Can I recover my files?

[Becky]

Our computer recently crashed, and we had to completely
reload Windows XP in order to get it working again. The
files that were on the computer before it went down
should be fine, but I can't find them on the hard drive.
Is there any way to get them back? Thanks for your help!

[Walter Clayton]

It depends on what happened during the reinstall.

If you had to format the drive, or if the OEM restore application formatted
the drive, then the data is gone.

Assuming the drive wasn't formatted, then there are two possibilities. One
is that you simply have to log in to the system with administrator rights,
take possession of the data and then alter permissions. The second passivity
is only applicable to Pro and involves data encryption. If this is the case,
the data is history unless you backed up the encryption certificates.

Regardless, the first thing is to determine if the data is present at all by
logging into the machine as "Administrator". If you don't see the data at
all, then it's gone as a result of reformatting the drive. If you find the
data, take possession and alter permissions. If you find the data and alter
permissions doesn't solve the problem then you encrypted the data and must
supply the encryption certificates in order to access the data.

--
Walter Clayton - MS MVP(WinXP)
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
http://www.dts-l.org
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/fileversion/default.asp


"Becky" > wrote in message
...
> Our computer recently crashed, and we had to completely
> reload Windows XP in order to get it working again. The
> files that were on the computer before it went down
> should be fine, but I can't find them on the hard drive.
> Is there any way to get them back? Thanks for your help!

[Walter Clayton]

It depends on what happened during the reinstall.

If you had to format the drive, or if the OEM restore application formatted
the drive, then the data is gone.

Assuming the drive wasn't formatted, then there are two possibilities. One
is that you simply have to log in to the system with administrator rights,
take possession of the data and then alter permissions. The second passivity
is only applicable to Pro and involves data encryption. If this is the case,
the data is history unless you backed up the encryption certificates.

Regardless, the first thing is to determine if the data is present at all by
logging into the machine as "Administrator". If you don't see the data at
all, then it's gone as a result of reformatting the drive. If you find the
data, take possession and alter permissions. If you find the data and alter
permissions doesn't solve the problem then you encrypted the data and must
supply the encryption certificates in order to access the data.

--
Walter Clayton - MS MVP(WinXP)
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
http://www.dts-l.org
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/fileversion/default.asp


"Becky" > wrote in message
...
> Our computer recently crashed, and we had to completely
> reload Windows XP in order to get it working again. The
> files that were on the computer before it went down
> should be fine, but I can't find them on the hard drive.
> Is there any way to get them back? Thanks for your help!

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

In addition to Walter's advice, if your drive wasn't completely formatted
during the reinstall, see Help and Support and search for "take ownership"

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=308421
--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Associate Expert
ExpertZone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Becky" > wrote in message
...
> Our computer recently crashed, and we had to completely
> reload Windows XP in order to get it working again. The
> files that were on the computer before it went down
> should be fine, but I can't find them on the hard drive.
> Is there any way to get them back? Thanks for your help!

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

In addition to Walter's advice, if your drive wasn't completely formatted
during the reinstall, see Help and Support and search for "take ownership"

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=308421
--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Associate Expert
ExpertZone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Becky" > wrote in message
...
> Our computer recently crashed, and we had to completely
> reload Windows XP in order to get it working again. The
> files that were on the computer before it went down
> should be fine, but I can't find them on the hard drive.
> Is there any way to get them back? Thanks for your help!