My files GONE!!!

[beginer]

Hey guys,
You know, I recovered my system(disc C:/) and, after realized that all my files(photos, music, documents) are gone(so down...)
Is there any way I can undo or recover those files. Or buying a recovery software is the best solution?
plz....
ps: my pc is NEC, Japanese version, vista ultumum 32 bits
Thanks,
beginer

[photolady]

If you used your computer's recovery disk, this is what would happen. Did you not read what using the recovery disk would do because it warns you that all your data will be erased if you use their disk or their recovery system.

[SuperSparks]

Here are some excellent freeware file recovery programs, many of our members have had a good deal of success with them:

PC Inspector

Restoration

TestDisk

Recuva

I like Recuva best.

[Welshjim]

SuperSparks--Fortunately, I have never used the "recovery" disk that came with the PC. From what I read, it said it would "restore" the hard drive to the condition it was in when it left the factory. Would the "undelete" programs you mention work in that case?

[Welshjim]

beginer--You did not happen to backup any of your personal data files somewhere?
That is something you should do in the future.

[dneilson]

Indeed, in fact the best thing to do is a complete Image backup.

[SuperSparks]

SuperSparks--Fortunately, I have never used the "recovery" disk that came with the PC. From what I read, it said it would "restore" the hard drive to the condition it was in when it left the factory. Would the "undelete" programs you mention work in that case?

If the files have been overwritten, then no. But all you can do is try and see what you can rescue, sometimes you get lucky. Not all files get overwritten, not least because hard drives have built-in "wear leveling" algorithms, which mean that they try not to keep accessing the same sectors.

[beginer]

If you used your computer's recovery disk, this is what would happen. Did you not read what using the recovery disk would do because it warns you that all your data will be erased if you use their disk or their recovery system.

Thank you for reply
Yeah, my problem is that I did not read the warning, before recovering it....
BUT, you know, I recovered my hard disk(C using a software R Studio(www.r-studio.com). However it restore all files in 3 FAT format file (4Gb each).
Is there my files inside those FAT files, if yes, where should I allocate in my present drive?

Thanks

[SuperSparks]

That doesn't make any sense, there is no such thing as a "FAT format file"

What is the file extension of those files?

[photolady]

Does he/she mean FAT32 file format?