You might lose your critical files, which are stored in All Users folder, My Documents, settings, default program template, which are stored in Default User folder after repairing, reinstalling or upgrading to Microsoft Windows XP. You might find that the Start menu shortcuts are missing and Startup group items, music files, pictures, documents are not available, which are stored in Shared Documents folder. This behavior results into critical file loss and require hard drive recovery software to be sorted out.
This issue could take place after you carry out any of the below give actions on your computer, which has Microsoft Windows XP preinstalled by the computer manufacturer (also called OEM or Original Equipment Manufacturer):
You reinstall Microsoft Windows XP in same folder, by clicking the Upgrade (Recommended) ? after running Winnt32.exe, or by clicking Install Windows XP ? link on Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP ? screen, which appears when you insert Windows XP CD. It is also called as performance an in-place installation or in-place upgrade.
You repair Microsoft Windows XP by booting your computer from Windows XP CD, pressing Enter to set up Windows XP, then pressing R for repairing selected installation.
You upgrade Windows XP Home Edition installation, which was preinstalled by the computer manufacturer to retail version of the Windows XP professional.
Root of the problem
This issue could take place if Undo_uimode.txt file is available in WindowsSystem32 folder on your hard drive when you carry out any action, specified above. This file is created by the wizard, which runs when you start your computer with Microsoft Windows XP preinstalled by the computer manufacturer.
How to work sort out this problem
You can work around this issue by restoring your critical data and applications from the most recent backup. If the backup is either not available or it is not updated, then you need to carry out hard drive recovery
to get your lost files back.
It is the process of retrieving missing, lost or inaccessible files, which can not be accessed in normal way. Recovery is best possible through third party applications, known as File Recovery Software. These software are capable of thoroughly scanning the damaged hard drive and retrieve all of the lost data from it. These applications have interactive and simple graphical user interface to enable easy and quick recovery.
Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery is the most comprehensive and advanced tool to recover all sorts of files from FAT32, VFAT, NTFS and NTFS5 file system partitions. This File Recovery Software is designed for Microsoft Windows 7 RC1, Vista, 2003, XP and 2000.
Source: http://www.hicow.com/windows-xp/microsoft-windows/ntfs-639184.html
