Add/remove program started to delete my program file

Laek · 02-15-2006, 01:56 PM

So today I was uninstalling NWN which I hadn't played in a year. At the end of the proccess it asked if I wanted to remove saved game files and I said yes. It then said these files were in a different folder and asked if I wanted to still delete them and I clicked yes. Then it started to delete every file in my Programs folder. As soon as I saw this I pulled the plug. I lost a few odd things like the norton .exe file, itunes, my logitech infterface being the major ones.

I'm using XP Pro but I'm no power user. Is there any way for me to do a system restore of some type? I don't have any type of stored back ups unless windows does it on its own. The system restore part of Xp doesn't seem to being anything as it just comes up with a white screen.

Laek · 02-16-2006, 08:52 AM

No one has any ideas on this? My pc is still working fine but few programs won't run. The strangest thing right now is that I can't get Windows Media player to work even after downloading it again. I get some little internal application error pop-up.

Drunkard · 02-16-2006, 09:55 AM

EDIT: I missed that you already tried system restore...

IF system restore is fucked...then you're fucked...

Format, reinstall, GG..

As one last ditch, painfully tedious effort, however...you can google "Undlete files" and get a freeware file rescue program. What that will mean, however, is going through ALL your directories, looking for the missing files, and then recovering them individually...

Ham n Cheese · 02-16-2006, 04:19 PM

Just backup what you need and reformat. Honestly it's the best thing to do at this point.

Laek · 02-16-2006, 06:16 PM

Yeah I decided I really need to start over with a clean hard drive. I also ordered XP Home since I've been using an illegal copy for awhile now. Does anyone know a site with a good guide on how to do this? I'm trying to figure out exactly what drivers I need to have on hand and I have no clue on how to format the HD.

Rune · 02-16-2006, 09:11 PM

I'm going to assume you're new to this, so just in case you have any doubts here's the whole process. Forgive me if this is overly pedantic.

Go into control panel, system, hardware tab, device manager or whatever (open up the trees) and write down your drivers , google and download those for all your basic shit if you don't have a set of all them handy. Usually though windows will be able to take care of you automatically if you bought your computer from a major manufacturer, but it never hurts.

Download those somewhere like on a USB key or CD, and aside from personal data you're good to go. (e.g. reinstall windows by putting in your cd, restarting the computer, loading from cd drive, formating old hard drive using the windows installer (NTFS), installing on fresh one, then loading up your drivers from said CD (cd is good in case you are fucked and it didn't load any USB drivers.

Try to get a hold of a copy of either a version of home w/ SP2 or just DLing Sp2 on your aforementioned cd so you aren't immediately fucked when you connect to the internet to patch up your copy of windows. I would also recommend a real firewall afterwards.

02-15-2006, 01:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Laek Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 548 -2 Internets	Add/remove program started to delete my program file So today I was uninstalling NWN which I hadn't played in a year. At the end of the proccess it asked if I wanted to remove saved game files and I said yes. It then said these files were in a different folder and asked if I wanted to still delete them and I clicked yes. Then it started to delete every file in my Programs folder. As soon as I saw this I pulled the plug. I lost a few odd things like the norton .exe file, itunes, my logitech infterface being the major ones. I'm using XP Pro but I'm no power user. Is there any way for me to do a system restore of some type? I don't have any type of stored back ups unless windows does it on its own. The system restore part of Xp doesn't seem to being anything as it just comes up with a white screen. Last edited by Laek : 02-15-2006 at 02:14 PM.

02-16-2006, 09:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
Drunkard Guinness refreshes the soul... Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The Backseat of an MRAP Posts: 261 +0 Internets	EDIT: I missed that you already tried system restore... IF system restore is fucked...then you're fucked... Format, reinstall, GG.. As one last ditch, painfully tedious effort, however...you can google "Undlete files" and get a freeware file rescue program. What that will mean, however, is going through ALL your directories, looking for the missing files, and then recovering them individually... __________________ Dean Martin, baby... LOL Galiemdruid Last edited by Drunkard : 02-16-2006 at 10:00 AM.

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02-16-2006, 08:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
Laek Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 548 -2 Internets	No one has any ideas on this? My pc is still working fine but few programs won't run. The strangest thing right now is that I can't get Windows Media player to work even after downloading it again. I get some little internal application error pop-up.

02-16-2006, 04:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ham n Cheese You can betray me Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Houston Posts: 8,926 +18 Internets	Just backup what you need and reformat. Honestly it's the best thing to do at this point.

02-16-2006, 06:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
Laek Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 548 -2 Internets	Yeah I decided I really need to start over with a clean hard drive. I also ordered XP Home since I've been using an illegal copy for awhile now. Does anyone know a site with a good guide on how to do this? I'm trying to figure out exactly what drivers I need to have on hand and I have no clue on how to format the HD.

02-16-2006, 09:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
Rune Bonafied Misanthrope Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: ATX Posts: 913 -1 Internets	I'm going to assume you're new to this, so just in case you have any doubts here's the whole process. Forgive me if this is overly pedantic. Go into control panel, system, hardware tab, device manager or whatever (open up the trees) and write down your drivers , google and download those for all your basic shit if you don't have a set of all them handy. Usually though windows will be able to take care of you automatically if you bought your computer from a major manufacturer, but it never hurts. Download those somewhere like on a USB key or CD, and aside from personal data you're good to go. (e.g. reinstall windows by putting in your cd, restarting the computer, loading from cd drive, formating old hard drive using the windows installer (NTFS), installing on fresh one, then loading up your drivers from said CD (cd is good in case you are fucked and it didn't load any USB drivers. Try to get a hold of a copy of either a version of home w/ SP2 or just DLing Sp2 on your aforementioned cd so you aren't immediately fucked when you connect to the internet to patch up your copy of windows. I would also recommend a real firewall afterwards.