Question

Recover My Documents folder from a deleted user account

Asked by: SamuelClemmons

I deleted a user account without copying the My Documents folder. How can I get this folder back? There has to be a way, right?

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Asked On
2009-08-21 at 09:54:49ID24671967
Tags

windows user accounts

Topics

Microsoft Windows Operating Systems

,

Microsoft Operating Systems

Participating Experts
4
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500
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Answers

 

by: PriceDPosted on 2009-08-21 at 09:57:55ID: 25153653

Check in recycle of the user that you delete the "my documents" in if not.  you will have to use a program like RecoverMyFiles.  It is only 69.00 bucks and works great.

 

by: SamuelClemmonsPosted on 2009-08-21 at 10:01:15ID: 25153686

This account is the one that is installed during your set up of the system (installing the OS). It was an Administrator account. I had used it for a few days and then set up an account for myself and I think I deleted that account forgetting to copy the files I had saved in My Documents. Anyway at this point it is not there and I would like to recover that folder.

 

by: PriceDPosted on 2009-08-21 at 10:19:13ID: 25153831

if it is not inth recycle bin you will you need to use a program such as recovermyfiles.

http://www.recovermyfiles.com/

You can test it out for free and it will show you the files that it can retreve and it will show you the contents of the files as well.

But if you just delete the account the profile should still be there, check in the documents and setting and see if you can see the profile there, go into the profile and check the recycle bin.

 

by: SamuelClemmonsPosted on 2009-08-21 at 10:50:58ID: 25154133

Well, I did not delete the file. I changed the file profile and then I noticed that everything had changed and my files were no longer there. Are you saying these files would be in the recycle bin?

 

by: PriceDPosted on 2009-08-21 at 10:59:13ID: 25154222

No unless you delete them, in your orginal post I thought you said you deleted the files but it was just the account.  When you go to the documents and setting folder; do you see the user's profile, it will normally be the same name as the user name.

What version of windows are you using?

 

by: anil_kumar137Posted on 2009-08-21 at 11:09:19ID: 25154293

Use "Power data recovery" for recovering the data

 

by: SamuelClemmonsPosted on 2009-08-21 at 13:07:44ID: 25155342

I am using Windows XP. I never set up an account it was just the default Administrator account that comes up after you have installed the windows OS.

After having used that "Administrator" account for a while I changed the icon and required the use of a password. It was then that everything was gone.

What is "Power data recovery" ?


 

by: PriceDPosted on 2009-08-21 at 14:57:37ID: 25156224

power data recover is a program to retrieve deleted data.  http://www.powerdatarecovery.com/ similar to RecoverMydata.

 

by: PriceDPosted on 2009-08-21 at 14:59:32ID: 25156245

Do you have XP Home or XP Pro.

Also, have you tried to search for a file name.  One that you know that should be there?

 

by: SamuelClemmonsPosted on 2009-08-21 at 15:15:29ID: 25156361

I have XP Pro and it is an OEM.

No I have not tried to search for a file name that I know should be there but I will do that as soon as I get off work and return home as that is where the computer is that I have the problem with.

I did a search for "Power Data Recovery" and looked at the links to the other software.  I hope I don't have to spend the $69 or so dollars but I guess stupidity should have a price tag and that price is really a bargain when you consider the cost of your lost data.

I'm just a real penny pincher.


 

 

by: PriceDPosted on 2009-08-21 at 15:37:31ID: 25156482

Best off luck.

 

by: lewko2Posted on 2009-08-21 at 17:25:30ID: 25156895

I think this should be really easy since you did not delete the profile.

When you are logging in you see the Ducments and Settings folder but the files you put there using another account are not there.

Click on My Computer and open the  C: drive. You will see another Documents and Settings folder.
Open that and you will see folders for All Users, Default User and all the users who ever existed on that machine with that version of Windows. Open all of those folders and look in the Username's Documents folder for the files you want. Your old account is in one of those.

 

by: jcgriff2Posted on 2009-08-21 at 18:18:39ID: 25157048

Hi -

Are you sure the My Documents folder is really gone -- or is it that you cannot "see" it/ contents because of file permission settings?

Before spending any $$ on anything -- boot into SAFEMODE and log onto the Administrator account that will show itself at the logon screen.  Is this the account that you password-protected?

See if My Documents is present under all user accounts that you can view.

While logged onto that Admin account, bring up a command prompt.  Paste or type the commands in the code snippet box.  This will allow you to list the user names found on the system.  The 2nd command is WHERE and will list all DOC and TXT files on the c: drive.  I believe the WHERE cmd is found in XP Pro (apologies - I don't have access to XP Pro system right now).

Regards. . .

jcgriff2


2 COMMANDS BELOW - DIR = lists the usernames found in \D & S folder
- WHERE = list all DOC and TXT files on c: drive
 
dir "c:\documents and settings" /a > c:\u1.txt & start notepad c:\u1.txt
 
Also see if the WHERE command works in XP Pro.  This will look up all TXT and DOC files on the c: drive and open a notepad with the results  -
 
where /r c:\ *.doc *.txt > c:\w1.txt & start notepad c:\w1.txt

                                              
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by: SamuelClemmonsPosted on 2009-08-22 at 08:53:12ID: 31618954

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!! I am very happy to find them. I did not have that many files but I would have been a pain to recreate them. I also learned something as well. Thank you again!

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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