System Restore

[Guest]

User files missing for one user directory after performing a system restore.
The system restore performs a backup of the user files so how can I recover
them?

 

[Guest]

A bit more information: initially installed Home Edition and upgraded to XP
Pro. After system recovery, back at Home Edition and all user files missing
for primary user of system. Can these files be recovered?

 

[Poprivet]

A bit more information: initially installed Home Edition and upgraded
to XP Pro. After system recovery, back at Home Edition and all user
files missing for primary user of system. Can these files be
recovered?

I don't think I understand you, but if you actually installed Home or XP,
each install wiped out all the files on the drive and you were starting
fresh each time after each install.

HTH
Pop`

 

[Guest]

Hello Poprivet:

My PC came loaded with Home Edition. I upgraded to XP Pro. I performed a
system restore and the save point was before I loaded the XP Pro upgrade.
Even so, it was my understanding that the system restore would perform a
backup of all user directories. It seems to have copied a few but not mine
-- which is the most important. When system restore performed the backup on
the user directories, is it something that I can locate on a hard drive in
order to get my files back?

Glass

 

[Rock]

Hello Poprivet:

My PC came loaded with Home Edition. I upgraded to XP Pro. I performed a
system restore and the save point was before I loaded the XP Pro upgrade.
Even so, it was my understanding that the system restore would perform a
backup of all user directories. It seems to have copied a few but not
mine
-- which is the most important. When system restore performed the backup
on
the user directories, is it something that I can locate on a hard drive in
order to get my files back?

Glass

System restore does not backup user files. It is for system files and
certain, monitored files for applications, but not all application files.
See these links for info on System restore and the files it monitors.

http://bertk.mvps.org/html/filesfolders.html

http://bertk.mvps.org/index.html

You would need to restore the user files from a backup [If there is no
backup the question has to be asked - why?] If no backup you could try
some of the data recovery utilities. The first step is to stop using the
system now. The more it's used the greater the chance that the data is
overwritten.

The best thing to do is take out the drive, install it as a slave drive in
another system and image the drive to an external hard drive using something
like Acronis True Image Home version 10 or Norton Ghost or BootIt NG, so you
have a copy of the original drive. Then download the recovery utilities
while the drive is installed as a slave drive and see what you can find. In
addition to the free utilities there are a variety of paid ones which can be
costly. At the far end is a data recovery service which is the most
expensive option.

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

“Undelete†(formerly from Executive Software)
http://www.undelete.com/file-recovery.asp?pass=822317868

Data recovery services
www.drivesavers.com
www.ontrack.com
http://services.seagate.com/

 

[Poprivet]

Rock's response is good, but I have a feeling it might have gone over your
head. Which isn't a problem; everyone starts somewhere. If I'm wrong,
please accept my apologies.

"System Restore" is a sometimes misinterpreted label in a couple of
different ways.

1. The System Restore you get to by clicking Start; Programs; Accessories;
System Tools; System Restore: Is that the one you mean? If so, no, it does
absolutely nothing for your data files. The ONLY thing it will back up and
restore are SYSTEM settings; basically the Registry and a few supporting
system files. So your understanding would be wrong here.

2. System Restore is sometimes also used to describe backup software which
DOES back up your files and data.

3. System Restore is often what the manufacturers will call the CD they
provide with the computer to put the computer back to the "factory"
configuration, meaning the state it was in when you first powered it up.
So, when you use the words "System Restore" you have to be specific in
what you're talking about.

So, consider the following please:

XP's System Restore will not save or restore any of your data. You have to
back that up separately and with some software such as ntbackup or an
imaging program.

You had XP Home: It had XP Restore Points. Fine. Logical.

You installed XP Pro and then say you and used XP System Restore to restore
.... what? As far as I know, it is impossible to "upgrade" to XP Pro without
losing "everything" that was on the drive. If there is a way to do that,
I'm not familiar with it. Therefore, it makes no sense to me that you
installed XP Pro on day 1 say, and then used a Restore Point (of ANY kind)
to get back data from a date BEFORE day 1. Either you are mistaken or I am
misunderstanding, because installing the XP Pro upgrade would have done at
least a full format of the hard drive. Data on a different physical hard
drive wouldn't have been touched, but anything on the C drive you installed
XP to will have been completely erased and lost forever on that drive.

What do you mean by:
"When

system restore performed the backup on the user directories ... "?

Please explain exactly how you did that or know that's what happened. If
you mean you manually set an XP Pro Restore Point, then no, it didn't back
up anything but the XP System Settings (registry basically). It didn't back
up any of your data.

I have a feeling the final answer is that your files are gone for good, but
.... that depends on whether I'm guessing correctly about what you meant and
what you did.

Try to be very specific in your response and fully describe exactly what
you did, the order you did it in, and how you did it; anything that might be
useful. It's better to provide too much information than too little. If
nothing else, the lingo should become a little clearer maybe. <g>

Regards,

Pop`