SOS Help needed desperately from the experts

[Guest]

Hi!..Thanks for your time!...I need help from you guys BADLY!!!

My partner had her last years business financial accounts for
2006-2007...(done in ms works v7 spreadsheets) in her "my documents"
folder!...

she originally had some Problems with her computer so had to reload xp pro!
I then find out that she had these account files saved in her "my documents"
folder!..of all places!!!!!!!

I've gone to look for them ..but they've dissappeared!...There are a couple
of folders in "my documents", that have useless info in them from before her
xp pro reload...but all her financial records which were in the "my
documents" root have gone!

I remember reading somewhere that if xp pro is reloaded that the "my
documents" is not touched!...but in this case it has been!...please correct
me if i'm wrong!

Because there is ome useless info is in these folders inside the "my
documents" folder I am certain that these "financial account files" in "my
documents" root are still there...but are not displayed (hidden)

There is also no "restore file"...so I don't know what to do!

Can any of you experts recommend a way to make these account files
visible...or...be able to extract them?

Is there some software that can do this?

Otherwise it could take months to re-data entry the figures for thefull
financial year!

Thanks heaps because I'm absolutely lost!....& it’s tax time!
Glen

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi!..Thanks for your time!...I need help from you guys BADLY!!!

My partner had her last years business financial accounts for
2006-2007...(done in ms works v7 spreadsheets) in her "my documents"
folder!...

she originally had some Problems with her computer so had to reload xp pro!

Please explain *exactly* what she did and how she did this.

I then find out that she had these account files saved in her "my documents"
folder!..of all places!!!!!!!

"Of all places"? Why? That's the normal place most people store such
files.

I've gone to look for them ..but they've dissappeared!...

That's to be expected.

There are a couple
of folders in "my documents", that have useless info in them from before her
xp pro reload...

That's the strange part, and the reason I ask for details on exactly
what she did.

but all her financial records which were in the "my
documents" root have gone!

I remember reading somewhere that if xp pro is reloaded that the "my
documents" is not touched!

That's not correct. If you reinstall Windows (correctly), *everything*
that was on the drive is lost.

...but in this case it has been!...please correct
me if i'm wrong!

Because there is ome useless info is in these folders inside the "my
documents" folder I am certain that these "financial account files" in "my
documents" root are still there...but are not displayed (hidden)

Maybe. Since she clearly didn't do a correct reinstallation of Windows
(or else *no* files would be left), there's a possibility that the
files may exist somewhere. But I'm not willing to be certain until I
know exactly what she did.

There is also no "restore file"...so I don't know what to do!

Can any of you experts recommend a way to make these account files
visible...or...be able to extract them?

Is there some software that can do this?

Otherwise it could take months to re-data entry the figures for thefull
financial year!

Sorry to lecture you, but I need to point out the importance of
backing up critical files. That's especially true for someone like
you, who apparently uses the data professionally.

In this case, the files may be gone because of her error, but you need
to be aware that you are *always* vulnerable to losing the entire
contents of the drive at any time at such events as a hard drive
crash, user error, sever power glitch, nearby lightning strike, virus
attack, even theft of the computer. As has often been said, it's not a
matter of whether you will have such a problem, but when.

If your data is important to you, you need to institute a program of
regular backup, with backups stored externally to the computer. In
your case, as a professional, you should have multiple generations of
backup, and at least one of those generations should be stored
off-site.

 

[DL]

Or to put it anotherway;
A PC is like a car, you park it, return & its been lifted, or it wont start

 

[Guest]

Hi Ken!
Thanks mate!
I have to go over there tonite, so she can show me what she did!
Will reply tonight!
Once again thanks!
glen

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi Ken!
Thanks mate!
I have to go over there tonite, so she can show me what she did!
Will reply tonight!
Once again thanks!

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

Please explain *exactly* what she did and how she did this.

Also, what the problems were.

It's not often one "has to" reload Windows, and many times folks claim
they "had to" reload Windows, not only was it not needed, but it
didn't fix the underlying problem either.

"Of all places"? Why? That's the normal place most people store such
files.

That's to be expected.

If you do a repair install of XP, the process will prompt you to
create a new user account. If you enter the same name as your
existing user account, you get two accounts that have the same account
name, but the underlying folder names within "Documents and Settings"
will differ (the new one usually has the PC name added to it).

