Aaaaaarghhh!

[ColaBoy]

I've just had to reinstall XP cos it was going a bit crazy and when it finally finished I found all the folders I had on my desktop had gone.Is there anyway I can retrive these.When I used to reinstall Win 98 everything on the desktop remained the same but now everythings gone!! :S

[HeadRippa]

right click the desktop, goto "arrange icons by" and see if the "Show desktop icons" is checked. This hides your folders too, well it does on mine.

[teststrips]

XP is likely using a different desktop folder for you. Go to your boot drive \Documents and settings\ and browse through the user names there... you'll likely find the folders that are missing inside one of those folders

[ColaBoy]

Nope they have definately gone.I don't really understand it,I've had various versions of Windows and whenever I have reinstalled in the past everything on the desktop has remained intact,shortcuts,files everthing.

Oh well,you live and learn.Painfully at times!!! :S

[PCguy]

If during the installation process you selected new install instead of reinstall, this could happen. Otherwise, perhaps you are logged in as a different user than the user you had the folders under.

[teststrips]

may I suggest SmartSync Pro and a 2nd hard drive. SmartSync is a program that shedules backups of any folder you tell it to. It even works across the network. It won't back up WinXP itself or your programs, but those can be replaced... the term paper you wrote last week would be much more difficult.

[ColaBoy]

DOH!!!!!!!!! What a fool!.In my state of shear panic I did'nt check all my folders and infact I found them in C:\Documents and Settings/Owner.
Ah,a warm glow is now spreading across my body as is a huge smile.Thanks Bill Gates,I could kiss your privates I'm that happy!! ;)

[teststrips]

oh happy days are here again.....

glad you found them! I do still suggest coming up with a backup strategy that will work for you.

[ColaBoy]

I'll certainly backup a little more often from now on!!! ;)