This boomer needs laptop help REEEEEEEEEEEEEE - Upgoat

This boomer needs laptop help REEEEEEEEEEEEEE
submitted by Anus_Expander to whatever 1 monthMar 3, 2025 17:39:58 ago (+6/-0) (whatever)

Oldass laptop drive died. White tech installed new drive, and ran Recoverit to try to at least get some files back from old drive. It ran for a MONTH. About 40 files were recovered. They are listed as long strings of numbers, but no 'type', like mp4 or whatever. Most of them are still pics, a few gig videos, a few typed documents.

When I try to view file, a window opens: 'how would you like to view this file?' It lists Internet Explorer, Notepad, Paint, and a few others. None of them work. 'Cannot open' bla bla. Am I just a retarded boomer?

UPDATE: I took it back, and the nerd 'splained it. They are under 'files no name'. The stuff I was looking at seem to be unrelated artifacts.

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[ - ] observation1 5 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 17:56:21 ago (+5/-0)*

Try notepad and read the first few lines in plain english

If its a bunch of ASCII characters but says jfif it's gif. It it says png it'd a png. Usually it identifies itself in the first line.

Then rename the extension to that.

Eg 76yy677u55ggg can be renamed to to76yy677u55ggg.mp4 (if it is one) and should open with correct program.

Technically you should use a hex editor but notepad usually works in a pinch

[ + ] Anus_Expander

[ - ] Anus_Expander [op] 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 19:34:07 ago (+0/-0)

I opened one or two in Notepad, its a bunch of alien writing mixed with normal letters and numbers

[ + ] observation1

[ - ] observation1 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 22:52:01 ago (+0/-0)

The alien is normal but is there nothing in english? Maybe send a screenshot?

Files are like music. They start out soft and then go heavy. But if it's 100% gibberish out of the gate then that's not a great sign.

Here's an example of a JPG

https://files.catbox.moe/2o1vgw.jpg

Note the plain English on the first line and then more readable english down the way.

[ - ] Tallest_Skil 4 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 17:46:51 ago (+4/-0)

When I try to view file, a window opens: 'how would you like to view this file?' It lists Internet Explorer, Notepad, Paint, and a few others. None of them work. 'Cannot open' bla bla.

If I remember right, this is Windows just being confused at what the file’s type is because no extension is specified in the file’s actual name. It’s way too easy for the OS to be confused about this sort of thing, in my mind. If you can guess what kind of file it might be (based on the size, for example), you can manually append the file extension to the filename and see if it’s automatically recognized by whatever application opens those files normally.

For example, a 1 gigabyte file with no extension isn’t going to be a document or a photo. So throw a “.mp4” or “.webm” or “.avi” on the end of the filename and see if your normal media application will open it. It’s too stupid to figure out what “container” the file has unless you explicitly tell it, so sometimes you have to tell it. As for documents, just try “.txt” or “.docx” until you get something readable. Since images might be the same size, “.jpg” and “.png” will be your go-to there. Unless you’re very modern and have WEBP or HEIC images.

[ - ] VitaminSieg 3 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 17:46:22 ago (+3/-0)

Yes

[ - ] lord_nougat 2 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 18:04:19 ago (+2/-0)

Have you tried shooting it with a rifle?

[ + ] bobdole9

[ - ] bobdole9 1 point 1 monthMar 3, 2025 19:08:27 ago (+1/-0)

Nah, microwave.

[ + ] lord_nougat

[ - ] lord_nougat 1 point 1 monthMar 3, 2025 19:24:37 ago (+1/-0)

Shooting it with a microwave does sound like a logical first step.

[ + ] bobdole9

[ - ] bobdole9 1 point 1 monthMar 3, 2025 19:37:51 ago (+1/-0)

Got to repurpose all that Iraqi technology for SOMETHING.

[ - ] GrayDragon 2 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 19:58:53 ago (+2/-0)

Forty whole files, eh? Praying the one is your BitCoin wallet? Haha.

Anyway, try this site. I tested two files and it figured them out:
https://www.checkfiletype.com/

Then add the extension to the filename and see if it opens.

[ - ] xmasskull 1 point 1 monthMar 3, 2025 17:43:09 ago (+1/-0)

Answer: No.

[ - ] Sleazy 1 point 1 monthMar 3, 2025 18:15:28 ago (+1/-0)

I dont know if you have tried this or not yet, but you could buy an adapter like this that is compatible with your old hard drive and see if you can browse to the files in the explorer, it will show up as drive F or G or something, and if its not totally out of commission you might be able to browse the folders and files and save some of it.

[ - ] clymer 1 point 1 monthMar 3, 2025 19:54:04 ago (+1/-0)

'how would you like to view this file?' You need the app installed for the file type. FOR EXAMPLE: If the file extension is '.pdf', you need adobe reader

https://get.adobe.com/reader/otherversions

Need a player for .mp4 files, need excel for .xls files, need word for .doc files, etc.

[ + ] Anus_Expander

[ - ] Anus_Expander [op] 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 20:14:59 ago (+0/-0)

none of the files have extensions, they are just long strings of numbers and letters

[ - ] HonkyMcNiggerSpic 1 point 1 monthMar 3, 2025 19:37:23 ago (+1/-0)

It sounds corrupted. Now you must punch it two times medium then the last punch hard and try one last time.

[ + ] Anus_Expander

[ - ] Anus_Expander [op] 1 point 1 monthMar 3, 2025 20:32:49 ago (+1/-0)

finna heat the nigga up with the AK

[ - ] dingbat 1 point 1 monthMar 3, 2025 19:51:01 ago (+1/-0)

That sucks, AE. Hope you get it figured out.

[ + ] Anus_Expander

[ - ] Anus_Expander [op] 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 20:17:25 ago (+0/-0)

I am seething that they apparently didnt try to see if it WORKED before givin it back to me

[ - ] allAheadFull 1 point 1 monthMar 3, 2025 21:23:22 ago (+1/-0)

Those recovery programs will sometimes return a block from the middle of a file or from a corrupted file. It may not be anything important, but the beginning of the file is most certainly either corrupt or missing.

Look in the app installer for Mint. The programs testdisk, ddrescue, and safedisk can be used to recover some data. I've used ddrescue and the testdisk suite.

If it's a SATA drive you can connect it internally to the PC or get a USB to SATA adapter.

[ - ] bosunmoon 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 18:01:38 ago (+0/-0)

I'm going to give it to you straight.
You're fucked old man.
You can try using linux, but I'm afraid that would be monumental for you.

[ + ] Anus_Expander

[ - ] Anus_Expander [op] 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 19:33:20 ago (+0/-0)

One of my other ones has Mint = KYS.

[ + ] bosunmoon

[ - ] bosunmoon 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 19:49:37 ago (+0/-0)

I bet it works, unlike you.

[ + ] Anus_Expander

[ - ] Anus_Expander [op] 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 20:18:17 ago (+0/-0)

I remodel houses and play music in 2 bands = KYS.

[ + ] bosunmoon

[ - ] bosunmoon 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 20:24:27 ago (+0/-0)

I fuck sharks and fight the ocean by moving entire houses.
Try again old handyman.

[ + ] Anus_Expander

[ - ] Anus_Expander [op] 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 20:35:58 ago (+0/-0)

I once farted so hard, it threw out my back for a week.

[ + ] bosunmoon

[ - ] bosunmoon 1 point 1 monthMar 3, 2025 21:15:14 ago (+1/-0)

Oh yeah. I once farted and it smelled exactly like a fresh cut pumpkin.

[ - ] HelenHighwater 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 18:11:00 ago (+0/-0)

It is probably because of fucking bitlocker. That software can be evil.

[ + ] Anus_Expander

[ - ] Anus_Expander [op] 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 19:32:42 ago (+0/-0)

He used Recoverit

[ - ] RollinDaGrassTyson 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 18:18:26 ago (+0/-0)

They should have returned the original failing drive back to you along with your device. If you have the original drive, and it is a mechanical hard drive, know that there are data recovery services which do clean room disassembly to read the platters. It costs several hundred dollars though (as of ~2017), it probably costs way more these days.

[ + ] Anus_Expander

[ - ] Anus_Expander [op] 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 19:31:38 ago (+0/-0)

They did return it, but I just paid them $250 for the job, wtf

[ - ] Sector2 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 19:02:27 ago (+0/-0)

You're using Windows. What do you think?

[ + ] Anus_Expander

[ - ] Anus_Expander [op] 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 19:31:54 ago (+0/-0)

I think I cannot view my files

[ + ] HonkyMcNiggerSpic

[ - ] HonkyMcNiggerSpic 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 20:38:40 ago (+0/-0)

Use this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYh2RaATlXU

I recovered most of my files from a blown up computer with this

[ - ] inaminit 0 points 1 monthMar 3, 2025 19:59:34 ago (+0/-0)