Major computer problem

[spittle8@]

Howdy. Recently, my Mother was uninstalling Norton Anti-virus on our computer, and upon restarting the computer, it said something about being unable to start windows due to missing a file or some such. This would suggest that the uninstallation of Norton removed some important Windows file, I imagine. We've had numerous anti-virus programs (all but Norton free) over the last couple years, if that matters.

While HP Recovery was going, there was some issue of a file being missing, if I remember correctly, an i386 cab. Retry did not work, so I clicked ignore, and eventually, everything had finished and the computer had restarted. However, things were wrong. While the hard drive shows the same amount of crap on it - only ~1 gig free, the My Music folder and My Picture folder are devoid of our stuff. Some programs are missing, and many programs don't run, and it seems that everything that is left doesn't uninstall. Everything else about the computer basically went back to factory defaults. I had to reinstall I.E. 7, and Windows installer, and all the system settings were reset.

Is there any way to get my files back? The hard drive says it's still full as it was before, yet I can't access anything. What could be the matter? A virus? An issue with uninstalling Norton? Are my files lost forever? If so, I've lost some very important information. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[PC eye]

When using the recovery disk to reinstall Windows that replaced all MS folders originally created. Which version of Windows is being used? The XP installer will delete the Program Files and DocumentsandSettings folders to see new ones. This is why the My Music and My Pictures folders will be found empty. The only possible file retrieval there would a data recovery software. A program like Active Undelete is just one of many titles for that.

Other files and folders besides protected archives like those found on a hidden partition for restoring the factory defaults and softwares included are protected from user access. Plus you now need full administrative access restored by creating a new administrator's account. Programs and drivers alike will also need reinstallation. The problem there is you needed a repair install not a full recovery to repair the original startup problems.

 

[spittle8@]

When using the recovery disk to reinstall Windows that replaced all MS folders originally created. Which version of Windows is being used? The XP installer will delete the Program Files and DocumentsandSettings folders to see new ones. This is why the My Music and My Pictures folders will be found empty. The only possible file retrieval there would a data recovery software. A program like Active Undelete is just one of many titles for that.

Other files and folders besides protected archives like those found on a hidden partition for restoring the factory defaults and softwares included are protected from user access. Plus you now need full administrative access restored by creating a new administrator's account. Programs and drivers alike will also need reinstallation. The problem there is you needed a repair install not a full recovery to repair the original startup problems.

XP SP2, I believe. Whatever was current circa ~December 2005.

In deleting those folders, does it preserve the files therein? I certainly haven't gained space to explain the deletion of those files, which leaves me hoping they can be recovered somewhere. I'm using Active Undelete now, thanks for that.

How do I get full administrative access? My current user title is "HP_Administrator", and under User Accounts, it says my user type to be "Administrator". This is good, yes?

Would it have been possible to do a repair install? If so, Mother screwed up royally

 

[PC eye]

One fast way to find out what files and folders are left intact on the drive is the use of a live for cd Linux distro like Knoppix or ubuntu. Know any Linux users around? They would most likely be able to locate what is left intact. To gain full adminstrative access you would have to create a new administrator account by a registry edit. A new DWORD value is needed in the "HKey_LocalMachine>Software>Microsoft>WIN NT>current version>special accounts>user list" section. The image here will make that easier to follow.



For ready reference at any time a direct link is http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/9449/newadministratorap2.jpg Once you drop the edit option from the menu bar you choose the new option and select DWORD from the list to create the new value. When that is made simply highlight it and again bring down the edit menu to choose the modify option and change the "0" to "1" and then click ok.

Upon choosing the logoff option you will see a new account named administrator right above the current user name icon there. But it will have a fresh desktop of it's own to deal with. The live Linux distros or a data recovery tool are still the better tools there.