This happens with quite a lot of games. (even recent ones.)
If the saves arent in C:\Program Files\LucasArts\SWKotOR\saves, or wherever other location you have the game installed, they're gone.
You do have one option, provided you installed the game onto the same drive as windows. It's called System Restore. Basically its setting your computer back to a previous day. Be warned though, that this nullifies everything you have done since the recovery point. So back up anything you really need to another harddrive!
(may need to remove the spaces in the links.. forum bug.)
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-is-System- Restore
and
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ht/system-resto re-windows-7.htm