For sure you should immediately do the following:
- Copy files that are in documents and settings profiles to CD or DVD
- If possible buy or borrow a USB drive to make backups to as well. You can continue to use this drive to make future backups of your system. the USB drive should have more capacity than your current hard drive (preferably double)
- When you make the backups be sure you backup all the hidden and system files underneath the documents and settings directory. Go to folder options/View and be sure that you can see both hidden and system files before making your backup copies.
- You cannot make a new user with the same name to restore the files - that will just create another profile something like JDOE.{machinename} instead of JDOE. You CAN do that, but then you should login once as JDOE, logout, then login with a different account with admin privs (like the HP Administrative account) and COPY all the files (including hidden and system files) from JDOE to JDOE.{Machinename} (or whatever name the system gives the profile).
- You will need to re-install and re-authenticate your applications to access the files.
- DO NOT do a system restore, or other tool until you are SURE you have backups in at least 2 places of the files you CAN get to.
This will restore the files to their rightful place within the profile. Be sure to patch your machine again - as none of the windows or office patches you formerly downloaded will have been applied.
This will be a long and painful process, but no worse in most cases than installing a machine from scratch.
So - lesson learned, how do we prevent this in the future:
- Get a backup device large enough to hold 2x the capacity of your hard drive
- Get a copy of a good backup program - I'd suggest Norton Ghost as it does a great job of backup, and has a "restore anywhere" option
- Set up a rigorous schedule to backup your system based on how much data you can afford to lose (at least weekly)
- Your computer and everything it's attached to should be on a UPS - preferably an APC ups (www.apcc.com)
The rule of thumb I always use (after over 30 years of doing technical support) is BACKUP and FAIL - in THAT ORDER! Because the other direction is too painful to contemplate....
Cheers,
Lee