XP install corrupted files

[bjwheeler]

I recently upgraded a HDD that I was using only for backups. The HDD was formated NTFS with no OS. I decided to make the backup HDD my primary and installed XP without reformatting. A majority of my files (non-OS) now are corrupt. Files such as images and Word documents. I was able to recover some of the data from a backup CD, but others I wasn't.

Is there a way to fix the corrupted files? Images just won't open anymore and the Word docs are recognized as Word docs.

[ANZAC_ELITE]

You just installed the operating system onto an already populated partition? You will probably find that your data is unrecoverable.

When you say the word documents are no longer recognisable as word docs anymore what extension do they display instead of .doc?

[bjwheeler]

Originally Posted by ANZAC_ELITE

You just installed the operating system onto an already populated partition? You will probably find that your data is unrecoverable.

When you say the word documents are no longer recognisable as word docs anymore what extension do they display instead of .doc?

All I meant was Word wouldn't open them anymore. All file names and associations are still valid.

Yes I did install the OS onto an already populated partition. I did not let XP reformat, I choose to leave the partition intact. I made the assumption that the OS install put fill in the "empty" sectors.

Bad idea I guess. :-)

[ANZAC_ELITE]

Yes mate, sorry to say it but that was a terrible call.

[bjwheeler]

Originally Posted by ANZAC_ELITE

Yes mate, sorry to say it but that was a terrible call.

I may still be able to recover some files of the old HDD. Thanks for the assistance.

[ANZAC_ELITE]

Plug your old hdd into your pc as slave drive then you should be able to recover your data