Thread: PC Restore Help

I made a .mig file for a work pc (xp) and I migrated the file over to a new Windows 7 pc. There were some files that did not transfer. Well my brother wiped the old drive on the XP machine a day before I realized I needed something from that PC. So I am at the old pc with XP and a clean drive. I plugged in the external HD and I see the .mig file, but I cannot get it to open the file.
I do not know if I can even restore the file on an XP. Can someone help me? Can I possibly restore the old drive even though it was clean.

Thanks

And for your viewing pleasure.

First, stop doing anything with that wiped drive. Don't install anything, don't write anything, best would be not using it at all. Otherwise there's a chance that Windows will overwrite your files.

Second, restoring depends on what your brother used to wipe the drive. Standard Windows erase or format? Then there's a chance to get it back, Windows doesn't really erase the files themselves, just the index (or something like that ).
If he used a special erasing thingy that overwrites the files several times...nearly no chance of getting anything back.

Third, download and install a recovery program (not on the drive where the file was!) and try to get it back. I usually have a 50/50 chance of getting stuff back with PC Inspector File Recovery (PC Inspector File Recovery Freeware download and review - data recovery tool from SnapFiles), but there's tons of other programs out there.
If that doesn't work, I'd recommend going to the PC shop of your trust and try your luck there.

Hope this helps a bit .