2

I was just developing a website on NetBeans 7.4, using PHP, i have saved the file a dozen times before by CTRL + S.

The millisecond i hit CTRL + S again to save my last changes on the file, a power outage happens, and my computer just went off. (Yeah, i'm so lucky.)

After a while, the power came back on, and i opened my computer to see all the file is gone.

I had hundreds of lines of code and (stupidly) didn't use git or any CVS for the project. The other files are just fine, but my computer went off while it was writing into the file i was working on (home.php).

I took a screenshot because i can't copy and paste the contents, as it's a bunch of NULL's on line 1. home.php :

home.php screenshot

My question is, is there any way i can recover this file, or did i just lose my 3.5 hours of work?

I've tried

  • To look for the file in windows cache
    • 404 : my file wasn't there.
  • To look for the file in netbeans' own cache directory.
    • 404 : my file wasn't there either
  • To look for the output in chrome cache
    • 404 : no chance.
  • System recovery
    • That didn't help because i don't have a restore point for 4 hours ago.
mehmetseckin
  • 3,061
  • 1
  • 31
  • 43
  • 1
    If the file's content has been *overwritten* then you're pretty much screwed as to trying to recover any data - this is because the block data and/or internal file structure is entirely trashed. Anyway, time to use git/hg (or any other dvcs that encourages many local change-sets) and an environment that has automatic backups .. also maybe a UPS :) – user2864740 Feb 12 '14 at 09:19
  • I've been googling for hours, i think you're right. giving up on this one. Just started as a playground project, that's why i didn't use a vcs at the first place – mehmetseckin Feb 12 '14 at 09:22
  • See if you can access the [NetBeans Local History](http://humansky.com/2012/05/netbeans-local-history-to-the-rescue/) (ref. https://ui.netbeans.org/docs/ui/LocalHistory/) - if it *was* enabled, then previous versions of the file *might* be available. If it wasn't enabled then .. live and learn .. and enable it. – user2864740 Feb 12 '14 at 09:23
  • Thank you, but as i said i didn't use a cvs, so that couldn't help. – mehmetseckin Feb 12 '14 at 09:30
  • The [*Local History*](https://ui.netbeans.org/docs/ui/LocalHistory/#Figure1) should be available even without CVS, no? (CVS/SVN versioning is separate from *Local* versioning.) See also [How recovery modified files in netbeans?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/15142052/how-recovery-modified-files-in-netbeans/15150852#15150852) – user2864740 Feb 12 '14 at 09:30
  • It *should* be there, as i'm using a recent version (7.4 to be specific) of NB, but i can't find "Local History" anywhere, i've looked at main toolbar, project tree->context menu, searched in help and options and project preferences, found out that it *was* on, gave me hope. – mehmetseckin Feb 12 '14 at 09:36
  • let us [continue this discussion in chat](http://chat.stackoverflow.com/rooms/47302/discussion-between-seckin-and-user2864740) – mehmetseckin Feb 12 '14 at 09:38
  • 1
    I've no idea how to use NB 7 :( It's a shame that the Local History isn't easy to access. If it *is* enabled, then it *should* be accessible somewhere, but from where (or how) I know not. – user2864740 Feb 12 '14 at 09:39

2 Answers2

3

As mentioned, if the file's contents have been overwritten, then there's not much you can do.

You could try and find an earlier version of your file using data recovery software and performing a deep scan of your drive. This will look for data that is not tied to a file (i.e. an earlier version of your work).

You could try:

  • Recuva: small and free, feature rich, gets the job done
  • GetDataBack: not free, but highly effective (I've used it in the past, was quite satisfied with the results)
  • There's also a wikipedia article on data recovery software here, where you can check many other options
Filippos Karapetis
  • 4,367
  • 21
  • 39
0

Right Click the file and check for the older version Named as Previous Version or Restore Previous version, it will restore fraction of your file but not complete.

This might guide you: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/recover-data-files-in-windows-7-with-previous-versions/4992/

Rohit Nigam
  • 708
  • 8
  • 23