New Install - Lost Data

[Guest HuggieJ]

Long story, short -

After getting the NTLDR missing error, and trying many different repairs, I

decided to reinstall Win2k. As instructed, I made a different folder with

the name winnt2.

I've reloaded all the updates, etc. and got the system back to usable again,

but have lost all the user data that I had on the sytem.

My questions are:

1) did I truly lose the data, or is it on somewhere I just can't seem to

access?

2) can I access this data and move it into the new install

Sorry for the ignorance. I should have tried harder to repair the NTLDR

problem, but ran out of patience.

--

Regards,

HuggieJ

[Guest DL]

Re: New Install - Lost Data

 

They are likely in the Documents & Settings Folder grouping under origonal

users Folder name

PS You should have been able to do a repair installation, which would have

retained origonal data locations and apps

 

"HuggieJ" <johndoe@networks.com> wrote in message

news:54871A65-DCC5-4107-8924-0C67D55FC67B@microsoft.com...

> Long story, short -

> After getting the NTLDR missing error, and trying many different repairs,

> I

> decided to reinstall Win2k. As instructed, I made a different folder with

> the name winnt2.

> I've reloaded all the updates, etc. and got the system back to usable

> again,

> but have lost all the user data that I had on the sytem.

> My questions are:

> 1) did I truly lose the data, or is it on somewhere I just can't seem to

> access?

> 2) can I access this data and move it into the new install

> Sorry for the ignorance. I should have tried harder to repair the NTLDR

> problem, but ran out of patience.

> --

> Regards,

> HuggieJ

[Guest Dave Patrick]

Re: New Install - Lost Data

 

You can recover your data as DL mentions to removable media then do a clean

install.

 

To do a clean install, either boot the Windows 2000 install CD-Rom or setup

disks. The set of four install disks can be created from your Windows 2000

CD-Rom; change to the \bootdisk directory on the CD-Rom and execute

makeboot.exe (from dos) or makebt32.exe (from 32 bit) and follow the

prompts.

 

(Note: If your drive controller is not natively supported then you'll want

to boot the Windows 2000 install CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and very

important (at setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent drive

controller detection, and select S to specify additional drivers. Then later

you'll be prompted to insert the manufacturer supplied Windows 2000 driver

for your drive controller in drive "A")

 

Setup inspects your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to

install the Setup and driver files. When the Windows 2000 Professional

screen appears, press ENTER to set up Windows 2000 Professional.

 

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of

the license agreement and continue the installation.

 

When the Windows 2000 Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing

partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard

disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an

existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must

then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System

partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this

step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are deleted

press F3 to exit setup, (to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with

your new install) then restart the pc then when you get to this point in

setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a new

partition and specify the size (if required). Windows will by default use

all available space.

 

Be sure to apply SP4 and these two below to your new install before

connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)

http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/6/A/E6A04295-D2A8-40D0-A0C5-241BFECD095E/W2KSP4_EN.EXE

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

 

Then

 

Rollup 1 for Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?amp;displaylang=en&familyid=B54730CF-8850-4531-B52B-BF28B324C662&displaylang=en

 

 

 

 

 

--

 

Regards,

 

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.

Microsoft Certified Professional

Microsoft MVP [Windows]

http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

"HuggieJ" wrote:

> Long story, short -

> After getting the NTLDR missing error, and trying many different repairs,

> I

> decided to reinstall Win2k. As instructed, I made a different folder with

> the name winnt2.

> I've reloaded all the updates, etc. and got the system back to usable

> again,

> but have lost all the user data that I had on the sytem.

> My questions are:

> 1) did I truly lose the data, or is it on somewhere I just can't seem to

> access?

> 2) can I access this data and move it into the new install

> Sorry for the ignorance. I should have tried harder to repair the NTLDR

> problem, but ran out of patience.

> --

> Regards,

> HuggieJ

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: New Install - Lost Data

 

 

"HuggieJ" <johndoe@networks.com> wrote in message

news:54871A65-DCC5-4107-8924-0C67D55FC67B@microsoft.com...

> Long story, short -

> After getting the NTLDR missing error, and trying many different repairs,

> I

> decided to reinstall Win2k. As instructed, I made a different folder with

> the name winnt2.

> I've reloaded all the updates, etc. and got the system back to usable

> again,

> but have lost all the user data that I had on the sytem.

> My questions are:

> 1) did I truly lose the data, or is it on somewhere I just can't seem to

> access?

> 2) can I access this data and move it into the new install

> Sorry for the ignorance. I should have tried harder to repair the NTLDR

> problem, but ran out of patience.

> --

> Regards,

> HuggieJ

 

There is an overall issue here: Your backup strategy. Current

wisdom says that all important files must be backed up regularly

to an independent medium, e.g. once every week, and in

particular before any major maintenance is attempted. Furthermore,

a test recovery of some sample backup files must be carried out

once every so often. A 2.5" disk in an external USB case is a

low-cost but highly effective backup medium.

 

P.S. Make sure to include your EMail files in your backup and

test recovery scheme.

[Guest HuggieJ]

RE: New Install - Lost Data

 

Thank you for the direction. I will attempt to do what Mr. Patrick has

suggested. I hope it is not too late/too far gone.

 

I will also take what you said, Pegasus, to heart. I tend to get lulled

into the idea that nothing will happen.

