Topic: HELP! I reinstalled my Windows XP - bad mistake!

[luckypnut]

I was having trouble with a couple things and someone suggested reinstalling my Windows XP, which I did.  Now I can't find any of my files.  Have no internet connection.  Windows restore has no restore checkpoints that I can click on.  This was a bad move and I need to know if I can restore anything somehow.   

[Rik]

What, specifically, did you do when you ran the XP CD?

[luckypnut]

I restarted my PC with the CD in the drive.

[luckypnut]

I'd like to go back to the way it was before I reinstalled Windows XP, then I could deal the the issues individually rather than wipe out everything! I'm mad at myself for doing something like that too without trying a phone call first, but I hate to call help desks.

I didn't realize that reinstalling my OS was going to wipe everything out.  It's almost like it reformatted my hard drive.  I have most of my files backed up on a external hard drive, but that's not working either. 

Is there any way to go into DOS and restore my PC that way?

[Rik]

It does rather sound as if you've wiped all your data and it's unlikely that you can now get it back. What's wrong with the external drive?

[luckypnut]

I used Norton Save and Restore, but I can't figure out how to get all the stuff back to my hard drive.  It doesn't seem to be the software, just my personal files.

[Rik]

Sorry, I have no idea how Norton S&R works (I wouldn't put Norton software on my machines). I take it you have installed it to the new copy of Windows? Have you checked C:\Documents and settings, to make sure there are no data files from your old installation still there?

[Sandra]

If you have done a full install of XP and didnt have your drive partitioned so that you only installed to C drive then it will have asked you to format just after where it asked you where you wanted to install XP to.
In that case you have presumably wiped all your data.
If thats the case do not do anything else with that PC for now. I assume that you are using a second PC to post on here, hopefully.

There are certain programs that you can boot your pc from and that may, if you are lucky, find some of your old data that hasnt yet been over written. You would need a second hard drive or an external one to save any recovered data to though, as if you tried to recover to the same drive then it could overwrite what you are trying to recover.

One of the best programs I have found for recovering data is File Scavenger. There are others and it may be worth trying a few as some may recover something that one cant. You probably wont get everything back but you may get a lot back if you are lucky and patient.
Depending on the size of the drive and the amount of data you had on it can take a while to find and recover it.

Get back to us if you need any more help, its a pity that your first post has to be such desperate one but we will do all we can to help.



 

[luckypnut]

yes, I tried that but then it just didn't seem as simple as I thought it should be. 

[luckypnut]

Sandra,

Do you know anything about Norton Save & Restore? I don't remember anything about a partition.  If it asked, I probably just said yes or picked the default answer.  I actually thought reinstalling my OS was going to do just that.  Didn't know it would reformat.

I do have a 2nd hard drive in my PC that I thought I was using for my documents but that doesn't seem to be the case either.  I also have an external drive that I thought I used to back up my PC using Norton S&R, but I can't figure it out.  I can't even connect to the internet.

[luckypnut]

Also, where do I find software like File Scavenger?

[Sandra]

I havent used that program but most of them usually make a bootable floppy or CD that you then use to boot the PC with and then they ask for the location of the file that the program had created when you backed it up. Does that one not seem to work the same way ?

Check your email in a few minutes 

[luckypnut]

I did a search on File Scavenger and I saw one "Data Recovery" for free.  How safe are the free ones?  Of course, guess it wouldn't help to download it to this PC since this is not my problem.  Scratch that question.

Arrgh!

[Sandra]

Free ones are usually Ok but they tend to show you what they can recover then ask you to pay for them to get the full version. Then they dont always recover what they say they would.
Similar to those "free" trojan scanner programs 

[Reno]

Well you might get lucky. If it was JUST a reinstall and not a format and reinstall then you can go find your old windows account in Documents and settings. It should have all your old information in it. But, you won't be able to restore your old programs like you had them before. You mine as well just reinstall the ones you can remember.

If it was a format then i doubt you'll be able to retrieve much at all using a search and restore program.