Disappearing files after trashing & rebuilding

[bpurser]

So the PC was getting a bit sluggish, doubtless due to the crud my 15 yr old had downloaded despite strict instructions to the contrary, and I back up all my data, archive my emails (outlook 2K) and export my contacts....these last two (emails and contacts) I put 'safely' on my D drive, the rest went on CD's....

So I format the C drive, reinstall Win XP Pro, did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to the D drive, reinstall Office XP, set up outlook, go to import the archive and contacts (which was in a csv file), and they are GONE....searched everywhere, prayed to god I'd managed to screw up and leave them in my dox so they'd be on my CD's--nothing...installed Norton System works, had it look for any deleted files, nothing...weird thing is, other files I put to D (my favorites) were fine....even weirder, stuff I'd deleted prior to the re-format of C were still in the recycle on D....weird weird weird, and the wife is gonna freaking KILL me....

First, any thoughts on what happened? Second, and much more importantly, ANY hope at all of recovering this stuff???


HELP!!!

TIA--

Ben

 

[gpalmer711]

The only thing I can think you may be able to do is download some software like -

http://www.renewdata.com/free_software.html

When you format your harddrive it does not actually remove the files. When you have reinstalled windows and your other software it has overwritten the formatted files. If your old mailbox and contacts were on a part of the harddrive that you hvae not overwritten yet then you should be able to retreive the files.


Greg Palmer

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Any feed back is appreciated.

 

[bcastner]

Describe how you "archived" your email. The archive function is only to remove dated entries, so I am assuming that is not what you wanted.

And explain why they would be .csv type files. They should be .pst files.

 

[bpurser]

I used the basic Outlook archive process, under File, then set it to archive everything older than tomorrow...so it archived everything. Put this, archive.pst, and an exported contacts (contacts.csv) on the D drive, then reformatted the C drive, reinstalled windows, and can't figure out why files that were on D would have been affected AT ALL....it's entirely possible that I did something totally stupid, but I'm generally a bit smarter than THAT, anyway...

Thanks for your resp....
Ben

 

[bcastner]

I can see several ways in which the process may not have worked as you intended. See if this step-by-step rings any bells:

http://www.ecu.edu/exchange/autoarchive/autoarchive.asp

It seems perfectly possible to configure the Archive to delete all the entries.

 

[bpurser]

I used the Archive function under File, set it to archive everything older than tomorrow (ie, everything), browsed where to store it, set it to D:\Test\Archive.pst, then confirmed it was there (all 26 megs), then exported (under file, import/export) Contacts to same directory, Contacts.csv, again, confirmed existence.

Have done the same thing in previous 'rebuilds' and all worked fine--no clue what happened this time....

Thanks for your repply...

Ben

 

[bcastner]

Sounds right.

I do not like the notion the file "disappeared" after you confirmed its existence.

Let me research this.

 

[bcastner]

You are set to show all Hidden files and System files?

 

[bcastner]

By default XP will hide .pst files unless in Explorer, Tools, Folder Options, View you enable the ability to show hidden and system files. Uncheck as well to not show file extensions for known file types.

 

[bpurser]

Yep, I'm showing hidden and system files--tried rebooting from a boot disk, but it doesn't even want to recognize D, so I can't search the old fashioned way.

I also tried the data recovery tools from renewdata.com as suggested above....no dice.

is there potentially a file system issue? The C drive I did convert to NTFS, the D is FAT32, but other files I put out there (my favorites) came through unscathed...for full disclosure, I also lost my Agent.ini file, though I can get the reg key back from Forte easily enough.

Thanks for your help on this...

Ben

 

[bcastner]

Mixing NTFS and FAT32 should pose no problems.

I still have no good explanation for it acting this way. I worry slightly as the Folder name was d:\test, and I have my computer set to remove entries in all ?\temp and ?\test folders as part of a regular cleanup.

 

[bpurser]

Well, the folder (test) was still there, and the Favorites directory, which was in test, was also there....

I am stumped but good....

 

[Freestone]

If you booted from a diskette with an operating system that doesn't recognize NTFS, then your D drive would actually appear as C drive.

Did you try running chkdsk on D drive from within XP?

 

[bcastner]

I would look again at the drive with either Knoppix or the Ultimate Boot CD:

Knoppix
Discussion:

http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,7018905~root=winme~mode=flat

Download:

http://www.knoppix.net/get.php

Ultimate Boot CD

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

 

[linney]

Some other data recovery links. These are free to try (read only) to see if they are viable.

http://www.restorer2000.com

http://www.runtime.org/hints.htm

 

[bcastner]

My sympathies are more in line with linney on this deal. XP does not just delete or lose files.

There has to be a record, and hopefully a way to restore, the file unless extraordinary steps were taken.

 

[bpurser]

I will check out some of the other recovery options, and let you know...have a real slow dl site for knoppix working now...

Thanks again, folks, for the assist....

Ben

 

[pbxman]

do a search for your .csv files. I bet they never made it to drive D: since it would have defaulted to C:/ :
pbxman
Systems Administrator

Please let Tek-Tips members know their posts were helpful.

 

[bpurser]

Well, I've searched both HD's, with Win Explorer, Norton, and GetDataBack, to no avail--besides, I confirmed their existence on D when I created them....

Ben