please help me find my files

[charlotteinkennesaw]

hi Everyone,

I had to take my 3 month old computer back to the store and get a new one. I requessted that all of my data be transferred to the new one. Well the tech did put a folder on my desktop that says "Charlotte's Data'. But
1. When i double click on it and open the pictures folder and subfolders, all of the pictures appear smashed down, that is distorted. What's that about?

2. When i tried to get the backup folders and photo albums from photoshop, i got the names restored, but when i click on any album, nothing will come up. I get an error message that read that there is no content. What do i do to resolve this? What a nightmare! :mad:

Please give me very exact directions if you can. I hate starting over so many times.:(

Thanks in advance, BTW the two examples are in the next post.

charlotte

[charlotteinkennesaw]

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1OvUvnajS2sIuFM0pvMm2QTwTosZEB_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1OvUvnajS2sIuFM0pvMm2QTwTosZEB)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1SETPsx6DZKJP1Xdr68qNKee3FCkut_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1SETPsx6DZKJP1Xdr68qNKee3FCkut)

[dj_paige]

I had to take my 3 month old computer back to the store and get a new one. I requessted that all of my data be transferred to the new one. Well the tech did put a folder on my desktop that says "Charlotte's Data'. But
1. When i double click on it and open the pictures folder and subfolders, all of the pictures appear smashed down, that is distorted. What's that about?

I don't see anything in the photos that would be described as "smashed down". Could you provide a more detailed explanation of what you see?

2. When i tried to get the backup folders and photo albums from photoshop, i got the names restored, but when i click on any album, nothing will come up. I get an error message that read that there is no content. What do i do to resolve this? What a nightmare!

I don't know what you are saying here. Exactly what did you do? Did you do a backup in PSE using the command File->Backup Catalog, followed by a restore using the command File->Restore Catalog? Or did you do the backup yourself? If so how? What operations does "when I tried to get the backup folders and photo albums from photoshop" actually include?

Details are helpful. Descriptions using correct PSE (or Windows) terms are helpful. Your own wording is less helpful.

[charlotteinkennesaw]

I dont know how to be more descriptive.the faces are shorter than they should be on the original that i remember. Ican't show the original because it apparently is gone!:mad:

[dj_paige]

I dont know how to be more descriptive.the faces are shorter than they should be on the original that i remember. Ican't show the original because it apparently is gone!:mad:

It may be that your new computer's settings for screen resolution doesn't match your monitor's native resolution. You would have to find out what your monitor's native resolution is (from the manual) and then go into Windows Control Panel/Display Settings and set the resolution to match.

As far as the rest of your issues, I have no idea what you have done, where your originals are, how you made the backups, and how you apparently retrieved the backups. If we are going to help, we need a clear explanation.

I did specifically ask if you used the PSE command File->Backup Catalog to make the backups and the PSE command File->Restore Catalog to restore the photos and catalog. You didn't provide an answer.

[dj_paige]

Also, is the hard drive on your old computer still available?

[charlotteinkennesaw]

okay, this may be very stupid, but I thought that since I set up an account online with PSE, that what I put on the organizer and editor were automatically saved somewhere out there in PSE land.
I didn't do anything with PSE File>backup. Didn't know anything about it.:confused:

[charlotteinkennesaw]

Paige,
the tech was supposed to transfer all of my files. Now whether or not they are still on the hard drive, I dont' know. It has been a nightmare dealing with the people at the store where i got the computer. I tried to be as specific as I can be, but this tech obviously didn't understand what i wanted. So my files need to be recreated with all the thumbnails that i see. But I did lose a lot of photos. And the computer has 2 hard drives built in, which was a good selling point. It was my understanding that if one drive failed, the other held the info and took over.
I just want to take pictures.:mad: I know, I know....I have to slow down and be more careful of where and how I save everything.

[Jeff Perry]

Charlotte, I think what Paige was asking is if you physically have the other hard drive, and I suspect you don't if you returned your 3-month old computer for a new one.

Why did you have to return it, did the hard drive fail, etc?

Let's find out a bit more info from you. OK?

