n2gc

I have this Optiplex GX270 with XP Pro SP3 installed. The unit slowed down a LOT and was searching for the Control Panel setup, etc. It was a mess. I found some bugs via HiJackThis and was extremely careful with deleting files. I ended up getting the unit to run pretty fast considering it was missing MUI files and I couldn't download 1.1Framework as a window would pop up with "Windows Installer" not correct, framework could not be installed. I didn't have a CD and come to fid out something went wrong with the BIOS as it couldn't locate the DVD/CD media devise. I couldn't load anything to the hard drive unless I went through the internet and downloaded things from there. So here's where I screw up. There were a LOT of files on the drive. Important files, [to me]. I wanted to get the unit right again. So I took the hard drive out of this Optiplex and installed in another PC I have that uses IDE. I also located an XP Home CD. I set the BIOS to boot from the CD drive in this unit, booted up and the blue setup screen came up installing items from this XP Home CD. It finally goes to the screen > 1. Do you want to go to setup : ENTER. 2. Do you want to repair C: Drive : R 3. I've forgotten what was posted. I hit R and a screen came up asking me for the Admin's password. I didn't know it. It exited and started all over again. This time I believe I really blew it and hit ENTER and it started a fresh install of XP home. It partitioned and formatted and next thing I know I now have this fresh XP Home install, no working CD and worse, NO files left over from the previous XP Pro setup. My question is, really hope is, can I get the old files back that were on the HD or am I officially scr*wed and have lost all..? Before anyone says it, yes I messed up and yes I'm hearing about it here at the house. Thanks for reading my tale and thanks for any help or advise. n2gc

I'm new and have a mess going on with a certain PC. So I am in hopes that I can resolve the issues using tips, how-to's and replies from folks here. Yet I'm afeared that this PC has managed to delete ALL files and I'm also afraid it's mostly my fault. We'll see. Anyway, HELLO !