Accidentally deleted ALL of my digital copy files from my HDD. Help!

[OrlandoEastwood]

You can email Apple through iTunes and they'll give redownloads for free. But, however, if a certain title has been removed from their database, you're S.O.L.

[SellmeyourDVD]

My aunt just recently deleted all of my uncles music on their computer, maybe you guys can start a support group

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by OrlandoEastwood

You can email Apple through iTunes and they'll give redownloads for free. But, however, if a certain title has been removed from their database, you're S.O.L.

You sure about this?

I've e-mailed them about certain songs I downloaded years ago, and they sent me a form response saying, essentially, "you're S.O.L."

I'd love it if I'm wrong!

EDIT: This seems to support their response to me: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1469

Bummer.

[OrlandoEastwood]

It happened to me before and the albums I lost were still in their database and they checked through my records and then gave me redownloads for it.

EDIT: Oh, snap! They've changed their policy I guess. When it happened to me, it was like two years ago.

[brettallica]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

You sure about this?

I've e-mailed them about certain songs I downloaded years ago, and they sent me a form response saying, essentially, "you're S.O.L."

I'd love it if I'm wrong!

EDIT: This seems to support their response to me: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1469

Bummer.

Dude, if this is "the way it's gonna be" for downloaded content, it will never replace physical media. Not everyone is going to be able to back up all of their media; just having enough storage space to have one copy of all your stuff is proving to be challenging enough to some.

At any rate, sorry to hear that, man. If you have completely removed the files from your hard drive, then you will need some sort of recovery tool, be it software or service. My recommendation is to send it to a pro rather than try to do it yourself for the $60 that you'll pay for the software that may or may not work. There might be a local data recovery shop that'll do it on a "recover or don't pay" basis — and for a low price. If they can't get it, basic computer user software certainly won't.

[Chordata]

Went ahead and wrote apple begging to let me redownload them. Expecting a big "screw off dummy" .... We'll soon see. No software worked.

[Vicon]

Stellar Phoenix - http://www.stellarinfo.com/disk-recovery.htm - I use this on client machines. Trial download, not sure how much it will allow you to recover. It will at least let you see if you can.

My advice - stop using the machine until you run that program or decide what you want to do. Lastly, get one of these - http://www.amazon.com/s?url=search-a...ent+go&x=0&y=0 - and enjoy piece of mind. I have one. Saved my ass several times. It automatically backs up every night at 10.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by Vicon

Stellar Phoenix - http://www.stellarinfo.com/disk-recovery.htm - I use this on client machines. Trial download, not sure how much it will allow you to recover. It will at least let you see if you can.

My advice - stop using the machine until you run that program or decide what you want to do. Lastly, get one of these - http://www.amazon.com/s?url=search-a...ent+go&x=0&y=0 - and enjoy piece of mind. I have one. Saved my ass several times. It automatically backs up every night at 10.

Thanks fir the suggestion. Trying to find something free....

[Foghorn Leghorn]

Bit of long shot.
But have you tried Recuva from the makers of CCleaner.

[b0bby]

Originally Posted by Vicon

Stellar Phoenix - http://www.stellarinfo.com/disk-recovery.htm - I use this on client machines. Trial download, not sure how much it will allow you to recover. It will at least let you see if you can.

My advice - stop using the machine until you run that program or decide what you want to do. Lastly, get one of these - http://www.amazon.com/s?url=search-a...ent+go&x=0&y=0 - and enjoy piece of mind. I have one. Saved my ass several times. It automatically backs up every night at 10.

i can vouch for stellar phoenix's awesomeness but its not even close to being free unfortunately. it will amaze me if something that works just as good is free but i too am open for suggestions.