help finding lost files

laven29 · #1 April 28th, 2003, 10:17 AM

Recently I downloaded a couple of PDF converter/typewriter programs and as result, all the files in my "My Documents" folder have either had their format changed to a PDF format, been changed to an "Error File", or have disappeared. I have downloaded several "Lost File Recovering" programs to restore the files that are missing, and none have worked. I have done the "System Restore" program that is in my Windows XP Help and Support folder which also didn't work. Basically I have tried everything I can think of to get these files back. My question is.....Are there any other methods I can go about to retrieve these lost files, or are they just gone forever?

cody580 · #2 April 28th, 2003, 01:19 PM

i just went to search and typed in pdf and it brought up all the pdf files on my computer
>cody

**Miz** · #3 May 11th, 2003, 04:44 PM

An interesting....and to you, I'm sure, frustrating...problem.

The ones that "had their format changed to pdf"...did the file extension change to pdf or did their icons just change to indicate they're pdf files? If it's the icon, they've lost their association. If that's the case, hold down the shift key and right click on any one of them, choose "Open With," choose the correct program for it, be sure to check "Always open with..." and click OK. That should open the file in the correct program as well as restore the association for all files of that type.

For the missing files...did you check in Tools>Folder Options>View tab to make sure "Show hidden files and folders" is checked? It's possible the software you installed changed that setting and once it got through screwing things up, the files in question were determined by Windows to be the sort that are supposed to be hidden.

I am unfamiliar with the "error file" file name. If you mean when you try to open them you get a message referring to "error...file is not....etc.," that just means it cannot be opened by that particular program. Restoring the file associations as described above should fix that problem.

I sure hope at least some of this has been helpful. Post back and let us know how things go.