gibson337

I had my desktop computer re-installed with xp and did not know that my word docs would be forever lost during the process. I am not a computer wiz at all, but there were so many important word documents for my work/college that never made it into my flash drive. So if there is any way that I could at least open these files it would be greatly appreciated!

Fren Banklin

If it was a Repair Install, there should be no issue. A New Install might be more problematic, however if there was a format, you need to stop using the PC immediately, because every read-write operation it performs degrades the chances of data recovery.

There's a "favorite" data recovery program here on TSF by most techs, but I've forgotten what it is. Keep bumping the thread if necessary. Someone will come along and give you the name of it.

Coolfreak

Most data recovery programs aren't free. Some offer a trial, some don't.

A simple google search can provide all these programs.

It seems some of these are free, and they look decent.
http://www.snapfiles.com/freeware/sy...arecovery.html

If you have another PC, I would highly reccomend plugging the hard drive that you want to try to save some files as a slave drive on the 'good' PC. This way, you lessen the chance you overwrite the files you need.

Good luck. .

-Coolfreak

gibson337

Thanks for the quick reply! I am feeling a lot more hopeful that I will be able to recover these files. In regards to it being a repair install, I really have no idea. I believe they needed a legit copy of Windows XP cd, but that is pretty much all that I know concerning the issue.

gibson337

Can anyone lead me into the direction of a free data recovery program they highly recommend for the sole purpose of getting my old word docs back?

Coolfreak

the link I provided has a bunch of free programs that you can try. .

gibson337

Are there any in particular that are designed for exactly what I am trying to do? (Sorry, but I am a complete newbie when it comes to pc computers so that would help narrow down which program I should download first.)

justpassingby

First of all stop using the computer that holds your missing documents. New data gets written on the drive anytime you start the computer, run some programs, browse the internet, ... You'll be able to recover some of your documents as long as they were not overwritten by new data. Turn that computer off and use another one to proceed with the recovery.

Take the hard drive out and hook it in another desktop computer. As soon as you'll get within Windows on the other computer turn system restore off on your drive to prevent that feature from writing any data on it : right-click my computer => properties => system restore => select your drive and click settings.

Here are some top of the notch data recovery softwares :
Active @ Undelete
PC Inspector
R Studio
GetDataBack
Recover it all
Most have a free demo that will allow you to see what files can be recovered before you buy.

Below I attached a freeware that did the trick for me several times, it has very limited features compared to the pro-tools but it's 100% free and works most of the time when the drive hasn't been reformated. The publisher's website is down, don't know why.

Whatever program you use don't write anything on your drive. Save all the recovered data on another drive or you may overwrite the data that's not been recovered yet.

Attached Files

datarec5.zip (31.7 KB, 1 views)

gibson337

Thanks for the freeware. Most of the files were saved under my documents, so that would be part of my C: drive correct? I opened the program and clicked ran...I do not understand how to find some of my files?

justpassingby

You can't run that particular program on the system drive, which is why you need to take your drive out and attach it in another computer. I'm not kidding when I say that if you keep using your computer you won't be able to recover your files.

To use the program : select the drive where the missing files are, wait for the list of files to appear. Enter a path next to recover to (for instance D:\recovered\) (make sure the path is on another drive than the drive you recover the files from), select the files you want to recover and click the recover button. As I said that program won't work properly on the system drive (c:).

The professional tools will be able to recovery much more data, you're the one who knows how much those documents are worth.

gibson337

I don't have any other computer to use. Is there anything else that I can do?

justpassingby

Ask a friend if you can use his computer.

justpassingby

Or use another computer to create the UBCD for windows, boot your computer on that CD (the OS will be loaded from the CD, it won't write anything on the drive) and use one of the included data recovery programs (here, under recovery) to restore your data on an external USB drive or on another hard drive.

If you use your own computer to create the Ultimate boot CD it'll write more than 600MB of data on the drive and that's as many documents you can kiss goodbye to. I'm sorry but there's no easier way if you want to stay on the safe side.

Again, the data recovery programs that are included on the UBCD for windows are free and not as powerful as the commercial programs.

Edit : also, test the recovered data before you copy it back on your drive. Sometimes the content doesn't match the recovered file name.

gibson337

I can try using someone elses computer, but there is one file in particular that I need the most regardings its information for my work. Can someone run through exactly how I go about this through one of my friends computer. Otherwise if there is anyway that I can do this through my computer that would be easiest by far.

justpassingby

Depending on what informations they can retrieve most recovery programs will display the original path and name of the file. If you need that file that badly the best way to make sure you can recover it is to follow the instructions above and perform the recovery using another computer or a bootable CD. A few bytes written at the wrong place could damage the file and render it unusable.

If you have a spare hard drive you could also take your system drive out, hook the other drive as the main drive, install XP on it (that would wipe the drive's content), install the recovery program there, rehook the original system drive as a slave drive and start the recovery process from the new XP installation.

nonamedsomebody

Recover my files works great

gibson337

Thanks for everyones help. I found out from the person that fixed my computer that everything had been swiped clean so I can not get any of them back which is a shame but I appreciate everyones advice!

nonamedsomebody

Get a copy of recover my files it has full and quick format recovery options

Coolfreak

It's highly unlikely that he will be able to recover any files.

Come back anytime, we are here to help.

-Coolfreak