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!

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!

A repair install, where you install XP over itself, doesn't touch your My
Documents folder. However, the install creates new user accounts. Your new
user account has to 'take ownership' of your old user account(s) to get to
their My Documents folders. It isn't hard to do:

"How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421/en-us

--
Ted Zieglar
"You can do it if you try."

"Alan" <Alan@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:7302048B-E0C8-470B-B6AF-501B0A351F21@microsoft.com...
> 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!