Need some tech help

1. 74

   TIMETRAVELER2posted 5 years ago

   For many years I took videos of our RV trips and saved them to CDs.  I was going to use some of them for my YouTube site, but today discovered that something has gone wrong.  When I put a CD in what comes up are the words "file history" rather than the CD.  I have a feeling that when trying to find a video editor I somehow did something that has changed the structure of every single CD...so now I cannot access any of the ones I had and all say the same thing.  Can anybody help me to return these CDs to their former format?  If not, I've lost many years of memories. Any help will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks

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   1. 88

      sallybeaposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Not sure if this will help but I found this
      Windows 8.1 For Seniors For Dummies
      Type history on the Start screen. ...
      The File History window opens on the desktop. ...
      If the screen indicates that File History is off, select the Turn On button. ...
      Go to the desktop, display the Charm bar, and choose Settings. ...
      Select the Advanced Settings function.

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   2. 66

      OldRosesposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      It's been many years since I worked in IT but it sounds like when you downloaded your editing software, you accidentally made it the default player for your CDs.  On your computer, go to Control Panel -> Device Manager -> DVD/CD-ROM Drives and open it.  If you have more than one device listed, you will need to disable one of them Choose the "wrong one" i.e whatever software you installed, right click it and choose disable device.  That should make the original device the default one again.

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   3. 73

      lobobrandonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      I'd do what Caren suggested, but I'm also wondering why you see a different message on another computer. What is the other message?

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         TIMETRAVELER2posted 5 years agoin reply to this

         I hope everybody sees this.  To answer your question, I have absolutely no idea and can't remember what his messages said.  The good news is that I went through every single DVD tonight and was somehow able to open all but two!  Don't ask what I did because I don't know.  One of the benefits of having a brain tumor is that you can't remember s..t!!  So, thanks to all who offered help, I'm just glad If found the data!

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         1. 73

            lobobrandonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            All's well that ends well

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            sallybeaposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            So glad you figured it out, nothing worse than thinking you have lost some precious files.

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            OldRosesposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            So glad that you are able to view your CDs again.  If you have a cloud account, you should upload all of your photos and videos to it so that you don't lose anything again. 
            
            Dont worry about not being able to remember what you did.  It happens to me all the time.  Sometimes I try so many troubleshooting methods that I lose track of what I was doing when something finally works.  When I did it for a living, I would write down every step I tried so that I could make a record of how I solved problems but since I left that world, I don't bother any more and just muddle around until whatever wasn't working starts working again.

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   4. 78

      jackclee lmposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      I am not aware of any program that can change the content or format of a CD. The CD is a read only media. What is possible is some data loss due to a scratch or old age. CD are rated for only 10 years of shelf life and it depends on your physical environment. If you take good care of them, they may last longer than 10 years.
      My first suggestion is to clean the CD with a cleaner designed for CDs.
      Try to read it or access it using a different CD player or CD reader or a different computer. Make sure it is the same Operating system, Windows or Mac...OS.

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   paradigmsearchposted 5 years ago

   Kind of reminds me of DOS and the command line. Does it allow you to interact with it? As an example, will it let you type in the command, "dir" for directory?

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   sallybeaposted 5 years ago

   Also, have you tried reading it on another computer or laptop?

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      I've tried to open the CDs on another computer.  They open but say something different than on my computer...and I still can't access the videos themselves.  Each says File History when you open it on any computer but you can never access the videos.  I hope I haven't destroyed something accidentally!

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4. 60

   paradigmsearchposted 5 years ago

   Sallybea, you are gold. Not kidding.

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      sallybeaposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      You really do have a sense of humor.

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      1. 60

         paradigmsearchposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Actually, I was serious. You are a tech person. So is OldRoses I see. I'm going to have to find an emoticon that let's people know when I'm serious.  And it's got to be one that people won't misinterpret as sarcasm or criticism.
         
         Life's challenges never end.

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5. 88

   sallybeaposted 5 years ago

   Don't take it to heart, I am the least tech person I know.  I just like to try to help if I can, usually by a bit of research.

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      paradigmsearchposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      I think you know tech better than you realize. And the ability to do tech research is not that prevalent in the general population.
      
      What I need to find is a sincere-compliment emoticon.

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      1. 88

         sallybeaposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         I found one of those when I took a look, a lovely sunshine with some very long sunbeams and a smiling face.

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