Desktop files lost after Win2K reinstall: Are they recoverable?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Clueless in Seattle
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Clueless in Seattle

My Win2K system went haywire yesterday and finally in desperation I
resorted to reinstalling the OS.

I'm afraid I wasn't thinking very clearly by the time I made the
decision to reinstall Win2K and I didn't back up my desktop.

Now, of course, my desktop is virtually empty.

Is it possible to recover the files that I had on my old desktop or are
they lost forever?

Will in Seattle
a.k.a. "Clueless"

P.S. The irony of this is that the lost files contained instructions
on how to install my HP tape back-up drive. I've been so sick this
past winter that I didn't have the stamina to sit up at my computer to
try to figure out how to install the danged back-up system. And now,
because my desktop wasn't backed up, I've lost the instructions on how
to back it up!! Oh cruel fate!
 
Clueless in Seattle said:
My Win2K system went haywire yesterday and finally in desperation I
resorted to reinstalling the OS.

I'm afraid I wasn't thinking very clearly by the time I made the
decision to reinstall Win2K and I didn't back up my desktop.

Now, of course, my desktop is virtually empty.

Is it possible to recover the files that I had on my old desktop or are
they lost forever?

Will in Seattle
a.k.a. "Clueless"

P.S. The irony of this is that the lost files contained instructions
on how to install my HP tape back-up drive. I've been so sick this
past winter that I didn't have the stamina to sit up at my computer to
try to figure out how to install the danged back-up system. And now,
because my desktop wasn't backed up, I've lost the instructions on how
to back it up!! Oh cruel fate!
Click to expand...

Check what folders you have in c:\documents and settings. One
of them might contain your lost desktop. After finding your files,
start thinking about a regular backup process. A 2.5" disk in an
external USB case is a highly efficte low-cost backup medium.
Too many people defer buying one until ***after*** they have
lost all their important files.
 
Pegasus said:
Check what folders you have in c:\documents and settings. One
of them might contain your lost desktop.
Click to expand...

Thanks Pegasus. You nailed it! I found all my missing files and links
in the Desktop folder under:

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator

So, why don't they appear on my Win 2K "desktop"?

Or, I suppose I should be asking, "How can I get them to show up on my
desktop?" Can I just drag and drop them from that folder onto my
desktop?
After finding your files,
start thinking about a regular backup process. A 2.5" disk in an
external USB case is a highly efficte low-cost backup medium.
Too many people defer buying one until ***after*** they have
lost all their important files.
Click to expand...

I'm afraid "low-cost" is a relative term. I'm trying to get by on a
tiny disability pension that doesn't even cover my monthly expenses.
So I have to make do with other folks hand-me-down hardware.

I bought this HP tape drive back when I still had a job and it worked
fine under Windows 98. I used to use it to make a full back-up couple
of weeks or so, and an incremental back-up nearly every day.

But last year a friend gave me his old computer and now I'm running
Win 2K on it. And the drivers and software for the tape drive don't
work under Win 2K. I've been trying to get it working but this has
been a bad year for me healthwise and I've not been able to sit up long
enough to figure out how to make it run.

But now that I've found those files from my old desktop, I can try to
pick up where I left off. One of the files is a set of instructions
for making the HP drive work under Win 2K. The trouble is the
instructions are sort of hard for me to follow. But after this
experience I realize that I just have to stick with it and make it
work.

Thanks again for the help. You are a lifesaver!

Will in Seattle
a.k.a. "Clueless"
 
See below.

Clueless in Seattle said:
Thanks Pegasus. You nailed it! I found all my missing files and links
in the Desktop folder under:

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator

So, why don't they appear on my Win 2K "desktop"?
Click to expand...

Because you now use a profile folder other than "Administrator".
Or, I suppose I should be asking, "How can I get them to show up on my
desktop?" Can I just drag and drop them from that folder onto my
desktop?
Yes.


I'm afraid "low-cost" is a relative term. I'm trying to get by on a
tiny disability pension that doesn't even cover my monthly expenses.
So I have to make do with other folks hand-me-down hardware.
Click to expand...

"Safe computing" is a relative term too. You simply need to be
aware that you could lose all of your important PC files because
of some malfunction/disaster/theft etc. We see these cases every
day in newsgroups.

Ask your computer dealer for the price of an external USB
enclosure suitable for a standard 3.5" disk, and the price of
a second-hand 4 GByte hard disk. The enclosure should cost
around $30.00 and the disk maybe $10.00. You could even
try EBay - both items are readily available if you enter "hard
disk" as a search term.
I bought this HP tape drive back when I still had a job and it worked
fine under Windows 98. I used to use it to make a full back-up couple
of weeks or so, and an incremental back-up nearly every day.

But last year a friend gave me his old computer and now I'm running
Win 2K on it. And the drivers and software for the tape drive don't
work under Win 2K. I've been trying to get it working but this has
been a bad year for me healthwise and I've not been able to sit up long
enough to figure out how to make it run.
Click to expand...

Chances are that Win2000 recognises the tape drive, in which
case you simply need to run ntbackup.exe to back up your files.
Be aware that backing up to tape has several drawbacks:
- It is expensive (because the tapes keep wearing out).
- It is slow.
- It is not easy to use.
- The reliability is not great.
But now that I've found those files from my old desktop, I can try to
pick up where I left off. One of the files is a set of instructions
for making the HP drive work under Win 2K. The trouble is the
instructions are sort of hard for me to follow. But after this
experience I realize that I just have to stick with it and make it
work.

Thanks again for the help. You are a lifesaver!
Click to expand...

You're welcome.
 
Many thanks, Pegasus!

You've given me lots of valuable information and advice.

I'll definitely follow up on your suggestion of trying to find a USB
enclosure and used HD to replace this clunky old tape drive. I've got
a friend who is a computer packrat and he may already have what I need
buried in the piles of hardware stacked in his house :)

Now all I have to do is sort out this can of worms that my "users" have
become; so I hope you'll keep an eye out for my next post to this
group.

Thanks again for your generosity in sharing your time and expertise
with me.

I'd never be able to keep this old beater of a computer going were it
not for the kindness of folks like you.

Will in Seattle
a.k.a. "Clueless"
 
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