HELP...Lost whole client database at work

Chobra

I'm hoping someone can please help me, I work in an office and normally deal with technical issues with computers now and then. We were having problems today and the sytem would not load up, so we tried using Windows 2000 Pro boot disc in order to combat the problem.

After going through many screens and feeling I had combatted the problem, i had actually reinstalled the operating system and now cannot see any of the previous files including ALL the client database and accounting records.

Really dont know what to do and could do with any pointers/assistance on this issue.

Thanks in advance

Gadge_2

A few things first when you reinstalled the OS did it say it was "formatting" the drive and a yellow time bar took ages to go across the screen, if it did then it is not particulary good news,

If not, then you may have found that the files are on the machine. Carry out a search of the whole Hard drive using the *.xls and *.doc search parameters, this will show up all files with that file extension and yours may be in there, that will take a bit to work through

But If you "formatted" the drive then you are probably going to have to use a DATA RECOVERY SOFTWARE to hopefully drag the files back, and no guarantee that they will be there

http://www.recovermyfiles.com/

may be worth a shot, however getting a professional to recover after formatting can be pricey

if you know a geek locally who may be able to help, most geeks worth their salt should be carrying stuff like that on them, it could mean having to remove the hard drive and use another system to recover the files, looks like time to start calling in favours

Chobra

I dont recall seeing format as I would have gathered that would scrap the system(even though that has happened) and there was a bar and percentage going across the screen however I was certain this was the repair in action.

withabix

The obvious answer is to load the backup files, which as a business you will obviously have, right?

Gadge_2

I actually think that there is going to be a new member of the "always back your data up before you lose it" gang

it happens to us all, hopefully only the once!!!

However log in as the administrator have a good look around "documents and settings" and you may find another folder with the old user name in there containing the wanted files

it is all about options

Chobra

I can see each of the files although the systems that use them such as 'Sage' and 'Act' are not installed as well as Adobe etc. Will I be able to restore all systems or will it only be the files and start program installations from scratch as well as my wireless network details?

Thanks again

woo

i would copy all your files off and then reinstall the applications, if they are just data files the reinstall shouldn't overwrite them - but if it does just copy your backed up ones over again.

Chobra

The files have been backed up but not on a continuous basis (ie daily/weekly etc) however there was a month or two client updates on the system which have not been backed up during that time.

howalsh

Easy - blame the new guy!

woo

sorry - my post might not have been clear.
you can see the files with all the data in on the pc but applications aren't installed.
copy those latest files to different directories so you have a latest backup.
Then reinstall all the apps and your data should still be there, but if not you can copy the files back over from wherever you just copied them to.
does that make any more sense?

Chobra

im just realising this,have logged in as administrator and can see the previous users as well as the files etc. Only thing now is where to begin?

How also will i get the previous usernames back on to the system? Ive gathered its gonna be a long night ahead installing programmes and associating the appropriate files/databases with each program?