Restore

[thesarge]

I did a system recovery on my Compaq Presario, now I want to do a restore using my registry. Will this restore all my program setting to the latest date listed. Also what if a date that is the latest has less bytes then the next earlist? Which one should I use, the byte size does not matter?

[haapy]

I did a system recovery on my Compaq Presario, now I want to do a restore using my registry. Will this restore all my program setting to the latest date listed. Also what if a date that is the latest has less bytes then the next earlist? Which one should I use, the byte size does not matter?

What exactly do you mean by "System Recovery"? Did you do a Windows Repair from the Windows CD? Or did you go back to a prior Restore Point using System Restore? Or are you using a manufacturers System Recovey process?

What exactly do you mean by "restore using my Registry"? A manual restore of a previously backed up registry or using System Restore?

If you are talking about using System Restore, going back to a prior time will put your registry and system settings as they were as of that day. You will have to do such tasks as windows updates again. Programs that were added after that date may have to be reloaded.

If you are talking about a manufacturers System Recovery, you shouold read their documentation, but I believe that that process usually puts the system back to how you bought it.

Byte size doesn't matter, dates do.

[thesarge]

"What exactly do you mean by "System Recovery"? Did you do a Windows Repair from the Windows CD? Or did you go back to a prior Restore Point using System Restore? Or are you using a manufacturers System Recovey process?"
I have a compaq Presario and I did an F10 from the DOS window so I guess that was a manufacatures System Recovery. I see all my list of programs, but I cant access them. The only one that is working with address book is yahoo mail. My Outlook Express address book and messages I cant find.
I can do a search and I find most of jpegs, gifs,etc but not the programs like corel or infra etc. My OS is XP.
"If you are talking about using System Restore, going back to a prior time will put your registry and system settings as they were as of that day. You will have to do such tasks as windows updates again. Programs that were added after that date may have to be reloaded."
I'm talking about using Registry Mechanic and the latest date is 10/04/2009, so if I choose that date it would bring back my system as it was on that date.
All the programs that was working on that date will be working again, right??

[haapy]

That all depends on how the Compaq System Recovery process works. You should check the documentation. I believe that it will either work like a Windows Recovery from the Windows cd, that is, leave all the programs and files intact, but just repair Windows, or put the PC back to how you bought it, in which case you need to reload everything

If your programs are there in c:\program files there is hope.

Restoring from Registry Mechanic will only restore your registry to a given date, it will not restore programs or files. So give it a go and hope for the best, you can always try another date.

As something for future consideration, you should think about an image backup program like Macrium free and a data backup program like GFI free. excellent products.

[thesarge]

I see a couple of programs on cnet that recovers your data from hard drive, these programs also recover from formated drives. Do you know about these programs and if yes do they work and do you know of one that really works???

[haapy]

Yes, The one that have used with success is File Scavenger from QueTek. $49.00.

I have had it for a couple of years now and I am sure that there are other products out there. Best to do some research.

[haapy]

Check this out as well.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-data-recovery-file-undelete-utility.htm

Also PCTools has a File Recovery tool.

[thesarge]

Check this out as well.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-data-recovery-file-undelete-utility.htm

Also PCTools has a File Recovery tool.

I downloaded Recuva from the link you suggested, it tells me not to save recovered files to my hard drive because I might overwrite files that are already there and it will not be as successful. Now I'm trying to pick the files I think I might need which for me is not easy, because I'm not a pro and don't understand some of the extentions. One of many questions I have is when I see "No overwriten clusters detected" does that mean its a good active file and I should leave it alone? And what type of file should I look for to recover.

[haapy]

That is correct. Then only chance of recovering files is before you do too much else.

Save them to a flash or external USB HD if you can, then transfer later.

I do not really know what you are trying to accomplish. Are you trying to recover missing data files or trying to repair your system?

Common data file extensions are XLS, DOC, JPG, but there are many more.

Here is a site to help you with that>
http://filext.com/

"No overwriten clusters detected" means that the file is recoverable.