Windows 8 Reinstall Lost Documents

[theboyrob]

I've just had a machine that we couldn't get logged into Windows 8.1 (Microsoft Account) as they USB drivers had messed up, System Restore wouldn't work so we've reinstalled it. As with older versions of Windows I reinstalled the machine without formatting and it told me if would move all documents, settings and programs to the 'Windows.Old' folder.

Its reinstalled fine, and has created a 'Windows.Old' folder, with a 'Users' folder. But in the users folder one of the old accounts is missing (there were two Microsoft accounts setup) and the other one which is present doesn't have a Documents, Pictures or Music folder in. Checking the Program Files folder in Windows.Old thats only got the basic programs in and is missing the majority of the old ones that were installed.

Has Windows messed it up or am I missing something?

Thanks!

 

[KIA]

Always take a full backup (Macrium Reflect, etc) before reinstalling Windows.

 

[jh30uk]

I've just had a machine that we couldn't get logged into Windows 8.1 (Microsoft Account) as they USB drivers had messed up, System Restore wouldn't work so we've reinstalled it. As with older versions of Windows I reinstalled the machine without formatting and it told me if would move all documents, settings and programs to the 'Windows.Old' folder.

Its reinstalled fine, and has created a 'Windows.Old' folder, with a 'Users' folder. But in the users folder one of the old accounts is missing (there were two Microsoft accounts setup) and the other one which is present doesn't have a Documents, Pictures or Music folder in. Checking the Program Files folder in Windows.Old thats only got the basic programs in and is missing the majority of the old ones that were installed.

Has Windows messed it up or am I missing something?


Without using OneDrive or anything when my SSD died and I fitted a new one and cleaned installed 8.1 I was about to copy over all my backup and seen my FAV/PICS/DOC's were already there.

I assumed it came from MS servers.
Thanks!

 

[jh30uk]

I've just had a machine that we couldn't get logged into Windows 8.1 (Microsoft Account) as they USB drivers had messed up, System Restore wouldn't work so we've reinstalled it. As with older versions of Windows I reinstalled the machine without formatting and it told me if would move all documents, settings and programs to the 'Windows.Old' folder.

Its reinstalled fine, and has created a 'Windows.Old' folder, with a 'Users' folder. But in the users folder one of the old accounts is missing (there were two Microsoft accounts setup) and the other one which is present doesn't have a Documents, Pictures or Music folder in. Checking the Program Files folder in Windows.Old thats only got the basic programs in and is missing the majority of the old ones that were installed.

Has Windows messed it up or am I missing something?

Thanks!

Without using OneDrive or anything when my SSD died and I fitted a new one and cleaned installed 8.1, I was about to copy over all my backup and seen my FAV/PICS/DOC's were already there.

I assumed it came from MS servers and even the order I had set my FAV's in was correct.