New Install - Lost Data

  • Thread starter Thread starter HuggieJ
  • Start date Start date
H

HuggieJ

Long story, short -
After getting the NTLDR missing error, and trying many different repairs, I
decided to reinstall Win2k. As instructed, I made a different folder with
the name winnt2.
I've reloaded all the updates, etc. and got the system back to usable again,
but have lost all the user data that I had on the sytem.
My questions are:
1) did I truly lose the data, or is it on somewhere I just can't seem to
access?
2) can I access this data and move it into the new install
Sorry for the ignorance. I should have tried harder to repair the NTLDR
problem, but ran out of patience.
 
They are likely in the Documents & Settings Folder grouping under origonal
users Folder name
PS You should have been able to do a repair installation, which would have
retained origonal data locations and apps
 
You can recover your data as DL mentions to removable media then do a clean
install.

To do a clean install, either boot the Windows 2000 install CD-Rom or setup
disks. The set of four install disks can be created from your Windows 2000
CD-Rom; change to the \bootdisk directory on the CD-Rom and execute
makeboot.exe (from dos) or makebt32.exe (from 32 bit) and follow the
prompts.

(Note: If your drive controller is not natively supported then you'll want
to boot the Windows 2000 install CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and very
important (at setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent drive
controller detection, and select S to specify additional drivers. Then later
you'll be prompted to insert the manufacturer supplied Windows 2000 driver
for your drive controller in drive "A")

Setup inspects your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to
install the Setup and driver files. When the Windows 2000 Professional
screen appears, press ENTER to set up Windows 2000 Professional.

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows 2000 Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an
existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must
then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System
partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this
step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are deleted
press F3 to exit setup, (to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with
your new install) then restart the pc then when you get to this point in
setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a new
partition and specify the size (if required). Windows will by default use
all available space.

Be sure to apply SP4 and these two below to your new install before
connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/6/A/E6A04295-D2A8-40D0-A0C5-241BFECD095E/W2KSP4_EN.EXE
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

Then

Rollup 1 for Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...CF-8850-4531-B52B-BF28B324C662&displaylang=en





--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
HuggieJ said:
Long story, short -
After getting the NTLDR missing error, and trying many different repairs,
I
decided to reinstall Win2k. As instructed, I made a different folder with
the name winnt2.
I've reloaded all the updates, etc. and got the system back to usable
again,
but have lost all the user data that I had on the sytem.
My questions are:
1) did I truly lose the data, or is it on somewhere I just can't seem to
access?
2) can I access this data and move it into the new install
Sorry for the ignorance. I should have tried harder to repair the NTLDR
problem, but ran out of patience.
Click to expand...

There is an overall issue here: Your backup strategy. Current
wisdom says that all important files must be backed up regularly
to an independent medium, e.g. once every week, and in
particular before any major maintenance is attempted. Furthermore,
a test recovery of some sample backup files must be carried out
once every so often. A 2.5" disk in an external USB case is a
low-cost but highly effective backup medium.

P.S. Make sure to include your EMail files in your backup and
test recovery scheme.
 
Thank you for the direction. I will attempt to do what Mr. Patrick has
suggested. I hope it is not too late/too far gone.

I will also take what you said, Pegasus, to heart. I tend to get lulled
into the idea that nothing will happen.
 
HuggieJ said:
Thank you for the direction. I will attempt to do what Mr. Patrick has
suggested. I hope it is not too late/too far gone.

I will also take what you said, Pegasus, to heart. I tend to get lulled
into the idea that nothing will happen.
Click to expand...


You were given correct advice in that you should have performed a repair
install...
Anyway your data is still there under your previous profile...
you will probably have to take ownershop however.

it's covered in Windows help (or a Google search)
 
I appreciate the advice, but I am not having any luck. The previous profile
is located on the system but none of the data is there. I have tried to show
hidden files, etc. Also I have found that the programs are gone, although
there are application files. I.E. when I click on the excel application, I
get an error message stating "This application must be installed to run.
Please run Setup from the location where you originally installed the
application."

Is it possible that I overwrote all the programs and data when I
re-installed Win2k? Obviously I can reinstall the software, but really hate
the idea that I lost all my data, pictures, music, etc. (I did of course
back-up critical information like our Quicken financials).

Help if you can. Thanks.
 
Unless you suffer from file system corruption and or disk failure then the
data files would be in the same locations. Yes the parallel install you
performed is like a new installation.


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
HuggieJ said:
I appreciate the advice, but I am not having any luck. The previous profile
is located on the system but none of the data is there. I have tried to show
hidden files, etc. Also I have found that the programs are gone, although
there are application files. I.E. when I click on the excel application, I
get an error message stating "This application must be installed to run.
Please run Setup from the location where you originally installed the
application."

Is it possible that I overwrote all the programs and data when I
re-installed Win2k? Obviously I can reinstall the software, but really hate
the idea that I lost all my data, pictures, music, etc. (I did of course
back-up critical information like our Quicken financials).
Click to expand...

*Again*
what you need to do is take ownership of the folders within the previous
profile...
the approach you use cannot work

Since you did a parallel install rather than doing a repair install...
your apps MUST be reinstalled!
 
Back
Top