Old Work Laptop

[zacharyroe]

everyone responding to me was being extremely critical instead of helping, so i deleted the post. 

[DGroves]

i,m going to point out some issues with your help request

1. storing personal information on a work laptop is a no no for just about any company that gives out laptops to their employees

2.  leaving your employer and failing to return company property is another red flag, even companies who give severed employes their laptop require it to be brought in so the HD can be removed or secure wiped

3. "her disability income depends on this " Huh?? i have no idea why this would be so

in short you need to contact the company who owns the laptop and  return it, and ask if they might try to recover your personal files and if they say no then that's it

in the future never store/keep personal files on a company laptop or phone because it then becomes the companies personal data not yours....you don't own anything stored on a company laptop, the company owns it