How to recover files once the protect button is lost

Which operating system ?

Performing a system restore can be useful if your computer's operating system has become unstable because of viruses, malware or missing files.

Prior to performing a system restore, you should backup your personal files and save any programs to removable media.

Recovering lost software can be more time-consuming if you do not have a media backup of the installation software.

In most cases, you can download applications from Internet sites and recover missing license keys and other information through the software manufacturer.

As a last resort, you may also opt to undo your system restore so that you can recover your lost software.

Go to your computer manufacturer's support website.

Enter your model number, computer type, serial number and other information requested. Browse through the system software selections.

Select any that you need to reinstall.

You may also be able to order a system recovery disk.

Insert a software installation disk or connect removable media that contains the installation program.

Allow Windows to autoplay the disk.

Begin the installation program.

If you do not have the license or key required to run the software but have purchased the program, contact the software developer's customer support department via email or telephone.

Visit the software developer's website.

Browse through the products page, and click on the download link for the lost software.

Select a directory to save the installation program.

Once the program downloads, open it, and re-install the software.

Try some of these

Downloads to Recover Your Files and Save Your Bacon and 10 Best Free Hard Drive Utilities.

Some addition links found on Google
http://www.datarecoveryreview.net/

http://www.cleverfiles.com/

http://www.easeus.com/resource/hard-disk-data-recovery.htm

http://www.dtidata.com/resourcecenter/2010/11/04/hard-drive-recovery-from-scored-platters/

Undo System Restore

Click on the "Start" button. Select "Control Panel." Click on "Classic View" in the left column.

Open "System." Click on "System Protection" in the left column.

Click on the "System Restore" button.

Click on "Undo System Restore." Click "Next," then "Finish."

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Performing a system restore will keep your data files intact; however, certain files may be deleted in the process.

Deleting a file doesn't mean that it's lost forever.

If nothing else has needed the space since the deletion, the file is still available and can be recovered.

Undelete Plus makes it easy to recover these lost files.

Download and install Undelete Plus.

http://undeleteplus.com/

Once installation has completed, launch the program.

Select the drive(s) under "Drives" you would like to recover deleted files from.

Click the "Start Scan" button.

Once the scan is complete, the right-hand pane will list files that are available for recovery.

Select the files you wish to recover.

By default, they will all be selected.

Select a location to which you would like to save the undeleted files.

You will be given the option to save the files in the original folder selection.

Click "Start Undelete."

Your files have now been recovered and restored.

Hope this helps.