Unable to find some important files and documents

[gau_pppu]

i am unable to open some of my important documents which were previously kept in a folder and were locked using folder security personal when i was using windows vista ..
but now i formatted the hard disk and installed windows 7 and now i cannot find those folder on the specific drives ..
though folder security personal is not installed in my computer now ..

what can be done now ??

[khmadhu]

did u format entire harddisk..? or the windows drive only..?(hope u have kept the data in other drive).
if uave not formated the drive where u kept data. try installing the software and open it with the same settings and password.

if u formated the entire drive better use some recovery software..

[gau_pppu]

no no .. it was in other drive and i only installed the OS the other partition were untouched

[The Conqueror]

Try these software,they are really good :
EASEUS Data Recovery
RecoverMyFiles
I have a license for RecoveryMyFiles,if you need I shall transfer it in your name. You may PM me for details.

[khmadhu]

Then try installing the software and open it with the same settings and password.

may be u r folder is encrypted with that password!.

if this doesnt work try with those softwares as suggested by "The Conqueror"
but don't copy any other data in that drive until u retrieve u r data (becoz the sectors may be overwritten and becomes difficult to recover).