What are the chances of using a program to recover a file lost in a format?

[PhaZe]

Alright, say you format, reinstall windows, and then remember. Crap! I forgot to save that one file! Have you ever tried to use one of those go back programs and try to look for it? IF so tell me how successful you were in doing so, and what program?
Thanks!

 

[ZZZZZZ]

They work if the sector has not been written to. Installing the OS has greatly reduced your chances but you have nothing to lose in trying