meganm1524
13th December 2008, 17:22
Hi,
This is my first time on this forum and I'm truly hoping to get some help on my recovery. I'm on day 3 of my recovery attempts since my computer basically crashed. (when i would turn it on, I got nothing but a black screen) This is my work computer, with my whole life on it, including all my emails, client lists, website files for hundreds of websites, (which I know, luckily I can retrieve those from the server), tons of spreadsheets, - You get the idea.
I'll try to explain to you what I have done to get to where I am now, which is that I used the program GetDataBack to retrieve most of my files, but many of them are not viewable. So basically, I started with the basics, using the Windows Repair Console to try and fix missing or corrupt files preventing my computer from working. I tried so many different things that I got to the point where I knew that I was going to have succumb to doing a clean install of Windows XP, against my better judgment. But before I did that, I tried to use Windows Vista to do a repair, which reformatted my HD, and I was left with nothing. Vista then saved all my files to 'windows.old'. I hated the Vista environment b/c I couldn't get any of my programs to work, and I have over 300 of them.
So I decided to switch back to XP, and did so using BART's PE (a version I created, The Ultimate Boot CD for Windows). I was able to get back most of my personal files this way, but no programs or settings. However, I still have the 'windows.old' folder, and I can see everything that I want is in that folder, through the recovery tree I made, but none of them are readable. The file and folder names are all the same as they used to be, but when opened they are in some sort of scrambled code.
I have Office reinstalled, and my internet is working as well. I also reinstalled SP2.
I was able to import my emails back into outlook using the .pst, but none of my settings carried over, and I had hundreds of rules and alerts. I've accepted that I most likely lost all my programs, and that's fine, I can replace those. But the files cannot be replaced and the fact that I can see them and not get to them is beyond frustrating.
I guess my main question I'm looking for help with is since I switched back to XP from Vista, how to view the files in the 'windows.old' folder the way they are intended to be viewed.
Also, if I used one recovery program, can I still try another one without damaging what I've already accomplished? I have access to 2 other PC's and 2 laptops to help me through this, and have been storing my changes to an external HD.
If you need clarification, please let me know, and ANY help or advice would more than greatly appreciated. I've literally been doing this for 3 days, and I feel like I'm almost there. This 'windows.old' folder is just causing too much trouble and I don't know what to do with it. Please, if you have any advice, I really need it.
Thanks so much in advance!
Desperately, Megan
This is my first time on this forum and I'm truly hoping to get some help on my recovery. I'm on day 3 of my recovery attempts since my computer basically crashed. (when i would turn it on, I got nothing but a black screen) This is my work computer, with my whole life on it, including all my emails, client lists, website files for hundreds of websites, (which I know, luckily I can retrieve those from the server), tons of spreadsheets, - You get the idea.
I'll try to explain to you what I have done to get to where I am now, which is that I used the program GetDataBack to retrieve most of my files, but many of them are not viewable. So basically, I started with the basics, using the Windows Repair Console to try and fix missing or corrupt files preventing my computer from working. I tried so many different things that I got to the point where I knew that I was going to have succumb to doing a clean install of Windows XP, against my better judgment. But before I did that, I tried to use Windows Vista to do a repair, which reformatted my HD, and I was left with nothing. Vista then saved all my files to 'windows.old'. I hated the Vista environment b/c I couldn't get any of my programs to work, and I have over 300 of them.
So I decided to switch back to XP, and did so using BART's PE (a version I created, The Ultimate Boot CD for Windows). I was able to get back most of my personal files this way, but no programs or settings. However, I still have the 'windows.old' folder, and I can see everything that I want is in that folder, through the recovery tree I made, but none of them are readable. The file and folder names are all the same as they used to be, but when opened they are in some sort of scrambled code.
I have Office reinstalled, and my internet is working as well. I also reinstalled SP2.
I was able to import my emails back into outlook using the .pst, but none of my settings carried over, and I had hundreds of rules and alerts. I've accepted that I most likely lost all my programs, and that's fine, I can replace those. But the files cannot be replaced and the fact that I can see them and not get to them is beyond frustrating.
I guess my main question I'm looking for help with is since I switched back to XP from Vista, how to view the files in the 'windows.old' folder the way they are intended to be viewed.
Also, if I used one recovery program, can I still try another one without damaging what I've already accomplished? I have access to 2 other PC's and 2 laptops to help me through this, and have been storing my changes to an external HD.
If you need clarification, please let me know, and ANY help or advice would more than greatly appreciated. I've literally been doing this for 3 days, and I feel like I'm almost there. This 'windows.old' folder is just causing too much trouble and I don't know what to do with it. Please, if you have any advice, I really need it.
Thanks so much in advance!
Desperately, Megan