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    Help: hard drive Data Recovery

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by slxrti, Dec 14, 2007.

  1. slxrti

    slxrti Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi, My laptop failed to boot xp. The IT guy reinstalled xp, which deleted important files and everything else. The files were located on my desktop, can they be recovered?

    If so how? Is there a recovery SW that can help?

    thanks Slxrti
     
    slxrti, Dec 14, 2007
    #1
  2. andyasselin

    andyasselin Notebook Deity

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    It depend on how he reinstall

    do have normal xp disc you can boot check if folder still exist or case you stick laptop hard disk into put into desktop?
     
    andyasselin, Dec 14, 2007
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  3. slxrti

    slxrti Notebook Enthusiast

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    Xp was installed over the over the original install.

    I have original xp disk, how do I check for the files?

    slxrti
     
    slxrti, Dec 15, 2007
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  4. PhoenixFx

    PhoenixFx Notebook Virtuoso

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    If he formatted the drive then it would be difficult. You can try one of those undelete programs, however they can only recover if the sectors previously occupying the deleted file were not overwritten by new files.

    But if he reinstalled over or repaired the previous installation, then your user data should still be in the HDD. Did you search for them ?
     
    PhoenixFx, Dec 15, 2007
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  5. slxrti

    slxrti Notebook Enthusiast

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    When he reinstalled windows, windows was given a different dir(windows_1). hopefully the newly created files names include the _1 and the files were preserved

    slxrti
     
    slxrti, Dec 15, 2007
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  6. PhoenixFx

    PhoenixFx Notebook Virtuoso

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    If he installed Windows on to a separate dir, then all your data should still be on the HDD. However, you’ll have to reinstall programs again on the new installation.
     
    PhoenixFx, Dec 15, 2007
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  7. slxrti

    slxrti Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm surprised, most of the data has been erased, except for a few files. any other suggestions?
     
    slxrti, Dec 15, 2007
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  8. Nebelwand

    Nebelwand Notebook Consultant

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    Files on the desktop aren't stored in the/a Windows (sub)directory, they go into \Documents and Settings\username\Desktop.

    Poke around to see if your old profile directory is still in there, or if the Windows installer renamed it or whatever.

    If you don't have admin rights on that box, you'll probably have to pester your IT guy to adjust the permissions/transfer ownership of the files/directories to you.
     
    Nebelwand, Dec 15, 2007
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  9. PhoenixFx

    PhoenixFx Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yes, if you are talking about files in My Documents and other related folders (My pictures, My Music, Desktop etc..) then they should be under the Documents and Settings folder. As I remember, if you reinstall Windows on a PC already having Windows, previous Documents and Settings folder is renamed to something like PreviousUserName’s Documents or something like that.

    If search doesn't turn up anything then it could be a permission problem as Nebelwand said.
     
    PhoenixFx, Dec 15, 2007
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  10. LIVEFRMNYC

    LIVEFRMNYC Blah Blah Blah!!!

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    There should be a Folder called "Old Windows" or something like that under the C:\ drive. The few times I reinstall over an existing OS this is what I have experienced. It had all the Documents stuff, Programs Folders, etc:

    BTW .... A real IT guy should have Ghost the drive if it was known you had important files on it.
     
    LIVEFRMNYC, Dec 15, 2007
    #10