First off Garrett, it looks like the re-installation didn’t go smoothly and something got corrupted. Either way, you might face an uphill battle to get your stuff back.

Certain companies will claim to be able to get back files even after a format and this is indeed possible and you will probably pay big money for it. Its not something I do here. Alternatively, you could do it yourself if you find the right software of which there’s loads!

I used to use “GetDataBack” with varying results and for retrieving lost photos from memory sticks and the like, I use “PhotoRescue” which works quite well.

If you can’t get the stuff back I’d try re-installing again and make sure to do a full format of the main drive.

• Identities.
• Settings.
• Address Book.

The program also offers options to restore backed up details if required. Paid for versions with some more functionality are also available.

Wiping the system and re-installing windows xp is no big deal really but the most important aspect of the whole process is what you do before you wipe! First off, make sure you have a disc with the xp operating system on it, if you don’t you’ll have to buy one. You should have received one when you bought the pc.

Heres a list of things you must do before you format the hard drive to ensure you wont loose anything:

1. Backup all your personal files including everything in the ‘My Documents’ folder and elsewhere (desktop) to an external hard drive or some other media capable of holding lots of files.
2. Export and backup your emails, address book and email account settings.
3. Export and backup your Internet Browser Favorites/Bookmarks.
4. Backup your registry.
5. Export and backup settings form your favorite programs.
6. Locate driver discs for your pc and external hardware or download them from the web.
7. Make a note of xp and other software serials.

Next, restart your pc with the xp disc in and tap the F12 key to bring up the boot preference screen and choose ‘Boot from CD/DVD’. Let the pc boot from the xp disc and follow the prompts to install a fresh copy of xp on top of the existing one, making sure to format the C: drive when asked. The new installation will progress asking you some questions about your location, user accounts and xp keys.

When finished you will have a fresh, clean and fast copy of xp.

First thing to do is then is re-install your motherboard and external hardware drivers so everything connected to the pc works again. Next, re-install all your software either from disc or download, downloading both drivers and software is a good way of getting the latest versions of everything.

Copy your backed up files from your backup media to their original location in My Documents etc.. Import your program settings back to your programs to have them run just as before.

Took me about a day to do it recently but it depends how organized you are and how much stuff you’ve got to backup and restore but its worth it!

These days theres a web site for everything, you name it! Theres a term bandied about called SAAS which stands for Software as a Service which partly refers to modern hi-tech sites which offer the same kind of functionality as traditional Desktop programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel etc..

The ideas is you sign up with the site for free or a very small amount and you can create word documents online same as offline . The relevant point is that everything you create exists online so you can’t really loose it in the event of a computer failure. Backup is not necessary as the website will have its own backup policy. Theres also the added benefit of being able to access you documents wherever there is a browser and internet connection!

I personally use one or 2 of these websites including Google Docs for my word & Excel files and Zoho for my entire invoicing system. Theres sites out there to cover all areas though even including Photo Manipulation – see Photoshop Express!

Eventually I would hope to cut out the high cost of desktop software and not have anything to backup at all!

When to backup depends largely on what you use the pc for, how often you use it and how important your data is to you! For example, I use my pc for business almost solely so I’ve a lot of data on it relating to clients, invoices etc.. and loosing this would be bad! My data changes almost on a daily basis too so I really need to back up at the end of every day or as files actually change.

Backing up as you go is only really possible with advanced backup solutions such as Online backup using the likes of www.putplace.com which backs up your files to a secure online location immediately on save. You can’t get better than that! But if you can’t use online backup due to lack of broadband or whatever then you’ll have to do it manually.

The only real tip is, whenever you create or modify a file of any kind that you really couldn’t bare loosing then copy it to another location immediately. If theres data you’re not too pushed about or if you don’t use the pc for business then maybe once a week would be enough.

It always amazes me how few people backup any data on their pc whether they use it for business purposes or not. Everyone looses everything on their pc at least once in the pc’s life, its happened me a few times and the feeling is NOT good! Heres a few tips on how to do it in case not knowing how is the reason for the lack of backing up!

What to Backup?

• The My Documents folder – this should cover all your photos, music and documents.
• Browser Bookmarks/Favorites – Open Internet Explorer and go to ‘File – Import & Export’ and export your favorites to a file (save it to the my documents folder).
• Email and Email Accounts – Open Outlook Express and go to ‘File – Export’ then go to ‘Tools – Accounts’ and highlight each email account and click ‘Export’ on the right. Again, save any exported files to the my documents folder.
• Email Messages – In Outlook Express go to ‘Tools – Options – Maintenence – Store Folder’ and make a note of the location in the popup box. Go there and copy all contents of that folder to a new folder in your my documents.
• If you have any files on the desktop or anywhere else on the pc, move them to the my documents folder just to keep things tidy, then you only have to back up one place.
• Registry – Click ‘Start – Run’ and type ‘Regedit’ in the box then ‘OK’. In the Registry editor click ‘File – Export’ and save the backup in the (you guessed it!) my documents folder.

How to Backup?

• You need a device to backup to first off and if theres not a lot of data to backup you might get away with a blank CD or DVD. If theres a ton of data then you’ll need a second hard drive, either inside the PC or easier, an external hard drive which are available pretty cheaply these days. Make sure you buy one bigger than the size of your main PC drive so it can fit everything in.
• Once you sort out a backup device you simply drag the whole my documents folder to it and you’re done. Make sure to backup everything mentioned above first though.
• FREE software exists to automatically manage your backup onto an external device for you, my favorite is Karen’s Replicator. You simply tell it what to copy, where to copy to and how often and it handles everything.
• You might also like to try the new trend of backing up online which is the simplest and most secure method. Choose one of the many online backup services such as Putplace and all you have to do is tell it what you want to backup and it does it all automatically for you.