lost files - help needed

[princepercy]

I have been using my Emac on 10.2 for the last few years and haven't upgraded anything as I only use computer for email, mp3 photos etc.

Yesterday I went to boot back to os9 but it was unable to load. I then tryed to go back to os 10.2 but it would not boot up.

The only way I could get my computer to work again was by re installing the OS. My computer now boots up properly but I have lost a large number of mp3 and photos.

I was wondering if anyone new of a way of recovering them? My harddrive is still showing as nearly full so I figured they must be on the HD somewhere.

Any idea?

[GilGrissom]

Hmmm...firewire target disk mode springs to mind, but I have a feeling that will only show what the OS on the disk knows about, or something else like that so it cannot read the files you need.

Not sure, worth a shot I guess, if it has firewire, that's if no one comes on here and gives you a far better more reliable definitive answer! I'm gonna guess someone will!

[mad jew]

What sort of reinstall did you do? Was it an Archive & Install (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107120)? If it's a large section of data that's missing then you may be able to find it with OmniDiskSweeper (http://www.omnigroup.com/applications/omnidisksweeper/). Good luck. :)