Can I presume you use Elements Organizer, and you are you using Vista?

When you download your pictures from your camera do you use Adobe Downloader or some other program to copy the images to your hard drive?

Do you know what folder name(s) your images are saved to on your hard drive when they are downloaded from the camera, and if so, do you know how to look for them?

If so, have you looked into the "Charlotte's Data" folder on your desktop to see what sub-folders are there?

Take a deep breath, and let's take it one step at a time.

Jeff

[dj_paige]

Okay, I think I got it.

Your “backups” are the copies the tech made, not ones you made.

When you open the PSE Organizer, there are no albums, no folders, no photos. Is that right?

You need to see if you can get the catalog file off of the old computer. This file (which sometimes is in a hidden directory) ends with .psa (PSE5 or earlier), .psedb (PSE6) or .pse7db (PSE7). This file is the key to returning your organizer to its previous state. If you have this file, and all of your photos, we can talk you through the process of restoring everything. If you can't obtain this file, then you most likely have to start from scratch.

It makes sense in the future to do you own backups, on a regular basis, either inside of PSE, or using a third-party backup program (which is set to backup the photos and catalog file).

[charlotteinkennesaw]

Jeff, the hard drive is no longer in my possession. Not being a computer expert, all i can tell you is that the problem I had was that I couldn't get to Windows. I would boot up and all I would get is a cursor blinking on a black screen. After two repairs, i was given a new machine.
I am running XP although this comes with Vista. How do I check to see which one is running?
I use a camera reader and first go to the Organize>File>get photos from card reader. I open up the photos and drag the ones I like over to a new album and name it.
Hope this clarifies things a bit.:o

charlotte




Charlotte, I think what Paige was asking is if you physically have the other hard drive, and I suspect you don't if you returned your 3-month old computer for a new one.

Why did you have to return it, did the hard drive fail, etc?

Let's find out a bit more info from you. OK?

Can I presume you use Elements Organizer, and you are you using Vista?

When you download your pictures from your camera do you use Adobe Downloader or some other program to copy the images to your hard drive?

Do you know what folder name(s) your images are saved to on your hard drive when they are downloaded from the camera, and if so, do you know how to look for them?

If so, have you looked into the "Charlotte's Data" folder on your desktop to see what sub-folders are there?

Take a deep breath, and let's take it one step at a time.

Jeff

[charlotteinkennesaw]

That's right, the tech made them. When I open PSE Organizer there is nothing. I do have some backup data on my desk top but I am going to have to go open each one and redirect to folders.
Thanks for the advice on the resolution of the monitor vs. computer. Although it is the same kind of computer. And why would it be different. There is a CD that came with the Acer monitor so I will take a look and hope I understand what to do.:(




Okay, I think I got it.

Your “backups” are the copies the tech made, not ones you made.

When you open the PSE Organizer, there are no albums, no folders, no photos. Is that right?

You need to see if you can get the catalog file off of the old computer. This file (which sometimes is in a hidden directory) ends with .psa (PSE5 or earlier), .psedb (PSE6) or .pse7db (PSE7). This file is the key to returning your organizer to its previous state. If you have this file, and all of your photos, we can talk you through the process of restoring everything. If you can't obtain this file, then you most likely have to start from scratch.

It makes sense in the future to do you own backups, on a regular basis, either inside of PSE, or using a third-party backup program (which is set to backup the photos and catalog file).

[dj_paige]

Most computer shops will hold onto your old hard drive until you are sure you have everything that you need from it. I would recommend that you contact them and see if they can get more files from it (the catalog file, as I described). Just because Windows won't boot doesn't mean that they can't find the files.

[charlotteinkennesaw]

paige, Thank you. I will call them and see if they still have it.

All the best,

charlotte

[charlotteinkennesaw]

Yea! thanks Jeff and Paige! I clicked on Properties>settings and changed the resolution. That was simple. It looks better, not perfect but at least i learned something today.
I called the tech and he thinks he will be able to retrieve the data that is missing.
I don't know how I would be right now if it wasn't for your kind help.

Thanks again!

Charlotte:)