I've lost all TM's folders older then 1 week!!

December the 20th I cleaned my MacBook Pro because of huge problems. After installing a clean Leopard on my computer. I found some of my old files via TM on my external backup disk (only to be used by TM) that I should use immediately. Today - 1 week later - I need some of the old files again and suddenly TM only shows backups from dec. 20 th.and till today. I'v not formatted the backup disk where TM is. What has happened with all my old files from oktober until to day??
If I open my backup disk and opens the Backups.backupdb directory I can only see TM folders from dec the 20 th and till today also.
Does TM suddenly decide to delete my TM folders? I have approx 120 GB left on my TM backup disk.
Please help me.

First turn off Time Machine (System Preferences / Time Machine) to stop any additional writes to that disk drive.
Then using Finder, navigate to that drive and look around to see if the older backups, and the files that were part of them, are still there. If they ARE still there, then you may just have to make a simple adjustment so that Time Machine will show them to you: Make sure your "computer name" (System Preferences / Sharing) matches what you had back when those older backups were created. The older backups will be in a folder bearing the older "computer name" so you'll see it when you look via Finder if that's the problem.
If they are NOT still there, then Time Machine has deleted them for some reason, and as suggested above, your only recourse may be to use a disk scavenger/recovery program to see if they can be found and retrieved. Do NOT allow any further writing to that disk drive until you recover what you need as you may be overwriting the portions of the disk still containing the deleted files.
EDITED TO ADD: If you find the files are still there, but your "computer name" already matches and you still aren't seeing them via the Time Machine display, then reset Parameter memory (PRAM). PRAM holds copies of certain system settings for rapid access -- including the "computer name". If it gets out of whack strange things can happen.
To reset PRAM: Shut Down the computer. Locate the 4 keys Apple-Option-P-R. Hold down those 4 keys and also press and release the power button. Keep those 4 keys held down until you hear the SECOND startup chime, then release them. Your computer will continue to boot up normally.
--Bob
Message was edited by: BobP1776

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