Ok, Ashampoo screwed me good on this one...

I`ve recently heard about the 26 free licenses for Ashampoo software so I figured since they`re worth 500$ I might as well give them a try.
So I installed AS Antispyware, it ran a quick scan, found 27 problems, could not fix any, so I figured it`s probably in need for updates and such, so I did not pay attention to it.
Then I went to install AS Antivirus, but somewhere at the middle of the install, some error pops out(in German), and cancels the installation.
So I go into the folder where the kit was and try to run it again, but get the file not found error. I hit refresh, and apparently everything is gone from that folder. I hit backspace,that folder is gone too.

And so, all of my user files and the user settings are gone. ALL.
And now when I`m using that user, whatever setting I change for windows/object dock/winamp/yahoo messenger, it reverts to default,as if the user files were read only.
System is XP 32 bit ,rest is in sig...
I just lost 800MB of very important data and probably stuff worth of 100 h of work on projects and such.
Is there any way to get them back? I`ve went to the "last config that worked" and that`s how it booted up to the "read only" user ....

 

I`m getting all sorts of messed up errors, I tried creating a new user but when trying to log onto it, it pops up some error and asks me about migrating files from NT to 3.x or something like that

 

Come on man, no backups?

 

Well data recovery software can maybe find some files, we were just talking about a bunch of them in another thread but I didnt really pay attention to any of them since I did not plan to ever use/need them.

pretty much anything deleted on a drive is still there unless you use a special format program so most of the data can probably come back but its a long and tedious process since the files will not have orginal names or be in any sort of order.

You may try a system restore point, it wont give back your files but it may get you back to where you were before you fubared you system by fixing the registry and installed programs.

 

Nope, did the restore point, and it`s the same.
My last backup was from 2 months ago, right before starting to work on my project.
But the thing is, the 800MB were like instantly deleted , and that`s not like possible. And the available disk space shows the same ammount of space as before the mishap.
Also,another error :
It`s like I have lost my account permissions or something O_x

 

free german software

 

I assume you have tried booting into safe mode?

Also you could try a repair install of windows. It might allow you to see those files that are missing. (Which they are probably not really "gone", just the fubar that happened made windows not able to see them). Have you tried any software other then just "System Restore"?

 

Safe mode was the first thing I`ve tried.
I know how this sounds, but lol, I`m not a newbie, it`s just that this damn thing NEVER hapenned to me before, nor have I heard anyone going through something similar.
Probably 90% of the sugestions I get here have already tried, I`m looking at this from all possible angles...

 

Sorry man. Didn't know that was going to happen .

Ashampoo Burning Studio was quite good, but I decided to stay with Avira and SAS to be safe.

Sorry,
Leon

Anyways, I'd recommend burning a Linux Live CD, booting up and seeing if Linux can see your data. If you can, copy the data and reformat.

 

Damn free german software

 

:SLEEP: told you so

 

First thing: STOP USING THIS COMPUTER IMMEDIATELY!!!!! For any hope to recover any of this data, you must STOP TRYING ALL THE CRAP YOU ARE TRYING. Every second you are trying to write something to the drive you are overwriting your data, and there's less chance you will be able to get it back.

Shut off the computer and take out the drive. Put the drive in an external enclosure and connect it to another computer. Run any data recovery tools from there. I hear "recuva" is good and it's free.

STOP MESSING WITH THE "LAST KNOW GOOD" AND SYSTEM RECOVERY CRAP. That only works for Windows itself and drivers, and has nothing to do with your data.

 

Again, did that already, I took the drive out as soon as I saw the lack of functionality of XP...
No luck there, the files are gone.
But wth is wrong with XP? where did all the options go, it`s as if I`m a guest with limited access...

 

If all your data is gone with no hope of recovery, you might as well format and reinstall from scratch.

 

Sorry to hear

Make yourself a linux live cd, its quite handy. Try and salvage your important files.

Then try do a repair install, if it doesnt work. Do a clean install

 

I only lost whatever was related to the main user.
Whatever else I had on the drive is safe...

What I don`t understand is WHY ALL THE SETTINGS I MAKE REVERT TO DEFAULT?
I can`t make the My Computer icon appear on the desktop, I can`t change the msconfig file, basically, whenever I boot, the user is reverted to the default user(like when you install Windows).
I wanted to revert to Vista for a long time, and I`ll do it now, finally.
But I want to understand what it is that prevents me from changing anything into my user account.
Look here for example, Wtf?

 

You can try a live cd, it can see files Windows can't sometimes.

 

yeah. try booting from linux live cd, like everyone else is saying. good cheap tactic.

 

Where can I get one? I`m a newb at Linux,do I need to know anything?

Edit : Crap, I can`t use Nero to save any file on the disk , some registry keeps asking for permission!

 

http://www.knoppix.net/

 

Will it give me administrator control over my user , or how is this going to help ?
I need to be able to install Nero and burn whatever files I need to save...

 

Use Linux Mint to get your files. Way easier than Knoppix. Can you burn on another computer?

 

If you are uncomfortable using Linux, try BartPE. I wrote a guide on her on how to make one.