If you log into the new account of the "same name", you will not see
data from the existing account. You'd have to ensure you can see all
files, then navigate appropriately in Windows Explorer.

If you have <ahem> "embraced the NTFS feature set" e.g. "make my files
private" and/or used EFS (Encrypting File System, only in XP Pro) then
you may have more work to do before you'd be allowed access to your
files, or where they are created. For example, you may have to "take
ownership" of them; if EFS, may be rather more than that

More on that? Do you mean things like Desktop.ini, My Music's sample
files, that sort of thing, that XP creates?

It shouldn't be, if you did a "repair install". If you did a
destructive rebuild, as many "Genuine Advantage" OEM installations do,
then it WILL wipe everything. But with a repair install, your files
are not wiped, only mislaid ;-)

That's not correct. If you reinstall Windows (correctly), *everything*
that was on the drive is lost.

Not on a "repair" install, no. That's why it is the preferred option,
assuming problems can't be solved less destructively.

--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -

Tech Support: The guys who follow the
'Parade of New Products' with a shovel.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Tue, 03 Jul 2007 08:26:45 -0700, "Ken Blake, MVP"


Not on a "repair" install, no.

Although that's correct, he said he reinstalled Windows, not that he
did a repair installation. My assumption *might* be wrong in this
case, but when someone says reinstall without using the word "repair,"
I always assume he means a clean installation. If he meant a repair
installation, then he should have made it much clearer.

 

[John]

If they were erased you could try finalrecovery it can resore some
erased files.

john

 

[Guest]

Active File Recovery is another sofware for bringing back deleted files but
it's not going to help if you have written over the space it was saved since
it was deleted.

 

[Guest]

You guys are fantastic!!!!!!!!!

OK I've read your replys & advice!
sorry for late reply
After Ken's reply...I went over to look at her computer!
After cquirke's reply...I again went back to look over her computer!

Now ..Jayne (my girlfriend) said ""she did a re-install""!
Looking at it...it looks like she's done ..."a repair"!

as "documents & settings" folder has the following!
------------------
all users (52mb) 2-9-05........original install
default user (1.5mb) 2-9-05........original install
administrator (3.5mb) 27-5-07........upgraded from xp home to xp pro....no
probs
client (5gb) 30-6-07........????
all users.windows (52mb) 1-7-07........her so-called new re-install
default user.windows (1mb) 1-7-07........her so-called new re-install
jayne (4.3gb) 2-7-07........she said added this?...I didn't know!
--------------

Your correct Ken!..."there's a possibility that the files may exist
somewhere."
Your correct cquirke "But with a repair install, your files are not wiped,
only mislaid"

The addition of ".windows" to the accounts (with dates) shows that it was a
repair!!!!!..as you said cquirke!

The user accounts ...only shows 2 accounts
1) Jayne (administrator)
2) guest (turned off)

mmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!

Taking cquirkes info....about permissions i
Ive changed guest to on...logged back in!

Yehaaaa!!!...found them!...they're there in client!!!....(size difference
bewteen jayne & client, 4.3gb to 5 gb..the 700mb are the files)
man that's a load off my mind & girlfriends!!!!!!!!!!!

mmmm.....I think i should get rid of some unwanted acounts in the "documents
& settings" folder.....so this doesn't happen again...
Can i just delete the un wanted ones?

oh ! by the way!

Something i noticed during the startup sequence (my girlfriend has said that
it has always had this startup problem):
start screen...
then next screen shows..........
microsoft windows xp pro (if i click this xp loads normally)
microsoft windows xp pro (if i click this it says hal.dll corrupted..restart)
(also shows up/down arrows to choose & a count down timer)
*If timer counts down then it'll load xp.normally
then next screen is dark
then next screen is absolutely blank
then next screen is dark
then desktop

why does the screen show "microsoft windows xp pro" twice?
is because of xp has been installed more than once?
how do you get rid of this problem so that you dont have to wait for the
timer to count down or click the top "microsoft windows xp pro" link in order
to keep loading windows
thanks heaps!!!!

Ken!....you were right to lecture me!!....taken your advice & am searching
for backup hard drives as we speak!....AND THANKS HEAPS!!

cquirke! ...THANKS HEAPS!!

U 2 guys have helped me more than u know. I'm so gratefull!

