Access data after system restore

[Bobsled]

My friend's laptop started to act funny after being redirected to a questionable site (most likely got a virus there). I wasn't there, but she tells me she did a system restore to the only restore point available and that was day one (when they bought the computer). Now she wants to try to access all her data (pictures, word files, quicken, etc.) but can't find them or get to them. I had her check the props on the HDD and it's a 100GB drive and 65GB are free. So, there are 35GBs of data on there. Is there anyway to access the data after performing system restore to day one with Windows XP??

Thanks

 

[QueBert]

if she used the restore feature built into XP, it never deletes pictures/mp3/doc type data only programs/drivers installed. If her data is missing it sounds like maybe she used te provided restore CD that DELL or whoever made the laptop includes. Those typically format/repartition the HD.

if the drives coming up with 35gb of data that's definitely way more than a stock XP install, even sounds more than a Dell load with all the bloatware/trial programs. Her data should still be in the same places it was before.

 

[Bobsled]

It's an HP. I have not seen the computer, we talked on the phone, but she sees the C: but nothing in My Documents or Pics, etc. Yeah, 35GBs is too big to be apps, just trying to figure out how to access it. I will must likely go and check it out in person. Any other tips?

 

[QueBert]

tell her to open up a search box and search for a file name she remembers, if she doesn't recall an exact name she could search for all documents and should see her files pop up and will show where they're at. If she did use the HP recovery CD those things wipe the HD's and restore the entire system back to a factory load.

 

[RebateMonger]

Actually, HP's System Restore offers an option to only re-install the System and not delete any data. I haven't found that feature very useful, since common spyware/virus contamination usually ends up being retained and you are forced to re-format the partition after all.

Most users store their data in the c:\Documents and Settings\ region, under their own User Name. If a new User account was created in the restoration process, the new account may not have access rights to existing data in "Documents and Settings". If you can't access certain folders, then that's likely the problem and can be easily fixed by taking Ownership of the troublesome folder(s) and giving appropriate access rights to the new User account(s).

 

[corkyg]

Windows System Restore basically only changes the registry to that on the available date indicated. It does nothing with data files, but if the links to those data files were done after the restoration date, the links would be gone.

The task then is to use Windows Explorer to find the files and re-establish the links. Once they are located, then it is easy to open them with the appropriate application.

But, if has been postulated, she restored using H-P's restoration disk, all would be lost. I see hope because that type of restoration does not involve a date.