Worst case is that the "recovery" has wiped the disk, but it is possible that a new installation of Windows has been created "alongside" or "over" the existing, leaving the existing user accounts intact, but not directly accessible - except to administrator accounts. When you log in, you may be using the same account name as before, but it is actually a different account.
Can you navigate to C:\Documents and Settings? What user accounts are in there?
Can you recall the name of a file that you can no longer find? Try searching the entire disk for it (including hidden and system files).
If your "stuff" is still there under your "old" account name you are in luck.
Now go out and buy yourself a 1TB external hard disk to do some regular backups with. Even if you have been unlucky, the advice still stands.
SD