--

Regards,

HuggieJ

 

 

"HuggieJ" wrote:

> Long story, short -

> After getting the NTLDR missing error, and trying many different repairs, I

> decided to reinstall Win2k. As instructed, I made a different folder with

> the name winnt2.

> I've reloaded all the updates, etc. and got the system back to usable again,

> but have lost all the user data that I had on the sytem.

> My questions are:

> 1) did I truly lose the data, or is it on somewhere I just can't seem to

> access?

> 2) can I access this data and move it into the new install

> Sorry for the ignorance. I should have tried harder to repair the NTLDR

> problem, but ran out of patience.

> --

> Regards,

> HuggieJ

[Guest philo]

Re: New Install - Lost Data

 

 

"HuggieJ" <johndoe@networks.com> wrote in message

news:594DD160-09B3-4462-94F0-E9B5A5DD33DE@microsoft.com...

> Thank you for the direction. I will attempt to do what Mr. Patrick has

> suggested. I hope it is not too late/too far gone.

>

> I will also take what you said, Pegasus, to heart. I tend to get lulled

> into the idea that nothing will happen.

>

 

 

You were given correct advice in that you should have performed a repair

install...

Anyway your data is still there under your previous profile...

you will probably have to take ownershop however.

 

it's covered in Windows help (or a Google search)

[Guest HuggieJ]

RE: New Install - Lost Data

 

I appreciate the advice, but I am not having any luck. The previous profile

is located on the system but none of the data is there. I have tried to show

hidden files, etc. Also I have found that the programs are gone, although

there are application files. I.E. when I click on the excel application, I

get an error message stating "This application must be installed to run.

Please run Setup from the location where you originally installed the

application."

 

Is it possible that I overwrote all the programs and data when I

re-installed Win2k? Obviously I can reinstall the software, but really hate

the idea that I lost all my data, pictures, music, etc. (I did of course

back-up critical information like our Quicken financials).

 

Help if you can. Thanks.

--

Regards,

HuggieJ

 

 

"HuggieJ" wrote:

> Long story, short -

> After getting the NTLDR missing error, and trying many different repairs, I

> decided to reinstall Win2k. As instructed, I made a different folder with

> the name winnt2.

> I've reloaded all the updates, etc. and got the system back to usable again,

> but have lost all the user data that I had on the sytem.

> My questions are:

> 1) did I truly lose the data, or is it on somewhere I just can't seem to

> access?

> 2) can I access this data and move it into the new install

> Sorry for the ignorance. I should have tried harder to repair the NTLDR

> problem, but ran out of patience.

> --

> Regards,

> HuggieJ

[Guest Dave Patrick]

Re: New Install - Lost Data

 

Unless you suffer from file system corruption and or disk failure then the

data files would be in the same locations. Yes the parallel install you

performed is like a new installation.

 

 

--

 

Regards,

 

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.

Microsoft Certified Professional

Microsoft MVP [Windows]

http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

"HuggieJ" wrote:

>I appreciate the advice, but I am not having any luck. The previous

>profile

> is located on the system but none of the data is there. I have tried to

> show

> hidden files, etc. Also I have found that the programs are gone, although

> there are application files. I.E. when I click on the excel application,

> I

> get an error message stating "This application must be installed to run.

> Please run Setup from the location where you originally installed the

> application."

>

> Is it possible that I overwrote all the programs and data when I

> re-installed Win2k? Obviously I can reinstall the software, but really

> hate

> the idea that I lost all my data, pictures, music, etc. (I did of course

> back-up critical information like our Quicken financials).

>

> Help if you can. Thanks.

> --

> Regards,

> HuggieJ

>

>

> "HuggieJ" wrote:

>

>> Long story, short -

>> After getting the NTLDR missing error, and trying many different repairs,

>> I

>> decided to reinstall Win2k. As instructed, I made a different folder

>> with

>> the name winnt2.

>> I've reloaded all the updates, etc. and got the system back to usable

>> again,

>> but have lost all the user data that I had on the sytem.

>> My questions are:

>> 1) did I truly lose the data, or is it on somewhere I just can't seem to

>> access?

>> 2) can I access this data and move it into the new install

>> Sorry for the ignorance. I should have tried harder to repair the NTLDR

>> problem, but ran out of patience.

>> --

>> Regards,

>> HuggieJ

[Guest philo]

Re: New Install - Lost Data

 

 

"HuggieJ" <johndoe@networks.com> wrote in message

news:4B32A8AE-D172-4DDF-9084-61722185B0BD@microsoft.com...

> I appreciate the advice, but I am not having any luck. The previous

profile

> is located on the system but none of the data is there. I have tried to

show

> hidden files, etc. Also I have found that the programs are gone, although

> there are application files. I.E. when I click on the excel application,

I

> get an error message stating "This application must be installed to run.

> Please run Setup from the location where you originally installed the

> application."

>

> Is it possible that I overwrote all the programs and data when I

> re-installed Win2k? Obviously I can reinstall the software, but really

hate

> the idea that I lost all my data, pictures, music, etc. (I did of course

> back-up critical information like our Quicken financials).

>

 

*Again*

what you need to do is take ownership of the folders within the previous

profile...

the approach you use cannot work

 

Since you did a parallel install rather than doing a repair install...

your apps MUST be reinstalled!