Would windows xp restore to a date one week ago using system restore and get back all deleted files?

No, a system restore only restores system files and configuration information to get your computer working again, it doesn't deal with your actual files and whether or not you've deleted some.

If I understand you correctly, you'll clean up the computer and take it back to be inspected and then they will allow you to take ownership? If this is the case and you want to destroy all data except windows, you can do this but you cannot do an exclusive wipe of any kind. A wipe destroys all data. You need these free programs. 1) Revo Uninstaller, 2) Eraser, 3) Unlocker. The newer version I do not like running on XP so I use Eraser 5.8.6 It would be so much faster to use Driver Checker and update and backup all your system drivers to a CD and then use an XP install disk to Format and do a new install.then use the driver checker backup to restore all your drivers. Revo Unistaller is on all my machines. I do a lot of testing and it will uninstall the program and dig deep to remove the files and registry entries left over by the install. Has a Junk File Cleaner. Evidence Eliminator that erases files that have been left on the HDD by deleting. A Browser Cleaner, Microsoft Office Cleaner, Windows Cleaner and an Unrecoverable Delete which actually erases both, selected files and folders. A great Auto Run Manager on it too. I use Eraser to randomly erase files and folders I find. Can over right them 1, 3, 7 and 35 times in different methods. On install, gives you a right click context menu selection to wipe what you want and will wipe on reboot if the file is locked by setting the preferences this way. That's what I'd do. Going to be time consuming but hey, you get a free Laptop! Good Incentive I'd say. Take care.

Everything from your desktop would return All of your Document would not be recoverable. There is a way around this by going to system restore -system restore setting turn off system restore then turn it back on. This will erase all the past restore point but will delete all the past restore point and they will not be recovered it your computer at a place that it is running well enough without any problem this would be ok....

Doing system restore to 3 days ago would place the pc in the state prior to any radical changes that occurred to it.

Files that are in the recycle bin would be able to be restored, but permanently deleted , I have never experienced that.

I have done restores as far back as two weeks. Work I did not save was not there, but the everything else that is vital to a working pc was present.

Hope it helps a little.

A system restore may not get your data back for you, but yes the data is still there. When you delete it, your computer simply begins to overwrite it with new data from the date you delete it. You would need a computer expert to go in and try to retrieve deleted data before it is overwritten.

If you run a "System Restore" it will go back to the last date of which a system restore was done. If you have never done one, then it will go back to factory default settings.

Accidentally deleting photos, files, songs, e-mail, or videos can leave you feeling frustrated and helpless. With Search and Recover you never have to feel that way again. This data recovery software rescues critical work and cherished memories you thought were gone forever.

http://www.iolo.com/sr/4/

Yes and yes. That's why virii hide there and come back again. I turn it off, and create my own as needed.