In any case like this they MUST stop using that computer immediately and DO NOT install any utilities ON THAT hard drive to try any repairs. I was playing with a bootable NortonSystemWorks2000 last night, and one of the emergency boot screen selections was unformat... Being run off the CD, this is a safe way to do it. I am sure there are other ways and programs... I just buy a lot of Norton stuff. It is NOT done this way on the NSW2001ProCD so do not get that version for this... If it is a FAT32 drive, be sure to use a program "new enough" to recognize that file system (or what-ever file system it is/was)... Rick Glazier ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mick Fitzpatrick" <[log in to unmask]> > A friend of mine has recently formatted his hardrive > > Then to his shock horror he has realised that there was a big folder in 'My > Documents' he did not save/back up prior to the format. > > Is there anyway to retieve these files ... or is that the end of them? Curious about the people moderating your messages? Visit our staff web site: http://freepctech.com/staff.shtml