Questions on resetting my OS...

So i recently reset my operating system...and now im wondering what are the necessary folders that are supposed to be in my program files in my c drive. Im a total noob to computers so please try to be helpful. The reason im asking this is because i think i deleted some folders on accident and basically to avoid future problems... rolleyes btw my OS is windows xp home edition..

 

Well the best thing to do is to use Add/remove programs (Control Panel>Add/remove programs) to clean out your programs folder. If you don't uninstall your applications and just delete them bad thing will start to happen. Like your registry will be full of junk that you no longer need and you OS may still try and use.

 

Ok but how to i find out my recently deleted program files from my c drive. I understand im not supposed to just straight up delete them.

 

You might try going to your recycle bin and seeing whats in there. If there is something you recognize that you need then just right click on it and chose restore.

 

shit i cleaned out my bin like 2 hours ago blahh
any other suggestions?

 

Try this: http://www.majorgeeks.com/Recuva_-_File_Recovery_d5514.html
However anything that you add to the drive now will over write some things that have been deleted. Recuva will tell you if it can recover a file or not or what the chances are.

 

What exactly do you mean by reset my operating system? Did you do a restore to an earlier date?