Recover Files From A Recover?

[JiggaWatt]

Can recovering "deleted" files, as a result of performing a factory recovery on an HP TouchSmart, be done? Say if you want to get some photos or documents left on the drive prior to doing the "do-over"? This system is using Vista Home.

Would booting into safe mode and messing with existing folder permissions/security reveal prior data? Would using media like a typical PE disc be a better option?

Is it even possible at all once the restore is done, overwriting the prior partition?

[Train]

Since the factory recovery nukes the drive, I would not expect anything can be found.

But once in a while, I have had some good luck.

Here are some excellent freeware file recovery programs, many of our members have had a good deal of success with them:

PC Inspector

Restoration

TestDisk

Recuva

I like Recuva myself.

[JiggaWatt]

Thanks Train. I will give those a once-over.