EMERGENCY! Lost "My Documents" folder in Win2k

[pancho619]

I lost the "My Documents" folder when I upgraded from WinME to Win2K....I completely forgot to backup the folder, and I figured that it would just move to the Win2K installation....I have 4 years worth of work in that folder....I need to retrieve it please. If anyone can help, e-mail me or post here. Thanks in advance.


pancho

 

[pancho619]

Still hoping someone can help. Please let me know. Thanks.


pancho

 

[gamingbuddy]

Hello,

Try going into My computer > C: drive (assuming that is where you installed win2k) > documents and settings > Look into each folder, starting with administrator, you username, all users. look in there for my documents..

Dont worry all your stuff should be there. Its just win2k puts them in differnt locations for each user.

 

[setaanbomb]

Ummm, did you do a search on your computer for any of your files? You may find one or two of them and then just copy the folder that you find them in.

 

[pancho619]

gamingbuddy and setaanbomb, I tried that already.....anything else I can do? Anyone? Thanks.


pancho

 

[Looney]

Well, stop using that HDD for one thing.

Try using Norton to recover it, but you might have to bring it to a data recovery place, and they charge A LOT... i knew somebody that lost an thesis, and spent $400 Cdn to get it recovered.

I don't know, you might be SOL if it's been deleted and the sectors have been overwritten already (though it's possible, will require professional recovery though).

 

[pancho619]

Damn....that totally sucks. I tried Norton Unerase....and I couldn't find any of my files in there. Although, I'm hoping that there is still a chance. Last thursday I made a copy of my drive to install into a computer I built for a friend. I remember deleting the files on that computer as well, but that computer hasn't been used yet, I'm hoping that when I go check it out today, all of my files will be in the Recycle Bin or in Norton UnErase....[crossing fingers]. Wish me luck guys, like I said....this is 4 years worth of writing that I need. Thanks for all the help.


pancho

 

[gamingbuddy]

hey, i wish you the best of luck.

You can also tray using lost and found, in which I have had good success with.

 

[gamingbuddy]

btw, when you say you upgraded, did you do an upgrade installation in which you keep all your programs and settings or did you do a clean install upgrade, in which it wipes out the partition that you are installing it on?

if you did the latter, then your files will probably be gone as win2k overwrites whatever was in that partition.

 

[pancho619]

I did an upgrade which was supposed to only upgrade my OS and not my program files....that was fine...with the exception of a couple of appz that I had to reinstall.


pancho

 

[SUOrangeman]

Do a search for one file you know should be there. Chances are that things have been moved, but probably not erased. Use wilcards to your advantage.

-SUO

 

[UnixFreak]

Man, I feel for you, I have done similar things in my time, what I have found to be better than the find option, try going to the dos prompt, and type

cd /
dir (the name of your file) /s /p
use wildcards as much as you can
*.doc
my*.doc
Myreport.*

etc.

best of luck.

 

[pancho619]

Thanks Unixfreak....I've just about tried everything and I'm ready to give up. Any last minute suggestions? Thanks guys for all the help.


pancho

 

[lowtech1]

You could try UnixFreak method in DOS, or Right Click your drives/partitions C: in Windows Explorer, or My Computer, then Find > my* , *ments.doc , or *.doc , etc...

 

[SUOrangeman]

Also, perform such a search as Administrator, who should have unrestricted access to ALL files. Normal users may not have such access.

-SUO