restore after re-install

[blkvette]

I had to used the restore disc after my config.sys got corrupted some how on
my desk top pc. The disc
re-installed the os xp professional. Can I still recover files from the
older os? I had about 41 gb left on the 80 gb hard disk prior to the problem
and have about the same left now. I am hoping the new install was just put
over the old. My restore point is the date I used the restore disc. I have
tried system restore, both normally and in the safe mode. I also tried the
administrator w/command code in the safe mode. I am really only concerned
about getting pictures back.
Than you

 

[peter]

ever heard of backing up or at least copying
stuff to a CD/DVD???
If you have used a Computer Companies(Dell,Compaq,etc) restore disk it
usually
wipes the HD and "restores" to a Just Purchased state.

if you've used something else please explain in detail what you used and did

peter

 

[Bob I]

Take your computer to a GOOD computer tech and tell them what you did.
Windows XP doesn't use "config.sys" so you likely went way overboard on
the "return to factory restore". The tech may be able to salvage the
files. Best of luck to you.

 

[Mark Adams]

I had to used the restore disc after my config.sys got corrupted some how on
my desk top pc. The disc
re-installed the os xp professional. Can I still recover files from the
older os? I had about 41 gb left on the 80 gb hard disk prior to the problem
and have about the same left now. I am hoping the new install was just put
over the old. My restore point is the date I used the restore disc. I have
tried system restore, both normally and in the safe mode. I also tried the
administrator w/command code in the safe mode. I am really only concerned
about getting pictures back.
Than you

If the "restore disk" is a branded Windows installation disk and you did a
repair install, your data should still be there. If you did a clean install
with a reformat of the drive, your data is gone.

If the "restore disk" is system image disk, then your data is gone.

The way you avoid losing your data is to recover it before you restore your
system. If the machine won't boot, download the Knoppix iso image from the
Knoppix website and burn the image to CD. Boot the machine from the knoppix
disk and copy your data to external media (USB hard drive, flash drive, DVD,
or CD), then do the restore.

Better would be to use an imaging program like Norton Ghost or Acronis True
Image to save periodic images of your working system to an external hard
drive. This way, if your system gets hosed because of viruses, malware, or
even a hard drive failure; you will be able to restore from your most recent
image frequently in a matter of minutes.

Notice that data recovery with a Knoppix disk, and restoring your system
from an image on an external drive does not require any kind of a Windows
reinstallation disk. Not having Windows reinstallation media is not an excuse
for losing your data or your Windows install.