Help! I can't access my own files!

[B-Guy]

Help!!

Yesterday my (Vista 32) system crashed so hard that it took some system
files with it, necessitating a complete re-install with all the
headaches and thoughtless wreckage it does to one's file system.

I'm desperately in need of many of my old "My Documents" files, etc.
and have searched around for them, to no avail. I've been trying to
access the old Users/Account folder I used in my previous installation
(where I presume most of these files are located). I need to grand
admin permissions to do this, and I do, but then a new window opens up
and it's literally nothing but a *black* (not blank) empty space. I
get no further explanation or access.

a) Where are my old files? Have they been deleted??
b) How do I access this folder? I've seen in other forums things that
tell me this users/account folder may just be a sort of 'pointer' used
for legacy purposes. What's going on?

 

[Gordon]

Help!!

Yesterday my (Vista 32) system crashed so hard that it took some system
files with it, necessitating a complete re-install with all the
headaches and thoughtless wreckage it does to one's file system.

I'm desperately in need of many of my old "My Documents" files, etc.
and have searched around for them, to no avail. I've been trying to
access the old Users/Account folder I used in my previous installation
(where I presume most of these files are located). I need to grand
admin permissions to do this, and I do, but then a new window opens up
and it's literally nothing but a *black* (not blank) empty space. I
get no further explanation or access.

a) Where are my old files? Have they been deleted??
b) How do I access this folder? I've seen in other forums things that
tell me this users/account folder may just be a sort of 'pointer' used
for legacy purposes. What's going on?

How did you do the re-install? Was it from a Vendor-supplied Recovery DVD?

 

[Peter Foldes]

Always but always back up your data . Lesson learned the hard way

 

[Leroy]

Try Iolo's Search and Recover: http://www.iolo.com/sr/5/

 

[Vadim Igorev]

What's going on?

I'm afraid I can tell you. I learned it hard way, that due to
MicroSoft's policies the OEM who sells you your Vista machine does not
include a "real" recovery or install DVD with "regular" OS image (one
has to buy it boxed for ~$200 directly from the chair-thrower or his
retail shills), but rather some gimmicky "reinstall" one, which wipes
_all_ the data on the hard drive. "Real" recovery DVD would have allowed
you to reinstall the OS without killing your private data.

I, for obvious legal and ethical reasons, do not suggest anybody to
download and use counterfeit copies of "real" Vista DVDs, when such a
situation happens.

 

[Peter Foldes]

WTF. Why was my post deleted. I answered the OP as to his\her issue and then my post
is deleted. What for.

Here is a copy below of my complete post. Deleted for what ???

B-Guy

Did you use script when you set it up. How did you set it up. How did you tell the
and which command did you use.

 

[Gordon]

I, for obvious legal and ethical reasons, do not suggest anybody to
download and use counterfeit copies of "real" Vista DVDs, when such a
situation happens.

Doesn't matter legally if the DVD is pirated - it's the Product Key that is
the proof of licence. Now about whether a pirated DVD is full of malware and
spyware, that's a different matter....