Lost my data last night

My last "out of range" recovery attempt caused me to lose some data.
I'm using a Compaq SR5410F with Vista and have been dealing with the
standard "out of range" message quite frequently.
I'm aware of the "out of range" fix but I have a 22" LCD and do alot of
graphics, 800x600 doesn't suit me, XP gave me better than 1024x960
and I don't think that Vista is the OS for me but when I bought this
computer it was only offered with Vista.

Last night, I could not get to safe mode nor to a command prompt, the
only screen available was the recovery utility and the only option was to
reformat the Windows partition and once the recovery started, I shut down
immediately once I realized that I'd lose my files but it was too late, the only screen that would show up was the recovery screen.
I have heard that the data still resides on the drive and now that I've reinstalled
all of my software, I need to know whether the lost files can ever be recovered.

Has anyone out there got a fix for my lost data? I'd really appreciate it if someone
could give me direction, the files were photos (jpg) and a few .mod files from my
video camera. Yes, I've already learned the importance of backing up my files but
I could still use a break here.

Thank you for your help if that help is forthcoming...
Eddie

If you wouldn't have touched your hard drive after losing the ability to boot into it, there would have been a chance of recovering most of your files from the hard drive. Unfortunately, since you have reformatted and installed everything back there is a slim chance that you may be able to recover anything. If you would like to attempt to see if there's anything left that is recoverable on your drive, try using RecoverMyFiles. For that, you will need to install it on another hard drive so it could scan the entire affected drive.
Sorry, but there isn't much else you can do. To prevent this from happening again, purchase an extra hard drive where you could store your media files instead of storing them on the main drive with the OS.

I've got 2 USB2 auxilliary drives with Gigs of space and do back up my files.
The lost data was compiled files,taken from my satellite drive (F:, G and
kept in a desktop folder for that particular project (digital stills and .mod or
.mov files, video from a baby shower @ (8gb .avi file). Sure, its not time to
suck the gaspipe but I've watched so much cable TV that if I've seen the
law enforcement computer geeks dig deep into a harddrive once, I think I've
seen it a hundred times and it always seems to save the day.

I love learning and that's why I joined tonight. I came to the deep fountain of
knowledge, the bless-(.ed) internet and I'm happy for the help. Some mine for
pearls of profit, account numbers, addresses, statistics, the stuff that puts the
money in the net. I look for other minds and often when I discover cranial gold
I stop and pay homage.

Thank you for your observation, I'll send it up the belt to my mind.
A 'cheatin operating system is every bit as bad as a 'cheatin woman
and an egg-'suckin dog...

There is still hope. Even if you have already re-installed an OS.

Do you have another unit running XP or Vista? If you do get a hold of a good recovery program. There are so many good ones out there.

Pull the HDD with the data and install it to the unit with the recovery program running. Have the program do a thorough format recovery scan. Hopefully, you can get the files you need.

There is less chance of recovery as you format your drive and reinstalled the software. But you can try a good data recovery software to check weather your data is recoverable or not.