Ask A Geek

Q: I restored an image of my Windows XP operating system. The image was created in August, however, before restoring it, I had neglected to backup the My Documents folder. So I’m stuck with a version of My Documents that doesn’t include any modifications I had made to it during September. Is there anyway of recovering the overwritten data from September?

Not sure if “Stellar Phoenix Partition Recovery Software” or any other recovery software can accomplish this.

Q: I reset my computer to manufacture reset and now I have lost all my pictures. Is their any way I can get my pictures back?

Q: After having my computer about a year, just recently I cannot create a restore point. I get a message saying insufficient storage available to create either the shadow copy storage file or other shadow copy data (0×8004231F). I have 414 GB free of 453GB & 72.6 MB free of 12.1GB

Q: How do I reset my entire HP computer with Windows XP?

Q: I messed up my system pretty bad but some things I have fixed. What I did was deleted files using System Mechanic by IOLO and I deleted duplicate files figuring that if they are duplicates what could it hurt. The program warned me to check each one thoroughly but did I listen – of course not. I can’t do a system restore and programs aren’t closing properly.

What I would like to know is if I should do an in-place upgrade/repair or use the discs I created at startup when I bought the computer. If the in-place upgrade is better where is the website and if the discs I have will work how do I use them. I would greatly and I do mean greatly appreciate it if someone can answer this question for me.

Q: I have a Gateway laptop with Vista. I have been trying to restore it back to factory with the operating system disc. When I start it tells me it is loading files and then goes to black screen and that’s it. Could you please help?

Q: How do I reformat my Dell computer?

A: Dell actually has a great support page that covers How To Restore or Reinstall Microsoft® Windows® on a Dell™ Computer. We suggest you follow their directions as they very good directions.

Q: I downloaded registry mechanic and was trying to save used space. At the same time there was a windows update going on and it would say stage 3 of 3 and continue to restart but wouldn’t finish update afterwards. I had to system restore and now I can’t access my downloads from when when I downloaded registry mechanic. What can I do to get access to registry mechanic again?

A: There are two system restores. One is built into Windows XP that takes snapshots of the system before installing drivers, applications, and other things that might mess up Windows. The other is when you restore your system back to the factory default with the restore disk that comes with your computer.

If you did a Windows XP system restore then your downloads, pictures, emails, and other files should not have been touched. The fact that the download is now gone means you probably did the restore that sets you back to the factory defaults and that all your files are gone. If that is the case then you will  need to download the file again.

Q: Recently my mother had all of her files transferred from one laptop to another. The old laptop, which I am currently using, is a Compaq Presario V5000. I cannot access the desktop or do anything so I wish to restore all the settings. How do I restore my computer without the restore disks?

Q: I have an HP MINI 1115 NR that came with Windows XP service pack 3. I compressed my files and the bootmgr got compressed as well. I ended up downloading HP’s MIE Recovery Image and used the USB to boot up. Now I’m running on MIE and from what I can tell it’s linux and I need my Windows XP back! How do I change back? I’m linux illiterate and need windows components for school.