1

Our laptop initially had 12.04 LTS, and then we upgraded to 14.04 LTS. But the 14.04 version had so many errors, I had to disable further updates.

Skip a year later, laptop crashes frequently and my father suggested re-enabling the updates. I enable them, updating process starts and doesn't end. It got to around 70% and stopped. I used the power key to shutdown the laptop. The next day, my mother calls me and tells me that the laptop wouldn't start. I go back home and I try starting it. It doesn't start up at all.

I had several options and I chose to revert to 12.04. Unfortunately, that just erased ALL files. Everything. 3 years worth of work gone in a minute.

I believe it was a factory reset, but I am not sure.

Is it possible to restore some of the files?

Thanks!

4
  • But the 14.04 version had so many errors, I had to disable further updates <- So you took the most illogical path. Errors or glitches tend to be corrected with... Updates! And yes, by the look of it, it was a reset to a factory installed image. So, before anything else, please edit and update your question (pun intended) with the brand/model of the said laptop.
    – user589808
    Oct 22, 2016 at 18:07
  • There isn't an option in Ubuntu to factory reset. Also, any revert or fresh install will only affect the system-wide folders... the files that are installed by default in the default install folders such as, /bin, /usr/bin/, /sbin, etc. A user's data is in the /home folder. That folder would not be touched. Also any other user created folders would not be touched. Even a fresh install would not touch those folders. The only way those folders would be touched is if an option to format the partition was selected. If that were the case you would need to run...(continued) Oct 22, 2016 at 18:10
  • ...you would have to run a recover files from deleted partition type recovery process. Oct 22, 2016 at 18:12
  • how did you do "factory reset" exactly? Oct 22, 2016 at 18:36

1 Answer 1

3

If your /home folder along with all your files are missing from the drive it's the results of a deleted or reformatted partition. You had best not use the drive while you perform steps to recover your data.

A very robust application for this is Testdisk.

Using Testdisk to recover files

  1. Boot from DVD/CD/USB drive as not to use the HDD any more. (even better would be to take a full copy onto another HDD and recover from there)

  2. Install Testdisk.
    (The dollar sign $ is the command prompt. It's showing that you are typing a command in the terminal. The text highlighted in bold are the actual items that you click on while performing the steps.)

        $ sudo apt install testdisk
  1. Run these steps (taken from TestDisk Step By Step and tested by me to recover files):

    $ sudo testdisk
    1: Select Create       - ENTER
    2: Select Create       - ENTER
    3: Select Disk         - Proceed
    4: Select Intel        - ENTER
    5: Select Analyse      - ENTER
    6: Select Quick Search - ENTER

This procedure is to recover your important files. The steps provided will give you options to try to recover the entire partion. If that fails you'll then have an option to recover individual files. Try to have a media such as a USB drive to recover your important data to.

13
  • Now it's a robust answer and worthy of an upvote.
    – Fabby
    Oct 22, 2016 at 20:33
  • Agreed. +1 But it's still not clear what happened but there's also the possibility of something vendor specific, some recovery tool from an image or recovery partition not default in Ubuntu by installed by the vendor. The way OP worded the question suggests it's a factory installed Ubuntu 12.04.
    – user589808
    Oct 22, 2016 at 20:44
  • Even a factory restore of a factory installed Ubuntu wouldn't by default overwrite the the disk with zeros (or some other form of scrubbing the physical data on the drive). So it sounds like the OP's main concern is some method to recover his data. As long and he doesn't use the hard drive before running data recovery tools he had a chance to prevent a total lost. Oct 22, 2016 at 21:34
  • @L.D.James What part of my comments made you think that I think the data is unrecoverable? My comment above was meant to be complementary. I wasn't arguing against your answer, au contraire I upvoted it. Not long ago we had a chat where most of times I felt I was talking to a wall but in the end you understood (an hour or so later but better later then never). Is my English so bad that I'm inadvertently misleading you? Or is it that you don't like me? It's fine, many don't either. After all I'm a condescending a-hole.
    – user589808
    Oct 22, 2016 at 21:53
  • @CelticWarrior I can't help your thinking you're talking to a wall. It appears that you have some resentment for many of my comments. I can't control how you view my input and comments. But all my participation is an effort to offer positive productivity for SE and the community. It's my intentions to be a amicable as possible. Maybe with time you'll start to recognize my good intentions to share and participate. The wall reference doesn't sound like the best compliment. But I hope you'll eventually start to realize the amicable intentions of what I type. Oct 22, 2016 at 22:01

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .