Hard drive crash problem.. TRAINZ files lost..need help !
Hello. My nerves are shot. I have a frustrating PC and Trainz situation I'd like to share.
2017 Lenovo PC Windows 10
Background :
A few days ago, the electricity went out in my house while I was on the computer and shut everything down. After power was restored, I rebooted the PC and everything looked normal but the START menu button didn't work, INTERNET EXPLORER and a few other functions on the desktop tool bar didn't work, such as the volume control. I also discovered that files in the TASK MANAGER that should be viable in the PROCESSES tab were gone, I could still run TANE and other programs including the internet.
Trying a bunch of procedures recommended online to get the START MENU and everything else mentioned back to normal, nothing I tried worked, including a scan using the POWER SHELL method. One optioned I tried was to correct the problem in SAFE MODE. The start menu worked, Internet Explorer worked, and the files were back showing in the TASK MANAGER, but when I did the normal reboot, the problems were back.
The next possible solution suggested was to do a RESET for Windows 10, but I would have to re-install all my programs. Instead of doing that, I tried another suggestion to download a program that was supposed to correct the problems I had. I downloaded the program, rebooted the computer and now I'm getting an unfamiliar blue screen asking me for my Windows password. My password that always worked before wasn't recognized and now I couldn't reboot the computer at all, not even in SAFE MODE.
The next morning , being completely frazzled, I found a computer repair place that told me to bring it in. This was the closest PC repair place and it was 20 miles away.
I brought it in and they told me the problem might be easily fixed, but also gave me the worse case scenario, being that I might need a new hard drive and fresh Windows install, which would cost around $300, including labor.
I replied that I doubted the hard drive was fried because I could still run my programs, including TRAINZ. I told them I had lots of programs that I didn't want to lose, and I knew I could still access them if I could get the PC to boot up.
They said not to worry, because if they had to put a new hard drive in, they could copy all my files and programs on the new one.
They said they couldn't answer anymore questions without looking at it first, but would give me a call on my options.
The next day I called them for an update. The receptionist tells me the person I needed to talk to wasn't there, but left a note for that "the computer is on the bench, my hard drive had to be replaced and would take most of the remaining day to finish getting all the files copied from my old hard drive." She says they were getting ready to close early for the day and to call back in the morning.
At this point, I'm not happy about the situation. I was supposed to get a phone call first before they did anything drastic ( and more expensive ! )
I'm feeling like I got suckered, but also mad at myself for trusting this place.
I call back the next morning and talk to the technician, asking why they went to the " worse case scenario" without asking me first. He says that I'd given them the " go ahead" when I dropped it off, with his partner as a witness. LIARS !! He again says not to worry , that my programs would still be there, but just have to be reinstalled. My blood boiling, I paid them their $300 and left with my PC. I get home, boot it up and all my programs in the Windows / Programs files and Program files x86 folders are gone !
I call them back and he says " you'll have to go to manufacturers who should have records of what you bought". I protested , telling him that many of my programs are over 15 years old and can't be recovered. He gets defensive, cops an attitude and says they can put me old hard drive back in, but says " it's shot" and I'd still be charged anyway because of the labor and new bench charge !
Now I do have TANE backed up on an external hard drive, but the password that I use to get on the TRAINZ forums doesn't work. I also haven't backed up my route progress in a few months, so all that is going to be lost.
I never used programs like ONE DRIVE to back these up. I never looked into it. I should have.
I'm a total dumb azz for allowing this to happen and not keeping my back ups current. Maybe they're right in how they supposedly fixed the computer, but they weren't up front with me. Water under the bridge now........nothing I can do, being it's a " he said, she said" situation.
So...... If you stuck it out this long, thanks for reading ! Yes, I'm a dumb butt.
Suggestions please.
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Originally Posted by pitkin
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