John, eracer....had a look at these!...also "encase"....under some serious
consideration....thanks for you advice!

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

Although that's correct, he said he reinstalled Windows, not that he
did a repair installation. My assumption *might* be wrong in this
case, but when someone says reinstall without using the word "repair,"
I always assume he means a clean installation.

With me, it's the opposite; I don't assume someone's wiped the system
unless they say so (e.g. "format and re-install" vs. "re-install").

Both of us are guessing, which is why I asked for more info.

I certainly would not encourage destructive rebuilding, as the comment
"If you reinstall Windows (correctly), *everything* that was on the
drive is lost" for a number of reasons, including that not all systems
are "owned" by a single OS installation.

--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -

Never turn your back on an installer program

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

On Fri, 6 Jul 2007 21:38:02 -0700, Desperate-Glen

You guys are fantastic!!!!!!!!!
Thanks!

Now ..Jayne (my girlfriend) said ""she did a re-install""!
Looking at it...it looks like she's done ..."a repair"!

as "documents & settings" folder has the following!

Interesting date, though...

client (5gb) 30-6-07........????
all users.windows (52mb) 1-7-07........her so-called new re-install
default user.windows (1mb) 1-7-07........her so-called new re-install
jayne (4.3gb) 2-7-07........she said added this?...I didn't know!
--------------

The user accounts ...only shows 2 accounts
1) Jayne (administrator)
2) guest (turned off)

mmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!

OK... Guest won't have a profile then (in fact, it may use a temporary
one even when it is enabled, I dunno). They will be:

all users (52mb) 2-9-05 -> not referenced
default user (1.5mb) 2-9-05 -> not referenced
administrator (3.5mb) 27-5-07 -> used by Safe Mode
client (5gb) 30-6-07 -> not referenced, looks big; bingo?
all users.windows (52mb) 1-7-07 -> used as "shared" settings
default user.windows (1mb) 1-7-07 -> used as new account prototype
jayne (4.3gb) 2-7-07 -> used as current account "Jayne"

Yehaaaa!!!...found them!...they're there in client!!!....(size difference
bewteen jayne & client, 4.3gb to 5 gb..the 700mb are the files)
man that's a load off my mind & girlfriends!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah - so did the install process find and copy in 4.3G of the 5G
original material? That's interesting, if so - else I was wondering
how one can rack up 4G+ data in a few days...

mmmm.....I think i should get rid of some unwanted acounts in the "documents
& settings" folder.....so this doesn't happen again...
Can i just delete the un wanted ones?

"Never delete what you can rename away or comment out" is my motto, so
first I'd copy them somewhere else in the file system, such as C:\OLD,
and then delete the originals.

Unlike a Move or drag, this should not cause registry references to
track the change, and you can "undo" if problems arise.

If all is well, then if there's a corresponding user account,. I'd
delete that first, then I'd shutdown and restart, then if all is still
well, I'd delete the backup copy I didn't need.

But - be very careful you don't delete something you hadn't backed up
first! If you're going to delete only the "old" account subtrees that
don't currently appear as user accounts, then don't delete anything in
the user accounts section (such as "Jayne").

Something i noticed during the startup sequence (my girlfriend has said that
it has always had this startup problem):
start screen...
then next screen shows..........

microsoft windows xp pro (if i click this xp loads normally)
microsoft windows xp pro (if i click this it says hal.dll corrupted..restart)

OK, looks like the HD was in a different PC, perhaps (incorrect
Hardware Abstraction Layer, aka "HAL") or more likely the second
reference points to an OS installation that has been removed. "Bad
HAL" is often what you see in that context, rather like someone saying
"I can't find my car lighter" when their car's been stolen

You could remove the second instance from C:\Boot.ini, but once again,
be careful; save the file with a different name first, etc.

(also shows up/down arrows to choose & a count down timer)

OK. What you are looking at is a menu defined in C:\Boot.ini, as
interpreted by C:\NTLDR, which is the first OS file that loads.

*If timer counts down then it'll load xp.normally
then next screen is dark
then next screen is absolutely blank
then next screen is dark

Er... what's the difference between "dark" and "absolutely blank"? Is
the latter where the monitor is suspended?

then desktop

why does the screen show "microsoft windows xp pro" twice?

