Deleted user account with very important files

[Guest]

I was cleaning my hard drive and decided to remove a user account. I didn't
know I was permanently deleting family pictures, which I had placed in my
documents folders. Here's how it happened. I commonly use my wifes user
account for convienience especially if she's already on the computer. I
would use 'windows explorer' to access pictures and organized them under my
folders. I didn't know that by deleting my user account I would be deleting
everything organized there. I thought that since I access those files from
another user account they wouldnt be affected at all. I thought my pictures
were in a general use area or like a shared folder area. I truly believe
that there should be more prompts with more warning when a user account is
deleted. Its too easy for this to happen especially something so permanent.

I would really appreciate if someone would give me hope as how I might
recover my family pictures. Thanks

 

[Rock]

I was cleaning my hard drive and decided to remove a user account. I didn't
know I was permanently deleting family pictures, which I had placed in my
documents folders. Here's how it happened. I commonly use my wifes user
account for convienience especially if she's already on the computer. I
would use 'windows explorer' to access pictures and organized them under my
folders. I didn't know that by deleting my user account I would be deleting
everything organized there. I thought that since I access those files from
another user account they wouldnt be affected at all. I thought my pictures
were in a general use area or like a shared folder area. I truly believe
that there should be more prompts with more warning when a user account is
deleted. Its too easy for this to happen especially something so permanent.

I would really appreciate if someone would give me hope as how I might
recover my family pictures. Thanks

First thing stop using the computer. Hopefully you're not posting from
the same one. Deleted files are not removed from the drive, just the
space marked as available so the more you use it the greater the chance
the data is overwritten.

See this utilities for recovering data:

Executive Software “Undelete”:
http://www.execsoft.com/undelete/undelete.asp

Also:

http://www.collina.us/files/REST2514.htm
http://www3.telus.net/mikebike/RESTORATION.html

Recover and Restore Deleted Files (Line 36)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

File Saver Pro - Recover Deleted Files
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_u.htm#xp_util

www.recovermyfiles.com

If the data is extremely valuable there are data recovery services but
they are not cheap.

www.drivesavers.com
www.ontrack.com

When you deleted the profile it did ask if you wanted to delete the
files, right?

Lastly always have a current, full and complete backup so you won't have
to go through this again. Mistakes do happen. Backups protect you.

 

[coal_brona]

Hi,

In your situation I'm pretty sure tha solution that will help you it to
use data recovery soft. Among it hte most powerful and reliable is imho
Active@ Undelete. This utility worked great for me. That will be
definately able to restore your lost pictures.

http://www.active-undelete.com/