.

Then run an undelete function. Something like testdisk by grc.

On Monday, July 28, 2014, Michael Havens <bmike1@gmail.com> wrote:
surprised she didn't get a ransom letter wit that. sorry that happened.

:-)~MIKE~(-:


On Mon, Jul 28, 2014 at 6:03 PM, Mark Jarvis <m.jarvis@cox.net> wrote:

My wife is running Win 7 on a Dell box. Sometime over the last couple of days the contents of her HD were scrambled. Scores of pictured and documents are scattered throughout the recycle bin and in dozens of spots throughout her file system. It looks like her file structure was hit with a randomizer. At this time there is no telling how much was lost. (With that much damage, I can't believe that it's all there.)

Finding and putting things back in a reasonable order is going to to be a major job. She would like to know:

1) what caused it

2) once she collects things, what can be done to prevent it from happening again.

Answers will require the help of someone who knows a lot more about Windows than I do.

Any help, suggestions, or name recommendations, either on or off list, will be gratefully accepted.

Mark Jarvis
m.jarvis@cox.net

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--
A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

Stephen




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