Help recover lost files!! PLEASE!!

[jeepsrule95]

Recently I had to do a system restore on my pc because of a currupted file I D/L from limewire, after the restore was done, and it restarted, it said it was missing files to run windows xp, so it made me reinstall from the disc. The problem is I lost about 15GB worth of files, music, pics, ect... although I did not install on a second partition, nor did i format the HD, there nowhere to be found. but under properties for the c drive, it still shows that I am using that much HD space. So they have to be on there somewhere, i just cant find them. I have searched for every file name and nothing. Some files are still there, but all the files that were on the desktop, or under the "my music" file are gone. I assume that it has moved all the files associated with the first windows xp and renamed them or locked them up somewhere. I just dont know where. Any Help? PLEASE!!

[GaryRouth]

Hi jeepsrule95

Should you ever need to run a repair installation of XP again, be sure to read through a few guides first:
A brief guide here at PC Mechanic --- http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=151522
A highly detailed guide from Michael Stevens --- http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Unfortunately, you have likely overwritten several areas of your former installation. If you made backups recently, you can restore from those. If not, don't panic, you can still try a Data Recovery tool to recover your files. Some file types recover better than others. A download site such as cnet's download.com has shareware titles in the $50 or so range (US dollars). I've used File Scavenger 3 with so-so success in the past. The pro versions of such tools cost much more. If you happen to have a Linux-based PC around, there may be open-source tools that can recover files.

This is the warning from the Michael Steven's guide that likely applies to your situation:
_________________________________
Warning!! #2
If the Repair Option is not Available
Most important do not ignore the information below!

If the option to Repair Install is NOT available and you continue with the install; you will delete your Windows folder and the Documents and Settings folders. All applications installed that place keys in the registry will need to be re-installed and will require the original install media.

You should exit setup if the repair option is not available and consider other options.
_________________________________
... if the 15gb of information was contained in subfolders under the My Pictures, My Music, My Video, etc. folders - those are located in the "Documents and Settings" folders that the Michael Stevens article is referring to.

I've found that pictures recover very well, and video as well. Some other formats less well - .pdf files are a bit hit-and-miss, and proprietary file formats unique to rare programs can be problematic.

Another tip for future reference (should the need arise again) -
Sometimes running the command to start the Windows File Protection/System File Checker can restore system files without having to reinstall Windows entirely -- It's certainly worth a try, before progressing to the reinstallaton route... From a Start/Run box, the command is "sfc /scannow" -- and you point the program to either your Windows XP CD, or to .cabs stored on your hard drive. This can be helpful in situations like yours, where a malware infection has caused havoc with the system files.

Hope it goes well
. . . Gary

P.S. Music that is "ripped" locally from your CDs directly to your hard drive recovers pretty well. Music from some shared peer-to-peer networks can arrive in several "chunks" and then be reassembled - these might recover less well.

[macko72]

http://www.pcinspector.de/download.a...#file_recovery
Try this free tool for file recovery !!!
And in future if some files missing to run Windows try and run recovery console first before reinstall takes place!!!