As above - there are two entries in C:\Boot.ini, and only one works.
This will do far less harm than botched attempts to clean it up, so
I'd be quite tempted to leave it as it is

is because of xp has been installed more than once?
Probably...

how do you get rid of this problem so that you dont have to wait for the
timer to count down

Set the timeout value to a shorter time, e.g. from 30 to 5 (seconds),
as seen when you enter Boot.ini directly, or via MSConfig.

or click the top "microsoft windows xp pro" link in order
to keep loading windows

You can press Enter at that point, to speed it up.

 

[Guest]

hi! thanks fro your extended input!
<whew> ...that was close. Did she say what prompted her to do it?
----
something to do with the dvd reader/burner......of all things!!!...its +R!!
I told her would have been easier just to buy a new one (that burns/reads
everything)....she's not afraid to have ago!


<>Ah - so did the install process find and copy in 4.3G of the 5G
original material? That's interesting, if so - else I was wondering
how one can rack up 4G+ data in a few days...

No Jayne said she added that user & reinstalled a lot of her materials she
had on cd (not what we needed...unfortunately)

----
I follow your advice with users
------

<>OK, looks like the HD was in a different PC, perhaps (incorrect
Hardware Abstraction Layer, aka "HAL") or more likely the second
reference points to an OS installation that has been removed. "Bad
HAL" is often what you see in that context, rather like someone saying
"I can't find my car lighter" when their car's been stolen

You could remove the second instance from C:\Boot.ini, but once again,
be careful; save the file with a different name first, etc.
-----
mmmm... wouldn't it be the first instance since thats the one which is read
first in C:\Boot.ini..?



<>Er... what's the difference between "dark" and "absolutely blank"? Is
the latter where the monitor is suspended?
----------
?????..just 2 different colours of black....dont know why!



thanks & cheers!..will let u know how it goes
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

On Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:28:00 -0700, Desperate-Glen

<>OK, looks like the HD was in a different PC, perhaps (incorrect
Hardware Abstraction Layer, aka "HAL") or more likely the second
reference points to an OS installation that has been removed. "Bad
HAL" is often what you see in that context, rather like someone saying
"I can't find my car lighter" when their car's been stolen

You could remove the second instance from C:\Boot.ini, but once again,
be careful; save the file with a different name first, etc.

mmmm... wouldn't it be the first instance since thats the one which is read
first in C:\Boot.ini..?

The default will be the one set as such in Boot.ini, but yes, the
order they are listed in is, AFAIK, that in the Boot.ini (i.e. if the
second is set as default, it doesn't get listed first)

Er... which one worked, again?

<>Er... what's the difference between "dark" and "absolutely blank"? Is
the latter where the monitor is suspended?

OK. Well, even black-screen boots can tell stories...
- no fan whir, keyboard LED blink, beeps, screen stays as it was
- brief fan whir, then as above (dead PSU, short circuit)
- fan stays spinning, else as above (dead mobo, bad PSU?)
- various patterns of BIOS beeps (sick/missing hware)
- normal beep and keyboard 3-LED blink; POST starts
- keyboard LEDs responsive, screen black, suspended
- refresh rate and/or resolution too high
- bad monitor signal cable
- bad SVGA
- wrong SVGA used
- keyboard LEDs responsive, screen glows, on
- is being fed signal, but no processing
....etc.

thanks & cheers!..will let u know how it goes
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++




------------ ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

Our senses are our UI to reality

 

[Guest]

On Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:28:00 -0700, Desperate-Glen




The default will be the one set as such in Boot.ini, but yes, the
order they are listed in is, AFAIK, that in the Boot.ini (i.e. if the
second is set as default, it doesn't get listed first)

Er... which one worked, again?

top one carried on loading windows
bottom one had hal.dll error

OK. Well, even black-screen boots can tell stories...
- no fan whir, keyboard LED blink, beeps, screen stays as it was
- brief fan whir, then as above (dead PSU, short circuit)
- fan stays spinning, else as above (dead mobo, bad PSU?)
- various patterns of BIOS beeps (sick/missing hware)
- normal beep and keyboard 3-LED blink; POST starts
- keyboard LEDs responsive, screen black, suspended
- refresh rate and/or resolution too high
- bad monitor signal cable
- bad SVGA
- wrong SVGA used
- keyboard LEDs responsive, screen glows, on
- is being fed signal, but no processing
....etc.

mate i'll leave that screen issue as it is...lol

cheers!
Glen