Gateway 702GE system recovery NEED HELP!!

[littledigit]

So, here is the deal.. I had an external hard drive that I needed to clear some personal files off of before trashing. I used a common disc wipe program to clear it off what I didn't want on it, however once completed, there were still some files visible. I looked online for a product that I could purchase that would completely wipe the those chosen files away. I found one that noted it was specific to removing selected files from external drives so I bought it and began the download.. For some god awful reason when it finished downloading it began to wipe my actual computer with no prompting.

I am in a HUGE panic because this specific computer has ALL my work (seriously everything, old and new) on it, and if it is gone.. basically all evidence of my career for the last several years will be gone with it.

*hangs head in major agony*

At present, I cannot start my computer up to even to see what has been erased as this program began deleting my OS. For some frustrating reason, I also don't have the required disc recovery for my Gateway 702GE so I have ordered it from Gateway. I honestly dont know if I have the sanity at this point to wait 3 days to receive it.

Is there any way possible to immediately restore my computer, and if so, what are the chances of my files (and last 7 years of work) still being on there, or at the very least recoverable?

HEEEELLP!!!!

[Disk_Contented]

No backups? Done it myself so I won't judge you.

Ok, first off. The ultimate boot CD: http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ This has a crapload of tools that will help.
At least try to image your drive from it so if you realise an error, you have a backup. Your first priority, since so much is at stake.
Second, what did you download?

[littledigit]

I actually purchased the download which was called "wipedrive" by white canyon software. When it finished downloading, I began to install it. The install was taking lots of time because it was a suite rather than a single program, so I walked away for about 5 minutes. I didn't think this would be an issue because the details for this product had an entire section about how it had several security measures such as 3 verifications to click before it would begin to erase any selected data so situations like this would not likely arise.

When I glanced over at my computer I saw that the install had restarted my computer and just began automatically erasing my OS. My nerves are totally shot over this... Thanks for the advice!

[markmywords]

there are recovery cd torrent files online all over the place for different types of computers. There's one for gateway on several main torrent sites. I use uTorrent to download the files. You can get uTorrent here: http://www.download.com/uTorrent/300...-10528327.html

You can put it on a cd and boot from that. Let me know if this helps.

--M. Reed

[Disk_Contented]

The point is, are they legal?