If I did a System Recovery could I restore some lost files?

[gilligan fanatic]

Just wondering because once again I goofed and accidentally deleted something I needed. I have got to start being more careful.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by gilligan fanatic

Just wondering because once again I goofed and accidentally deleted something I needed. I have got to start being more careful.

I had to do system recovery two times on my computer. It basically takes your computer back to the time you first got it. The way it came from the store. Although I don't lose my emails and other things like My Documents and so forth. System Recovery will also allow you to go back to a certain date, for example, let's say the document you lost was there on August 1, 2006, you can try and see if the system recovery will allow you to do that. The computer will ask how far back you want to go and you insert the date...if it's succesful, great. If not, it will tell you. Don't think once you start a system recovery you must go thru with it. It will ask you ARE YOU SURE, and so forth.

[gilligan fanatic]

I got this freeware called "PC Inspector File Recovery" and in 104 minutes it will be done searching. If I can't recover it from there I may do the system recovery to last night. I converted some of my tapes to DVD but I put them on my computer to edit the commercials out and touch them up a bit so I can get them back by converting them again, I just don't feel like doing it-lol I burned them to RW and already formatted them so I wouldn't have to keep using another disk, another stupid thing I did.

[Ireneparalegal]

Awww, I am sorry that happened. What a bummer. I hope you find what you are looking for. *keeping fingers crossed* Good Luck!

[gilligan fanatic]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Awww, I am sorry that happened. What a bummer. I hope you find what you are looking for. *keeping fingers crossed* Good Luck!

Its not the end of the world, I just feel really stupid because I did the same thing a few months ago

[robyrob]

so you deleted the files?

Windows System Restore will NOT bring back user files, basically it just backs up the Windows registry and key system files; it completely ignores all user files.

try not to move/install/delete any other files, the less changes you make to the hard drive, the better chance you have of getting it back.

if that recovery program doesnt work, look for other "undelete" programs, there are a few free or trial ones out there (although assuming this is a large video file, most free/trial programs wont recover LARGE files)

[gilligan fanatic]

Originally Posted by robyrob

so you deleted the files?

Windows System Restore will NOT bring back user files, basically it just backs up the Windows registry and key system files; it completely ignores all user files.

try not to move/install/delete any other files, the less changes you make to the hard drive, the better chance you have of getting it back.

if that recovery program doesnt work, look for other "undelete" programs, there are a few free or trial ones out there (although assuming this is a large video file, most free/trial programs wont recover LARGE files)

Yeah, I noticed that last time. A lot of them just look for the files but they won't recover them. I went through about 4 or 5 before I found this one. Lucky for me I kept it from last time.

[Penny Lane]

Windows XP has a backup file system. When you do a system recovery you have two options. Either you lose everything or you restore with your backup files reloaded. If this doesn't make sense wait for Robyrob to respond.

I also have a "thumb" drive in which a lot of my files are stored. I just insert it into my USB port and drag stuff back into my c drive.

[gilligan fanatic]

I ended up just covering them again, it ended up being easier