All user programs migrated to a timestamped backup directory

[y2kats65]

Not sure what happened, all my user programs got migrated to a (timestamp_backup) backup directory. All backup files have a .inp file extension. In the backup directory, there are a couple of directories containing .xml files listing the path of my user programs and a status file showing the migration status. Now my PC only has the window 7 OS and the user data. All the user installed programs are gone. How can I undo the “migration”? Pls help.

[veeg]

Hello

Hopefully some of our members will chime in soon..

@Bruce @Rustys

[Bruce]

you have no idea what software did this?
what backup software is on your PC?
once that’s identified, there should be a corresponding Restore feature.
failing that, I’d be using the opportunity to reload my software I needed from the original source again.

so did Win7 get refreshed as well?
you still have your anti-virus program, printers, drivers for your video card, sound card etc loaded?

[y2kats65]

I found out from the Dell forum that a Dell recovery was started but got interrupted. As part of the recovery, all the user files are backed up into individual .inp files. Because the recovery process was interrupted, the backup files were never restored. Found out from the forum that Dell has an migrate restore utility that can be used to restore these files.

[Bruce]

that was lucky - well sort of - still need to know what/who started the Dell Recovery process.
was it user initiated or did Dell have some internal smarts, thought the hard drive was failing and did it itself?

[y2kats65]

I think it was started by the user accidentally.

[phillpower2]

Any update for us?

[y2kats65]

The utility did recover all the user files. Unfortunately, all the user installed programs are gone as the PC was refreshed with the factory image. Took many hours to do the windows update and reinstall user programs. This thread can be closed.

[phillpower2]

Thanks for the update and for concluding your thread (y)