XP Pro with SP2 removed all my files and programs upon setup

[MBarone]

I just bought and installed XP Pro with SP2 this evening. I followed all
recommended installation procedures upon set up. After 2 hours upon
completion, my computer rebooted and I have apparently lost 5 years worth of
files and even the programs are gone. My desktop only shows the recycle bin
and when I ook for programs there is absolutley nothing on my hard drive but
XP Pro. When I look for programs absolutley nothing shows up.

Can anybody help????

Please email me at

[Randy Byrne [MVP]]

To be clear. Do you mean that you bought XP Pro w/SP2 Retail Full install CD?

This has all the symptoms are a clean install. When you say you followed all the
recommended procedures, what were they? Where you in a dos mode setup? Did it ask
for a new install or upgrade?

--

Randy Byrne
JAHP


"MBarone" > wrote in message
...
>I just bought and installed XP Pro with SP2 this evening. I followed all
> recommended installation procedures upon set up. After 2 hours upon
> completion, my computer rebooted and I have apparently lost 5 years worth of
> files and even the programs are gone. My desktop only shows the recycle bin
> and when I ook for programs there is absolutley nothing on my hard drive but
> XP Pro. When I look for programs absolutley nothing shows up.
>
> Can anybody help????
>
> Please email me at

[Richard Goh]

Sounds like you did a "clean install" which does wipe the disk, reformat and
then install.
There are some companies that can take your hard drive and recover files,
but they will be very-very expensive.
Now you know why we preach Backup-Backup-Backup you data to removable disks.
You can re-install your programs, but your files are gone.

"MBarone" > wrote in message
...
>I just bought and installed XP Pro with SP2 this evening. I followed all
> recommended installation procedures upon set up. After 2 hours upon
> completion, my computer rebooted and I have apparently lost 5 years worth
> of
> files and even the programs are gone. My desktop only shows the recycle
> bin
> and when I ook for programs there is absolutley nothing on my hard drive
> but
> XP Pro. When I look for programs absolutley nothing shows up.
>
> Can anybody help????
>
> Please email me at

[Ken Blake]

In ,
MBarone > typed:

>I just bought and installed XP Pro with SP2 this evening. I
>followed
> all recommended installation procedures upon set up. After 2
> hours
> upon completion, my computer rebooted and I have apparently
> lost 5
> years worth of files and even the programs are gone. My
> desktop only
> shows the recycle bin and when I ook for programs there is
> absolutley
> nothing on my hard drive but XP Pro. When I look for programs
> absolutley nothing shows up.
>
> Can anybody help????


It would appear that you chose the option to do a clean
installation, rather than an upgrade. If so, you're out of luck.
A clean installation begins by removing everything on the drive.

Did you have five years worth of files and no backup? I don't
want to wag my finger at you, but in the future, please realize
that regular backup of anything you can't afford to lose is
essential.


> Please email me at

Sorry, no E-mail support.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
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