File recovery

[netbuster]

Ok i know this was a stupid thing to do but here goes, my computer needed to be restored to its factory settings and i decided to backup my "program files" on my portable hd. I forgot to backup my favorites.(export from IE as HTML file)
Once my computer was restored and the files copied back across i deleted the files that the computer would have already (e.g. IE, Adobe.)
So i then realsied after deleting them that i had no favorites and hoped that they would be stored under internet explorer folder in my backup.... but of course i had deleted it. (yes i know i am a fool)
It is not in the recycle bin and the recoverer that comes with norton anti-virus 2003 does not seem to find anything that it could recover.
Any help would be greatly appreciated as my list of precious favorites have taken years of surfing to accumilate.
thanks in advance
regards, net_buster

 

[bcastner]

If you use an OEM "Recovery" disk it removes all partitions, recreates the original partitions, and formats the partitions.

The chance of recovering you lost folder after this has been done is very small to none.

There are some possible software recovery utilities discussed in this thread you could try: thread779-744465

 

[netbuster]

Thanks for the help but i am not sure if i have confused you or not, i backed up internet explorer on my usb hd but then deleted it.(dosent go to recycle bin.)
1) will my favorites be stored in the Ie folder.
2)If they are is it ossible i can recover them from my use hd.

 

[bcastner]

Favorites are stored in each user's profile.
They are not stored in the IE folder.

 

[netbuster]

So that basically means im screwed then.

 

[bcastner]

Basicly, yes.
The data recovery people can do some extraordinary things with a surface inspection of the hard disk platters, but you would also lose your hard disk drive in all likeliehood as part of the recovery.
It certainly would not be an inexpensive proposition.

 

[netbuster]

So its lose my favorites or trust some data recovery people and shell out a ton. Thanks for the advice but at the moment i cant be without my hd so looks like i might have to trwal back through the websites again.eh
cheers net_buster