Restoring deleted files

My PC became infected with surfsidekick 3 and other malware. I don't know if my Norton anti-virus somehow got turned off or what. However, that is not my main concern right now.

I used Spybot, CWShredder, and the Ewido Security Suite to remove the malware. While in Safe Mode, I deleted some icons on my desktop. I didn't realize one of those icons was not just a shortcut, but was an actual application, Treepadbiz, with several databases I had created over the past four years. I then used CCleaner to cleanse the system.

When I later went to open Treepad, I realized I had deleted the app and all its files. I tried using Norton go-back but apparently CCleaner also deleted and system restore points.

I have tried a product called Restoration to find the deleted Treepad files but with no luck.

Did CCleaner do such a good job that I will not be able to restore the files it deleted? This is four years of work with very little old backups to fall back upon.

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

Jim in Vegas--I doubt this will help, but as a last resort, you could try a System Restore to a date before the file deletions. Of course that could (will) restore the stuff you did not want, as well.

I assume you have looked in the Recycle Bin.

 

Its not clear from your post whether System Resore's restore points were deleted as well. Its also my understanding that GoBack shuts SR off, if true, there never were any restore points.

I'm not familiar with CC, but the cleaners I've seen in action either by defualt or option "clean" System Restore points and the files they clean do not go to the Recycle Bin.

If it didn't, the program and some of it's files - .exe and .dll - .pdf should be recoverable, but not .txt, .doc or media files ie, .jpg - .bmp

If anyone else runs into this: Using SR, restore to the pre deletion, copy the files to removable media, then undo the restoration. This works best in recovering System files - all system files are monitored by SR.

Regards - Charles

 

CCleaner will save a backup copy and I don't remember if it is turned on automatically or you have to do it manually when you run it the first time.