http://ask.metafilter.com/tags/microcrap Questions tagged with 'microcrap' at Ask MetaFilter. Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:27:34 -0800 Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:27:34 -0800 en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 http://ask.metafilter.com/80801/external%2Dhard%2Ddrive%2Derased%2Dwhen%2Dplugged%2Din%2Dafter%2Da%2Dfresh%2Dxp%2Dinstall short history: I started to get blue screens on my outdated laptop so I decided to just buy a new one. My new laptop came, I installed a fresh version of xp, rebooted, and plugged my old external in. I got the "Installing drivers for you new hardware" bubble in the task bar then after opening the external drive none of my files were there, but there was the four following: clean (Windows nt command script) install (folder ) windows (folder.. with a windows installation I didn't do!) $$ rename (text document) 230 gigs gone :( The only thing I can think of is the initial blue screens on my OLD laptop were caused by a virus that had infected my external drive? This had all my school notes, notes on books I've read, photos, backups of my old laptops partitions, all that kind of stuff from the past 3 years. I'm feeling kinda, sick, pissed off, and am wondering what the crap could have happened? Any help on this one would be VERY appreciated. tag:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.80801 Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:27:34 -0800 computers drive erased hard microcrap xp debu