I changed operating system from windows to linux and I lost my original wallet

[kiseidoster]

how do I get it back would the bitcoins in it be remembered in the network?

[odolvlobo]

The bitcoins are still there, but you need the private keys in your wallet to access them. Did you back up your wallet?

What happened to the files on your disk when you installed linux?  There are businesses that recover data from disks. Maybe one can recover your wallet.

[Richy_T]

Why would one ever install one OS over another without taking a full backup of the user dir (at the least) first? Let alone the wallet.dat should be backed up anyway.

[fcmatt]

Stop using the hd.
Install a fresh copy of win or linux on pc.
Hook up old hd.
Run recovery file software on old hd.
Pray.

[Richy_T]

Stop using the hd.
Install a fresh copy of win or linux on pc.
Hook up old hd.
Run recovery file software on old hd.
Pray.

Definitely agree with step #1 above.
It's possible you might be able to recover your key(s) by just searching the block device (/dev/sda probably though it will be something else if you mount it on a different machine). Unfortunately, there is no easily recognizable header on the wallet.dat file which complicates things. There are some recognizable strings you might be able to search on.

If you have actually written over the piece of disk the wallet was on, you're about out of luck. Though you could get lucky and run across a piece of the Windows swap file that contains the key or an old copy that was marked as deleted.

How many bitcoins are you talking?

[boscorocks]

Wow..so you actually formatted the hd first? No backup or even other partition? You can run linux off a usb drive or external hard drive too. I guess I would get that pissed at Windows 8. I have recovered files from a Windows - format - windows reinstall so you should be able to remove the hard drive and hook it up to another computer with recovery software.