Hi Alan :
Make sure you back up any CURRENT important data files before you try
anything else.
I have had success using the freeware from Germany that you can download
from http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/uk/welcome.htm - takes a long
time and nice if you know what file types you are looking for - but when all
else fails.....
(one of their packages also worked in recovering photos from a camera's SD
card which neither the camera nor a card reader thoughwas formatted any
longer !!)

Have fun ...
DaveJ

"Alan" wrote:

> I reinstalled XP home, following the 'Repair' option. This solved my
> underlying problem (a boot menu loop that wouldn't allow me to boot up in any
> mode), but wiped out all My Document data files. (Not data files that I had
> in directories on my C: root, though, so that's where I'm keeping my data
> from now on.) It maintained the Users and passwords, oddly enough.
>
> Of course, I hadn't backed up prior to the virus (or whatever it was). Nor
> was I able to save data files by using the DOS-like Recovery Console (I think
> that's what it's called).
>
> At this point, and here's the question, is there any way to find and restore
> those data files that were in My Documents? If you have software
> recommendations, freeware is preferred!