8/20    I am retarded and chose the wrong partition when reinstalling XP.
        I see there are some inexpensive tools ($50) and insanely expensive
        tools (small used car) that promise to recover files.  I'd appreciate
        hearing about your success/failures with any of these tools. --gabriel
        \_ GetDataBack for NTFS is superb.  On the other hand you may want
           to consider booting a Knoppix CD, which has also worked for me.
           There are various Linux boot floppies or even Windows-based
           live-filesystem rescue disks (start at http://bootdisk.com) that will
           bring you further.  Alternately, if you have a friend who does
           computer forensics (don't laugh) ask him if he has a copy of
           Guidance EnCase you could borrow--this is pretty good, although
           it doesn't stack up to GetDataBack for things like blown away
           boot partitions, etc.  Mail me if you have specific problems. -John