File recovery after format + Windows install?

Before anyone decides to be a smart*** about it, yes. I am aware that I am a total idiot for doing this, should probably be removed the gene pool, and whatever insults you can think of that have probably been thrown at me before. I get it. I'm stupid, and I shouldn't have done this. Too bad.

Long story short, just yesterday I formatted my C: drive and installed a fresh copy of Windows 7 Home Premium (previously had Vista Home Premium if it helps). When I first booted my new copy of Windows 7, I realized that I had left something very important in the Documents folder of my old Vista install: my English paper due next week. This is a pretty big paper, and something I would rather not have to rewrite from scratch.

I've tried various Google searches, all indicating that it's either completely impossible since I formatted, or possible but it will cost me $1,000 that I don't have for professional data recovery.

So, I leave it to you experts. Am I totally screwed? If not, what can I do?

 

Get writing, because there's no way you'll get that back again. Learn from it and move on.

 

I just did a quick google search and someone said that this worked. The website also says it does exactly what you want. Plus I think it's free. http://www.recovermyfiles.com/

 

heh....reminds me of the time when I had a 500GB external (full of my documents/images/games/music etc) and had a 500GB internal drive, when setting up an XP system....accidentally formatted my external and lost everything. It actually could be possible. .txt assorted image filetypes are usually the most recoverable (that I've found) *edit* Just looked and the program I used wasn't on my applications drive, but this thread might be of some use: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=415793 there are some bits about data recovery.

 

Theoretically it's possible, since there is a good chance it hasn't been overwritten. I've had success unformatting partitions with Hiren's BootCD. Otherwise I've paid folks to do the job for me.

 

photorec is also good for file recovery if you have a second drive to send the recovered files to

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec

BTW Mastershroom..... we ALL have brain lapses like this, crap happens

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll look into 'em and see how it goes.

 

Ultimate Boot CD has a program called "test disk"

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

I used it to recover some files and undelete a partition before.

The chances of your recover success depends on where your file is located in the physical location of your hard drive.

Your windows installation files are usually located in the outer edges of the disk since they have much faster access times.

How full was your hard drive before you did the reformat?

I'd assume that you had windows + a list of programs before reformat.
I usually notice that windows usually have programs near the outer edges as well if you install them right after you install windows so there's is a chance your file is located much closer to the inner edge of the hard disk platter. Since they are located closer tot he inner edge, there's a chance they are still there and untouched. Windows just doesn't see it because it is "erased"/"deleted". It's like taking out the reference to the file but still physically having the file. The file only disappears when new data is written over it.


I also think the win 7 format is a quick format where it only deletes the MBR but leaves all your files intact.

If you just installed win 7, I believe there's still a chance that you can still recover the file.

When selecting a recovery program, you'd want one that access the disk in the pre-window environment. If you have to install it on your hard drive, there is a greater change it will overwrite the file you want to recover.

Good luck!!

 

damn bro that sucks big time. I could not imagine losing one file (vacation pics, personal documents, etc.) good luck and let us know how it goes

 

Try this: http://www.piriform.com/recuva.

It worked for me and it's free too. Goodluck.

There is another program that worked really good but I can't remember the name right now.

edit: here it is
http://www.stellarinfo.com/partition-recovery.htm

I don't know if either of these programs will work 100%, but it is worth a shot

 

Any luck? 123p