Lost all my program files

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G

Guest

Had to reload windows XP, all of my programs are gone
however I have found the files and program in other
places on my pc but I don't know how to move them to my
reloaded xp program. Any ideas? I really hate to think
about starting all over. There is a lot of data still in
my files but not sure how to get them over to the
reloaded version of Windows XP.
 
If you did a new install of Windows over the old, you will have to
re-install all of your applications to assure that they are set up properly.
For example, many programs write entries to the Windows registry. Simply
moving the files to other directories, &c will cause system problems.

If you did a 'restore install', your programs are probably usable without
re-installing them. During the install from the CD, this choice is offered
after the install has initiated and while still in the 'blue screen' phase
(before Windows starts for the first time).

Data files, files you created using the various programs should have
remained untouched and usable. There are too many variations in the way
various programmes handle data files to give blanket suggestions. Please let
us know what applications you use and possibly someone can provide some
ideas.

By the way, I know this is a bit after-the-fact but, sometimes you can use
System Restore to avoid the necessity of a complete re-install of
Windows and applications.

Let us know
Tom
MSMVP
Windows Shell/User


: Had to reload windows XP, all of my programs are gone
: however I have found the files and program in other
: places on my pc but I don't know how to move them to my
: reloaded xp program. Any ideas? I really hate to think
: about starting all over. There is a lot of data still in
: my files but not sure how to get them over to the
: reloaded version of Windows XP.
 
What had happened was one of my main files got removed
causing my pc to crash. There was no way I could get
back into the pc it gave me a message that the file was
corrupt or missing. I tried to no avail to get into the
save mode hoping I could at least get to my nortons ghost
to restore the missing file as well as the system
restore. The system restore that I had never did work
since I brought the pc 4 years ago.
Most of the files like you mentioned are in tack however
there scatterd in folders. Some of the programs are very
important Tax Act, (IRS needs them), Norton System
Works, and my old E-mail address.
The problems with the two program are I down loaded them
so I do not have the Disk for them. And to make things
worse the registration data for both of these programs
were in my e-mail folder were as stupid me I did not
write them down so I have no proof on ever having the
programs.

Another concern is if I reinstall the programs from the
orginal disk. How do I get rid of the older prgrams that
are scatterd out in other folders just taking up space.

Not knowing what folder is good or bad this could cause
even more problems.

The information you gave me Tom was very helpful and I
guess I was afarid of that very thing happening when I
did a reinstall.

I could play with it or just give up and try and copy
what files I can salvage and save them on my cd and
completly reformat the the hard drive and start over from
begining 1.

However this would be my last choice.

Any help would be appreciated

Tom M
 
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