Server revert to files to previous states after a reboot

Hi, a new user here. I could appreciate if anyone could help me. I have a Windows 2003 server (I know it's not Windows 7, but there is no separate forum for it), which rebooted this morning due to power failure, I think. After booting back up, all the files from past month are missing.* That include both newly created as well as files that have been modified in that interval.* Basically, files reverted back to what they looked like about a month ago, and it involves the whole drive, not just one or two individual files.*
I tried Recuva and MiniTool, but neither detected those files. Any suggestion could be appreciated.

Hi Befuddle,

not sure if this will help or not
Using the Backup Utility in Windows Server 2003 to Backup and Restore Your Data
Download Windows Server 2003/2003 R2 Retired Content from Official Microsoft Download Center

Roy

Hi, thank you for your suggestion. Unfortunately, the last backup is a little out-of-date. Interestingly, even log files stopped at a date about a month ago, I check both Windows update log and System Event log, both show a huge gap between previous entries and yesterday (when it rebooted, I think).

Hi Befuddle,

Im wondering if its reverted to
Last Known Good as oppossed to a system restore point. @jumanji might come back with a few ideas.

Roy

Hi, torchwood, doesn't system restore normally does not touch document files? In my case, all the user files are missing from that time period.

1. ^ That is also my contention. On the face of it it looks like a system/OS problem.

2. If you Google search with the same title of this thread there are a few threads in Seven Forums itself. Just go through those and check whether it gives you any ideas. From what little I could understand a failing hard drive can induce that problem. But do not do anything proposed or done in those threads. Pick up any points and throw it here for further discussions. Better heads here may get cracking.



3. My own contention is that if your system had gone to the past from the present for whatever reason, it may not be possible to look into the "future" from there to get that "present", unless of course you travel faster than light carrying your PC with you. :)

4. Till some clarity as per discussions in para 2 emerges , I may suggest you to continue on the data recovery process as you did with Recuva and MiniTool . Sometimes shooting in the dark, one may hit on the target. God knows.

a) Scan the drive with the trial version of getdataback simple. It can show all your files which you can open and preview. Can you see your present files? Data Recovery Software Products - Runtime Software Products

b) Bypass Windows and Boot with Live Linux and see what files it shows.

Creating a bootable LucidPuppy flash drive: My post #8 here Is there any way of saving a completely unrecognisable hard drive? Solved - Windows 7 Help Forums

On using Lucid Puppy: Lucid Puppy way to recover files from a non-bootable computer - Windows 7 Help Forums Here it will be your problem drive.

( I don't know. In the past few threads in Ten Forums too, I have been suggesting Lucid Puppy. May be in the fond hope of hitting the target )

There is a product called "Deep Freeze" which is designed to do just what your Windows 2003 server is doing. Are you by chance using that product?

As well as deepfreeze you could do the same with ms settings it's worth trying create a couple of files make a few changes reboot see if it happens again then you know to backup