can you restart windows 2000 from a previous date?

Question

My wife's work computer was tampered with over the weekend and she's lost alot of files including her work emails. Is there a startup method to return it to the way it was before the weekend?

Answer 1

You can use one of the freeware Linux, like Knoppix, Ubuntu, puppy, to retrieve your files. Unlike the full blown versions of Linux , The "Live" version use FAT32 which can read Windows files. If you have a NTFS partition some version (Like Puppy Linux) have NTFS plugin to allow them to access those file systems.
Use the Puppy Linux MultiSession version and you will be able to burn the files straight to the same disk Puppy sits on.
You can also try BartPE. It is only 6mb and you boot from the CD. This will give you limited access to most windows files.

Answer 2

I only used Windows 2000 for a very short time, so I hope this works. It works for WinXP. Do a system restore to a date before the computer was messed with by clicking on Start, Programs, Accessories, System tools and System Restore. The available dates are bolded and those are the only ones you can select. This will restore the settings and files that were there before the tampering. Next time, put a password lock on the computer.
Good Luck!

Well, I just read the previous postings, and this won't work, because Win2000 doesn't have this. I'm sorry, this is not a good answer!

Answer 3

Windows 2000 does not come with a System Restore like Windows XP does. If you did not have a third party software installed to do this, then the answer it no. You can, however, perform a repair install on Windows and you won't lose any files.

Answer 4

Not that I know of, unless it has some third party software like 'Go Back' installed. I personally partition my hard drive, and use the backup utility to schedule a backup to the empty partition now and again. Its all automatic that way. You can choose to backup the whole system or just selected areas and files. START > PROGRAMS > ACCESSORIES > SYSTEM TOOLS > BACKUP.