[SOLVED] How to recover files from failed attempt to reinstall windows

cspj

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Sep 17, 2010
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I tried to reinstall windows on my HD that I will call “Hard Drive 1,” but something became corrupted and I had to use a backup HD (“Hard Drive 2”) to boot into an old windows installation. When I attempted the reinstall, I chose “keep my documents” setting. How can I access these documents now that I can see Hard Drive 1 in from Hard Drive 2’s windows installation? There don’t seem to be any files in the “users” folder. Did they get deleted somehow?
 
Solution
Remove the HDD from your system, have it in a dock and use an app like Recuva or TestDisk but please be forewarned, that your mileage can and will vary as to how much data can be retrieved.

cspj

Distinguished
Sep 17, 2010
48
0
18,540
Remove the HDD from your system, have it in a dock and use an app like Recuva or TestDisk but please be forewarned, that your mileage can and will vary as to how much data can be retrieved.

Ok, thank you for the information. It’s actually an m.2 SSD so I think I am just going to give up on recovering these files. Luckily not much important stuff was lost.