Vista - Can I Restore Files From Backup Again?

Hi All,

I hope I'm posting this in the correct topic thread.

System: Vista 32bit service pack 2

Here's my issue:

-I backed up up my files to an external drive;

-Reset Computer to factory setting because of a computer virus of some sort;

-Restored files from backup but did not reconfigure my computer to have the same user accounts at first, however, I did reset up those accounts in order to access the files.

I thought I cut the folder/files and pasted them into one of my other accounts (the account that I intended to keep) and then I deleted the old account that I no longer wanted.

After reviewing myh files later I noticed that the files that I wanted, some of them were not there.

Since I still have the backup file saved to my external drive I thought it would just be a matter of restoring files from backup again, but I find that I can't do that.

The files are clearly still in the backup folder, but they are now inaccessible as my computer states that backup location not available.

There are really just a few documents that I want, but can't find an easy way to retrieve them.

Any advice? Thanks so much everyone.

regards,

Carlos