2010-01-17, 01:30 PM
If your hard drive was screwed, chances were very good you wouldn't have been able to get that information anyway.
I'm betting, from your story, that your dad's friend is pretty knowledgeable about computers. After all, it's obvious you didn't pay for Windows 7, so he installed a cracked version. The only reason why he would install a completely different OS would be if he couldn't find an OS on your hard drive. Your hard drive was screwed no matter what you did, and so was all of your information. Your dad's friend did not screw you or screw up - he gave you the best he could. Paying $150 for a new OS (although it's most likely cracked, not legit), a new hard drive, and his time and labor is very, very cheap. I see no reason to be sad here - only joyed that you didn't have to pay $500 - 1000 for a new laptop.
In the future, I'd encourage you to look at backup solutions - I use Acronis.
I'm betting, from your story, that your dad's friend is pretty knowledgeable about computers. After all, it's obvious you didn't pay for Windows 7, so he installed a cracked version. The only reason why he would install a completely different OS would be if he couldn't find an OS on your hard drive. Your hard drive was screwed no matter what you did, and so was all of your information. Your dad's friend did not screw you or screw up - he gave you the best he could. Paying $150 for a new OS (although it's most likely cracked, not legit), a new hard drive, and his time and labor is very, very cheap. I see no reason to be sad here - only joyed that you didn't have to pay $500 - 1000 for a new laptop.
In the future, I'd encourage you to look at backup solutions - I use Acronis.