So here's the deal: I (20M) had a bunch of my baby photos stored on two PCs from the early 2000s. My parents (40) transferred all my baby pics from an old camera onto those computers. Unfortunately, they ran into problems with file corruption or a possible virus that makes the files unviewable. They've kept the PCs in hopes that technology might give us a way to restore the photos someday. Does anyone know if recovery is possible now? Also, what steps should I take to try and restore these precious memories?
4 Answers
File recovery services do exist, but they can get pretty pricey, especially if you’re just trying to recover sentimental stuff. You might want to weigh the emotional value against the potential cost before diving in.
You might want to try using a Linux live boot USB to access the hard drive. It runs independently of your main OS, so it can help read the files without getting infected by any potential virus on the PCs. It’s a low-risk way to see if you can recover your pictures without any major installations.
It sounds like you might be dealing with ransomware. If you can, reply here with a screenshot of how the files look right now. That might help others give specific advice about what to do next.
Thanks for the tip! I'll grab a screenshot and post it. Hopefully, it will shed some light on what's going on.
There’s a chance the image files could be saved in a proprietary format made by the camera. If you can check the file extension and properties, that might give us clues on how to proceed.
Yeah, it's a tough call. I wouldn't want to throw a lot of cash at something that might not work, especially if those memories can’t be brought back.