Files disappearing from my Documents folder


  1. curt jugg
    Posts : 59
    Windows 10
       New #1

    Files disappearing from my Documents folder


    Yesterday I found that certain files had disappeared from my Documents folder. Some, but not all, of them had also disappeared from the back-up copies I keep in an external hard drive. I had made no changes to my computer and the files were there the day before.
    I did a normal System Restore but it failed, so I did a System Restore in Safe Mode and this was successful and all the files reappeared.
    Although I no longer have a problem, I am concerned that the same thing might happen again. Can anyone suggest what could have been the cause of the disappearance, please? Windows Defender has not shown up any viruses and I'm at a loss as to what could have happened. Grateful for any suggestions.
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  3. Try3
    Posts : 16,950
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       New #2

    Is it possible that you have merely changed your File explorer , View menu setting to show hidden files? I ask because System restore does not affect your own files.

    Denis
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  4. curt jugg
    Posts : 59
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Denis, you are quite correct, and how stupid do I feel! Many thanks indeed for putting my mind at rest.
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  6. Try3
    Posts : 16,950
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       New #4

    Well, I am glad the mystery is solved but I do wonder how those files were set as hidden in the first place.
    - Some applications set their temporary files as hidden files while the application is still running but the temporary files are deleted as the application closes. Word, for example, does this & the files are recognisable because the filenames start with ~ before the recognisable part of the filename.
    - If you know how those files got their hidden property set then there is nothing else to worry about.

    Denis
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  7. curt jugg
    Posts : 59
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    The files concerned were OpenOffice or LibreOffice. I have no idea how the files concerned got their hidden property; certainly not because of anything I (knowingly) did. Obviously it's something I shall have to bear in mind in future. Thanks again for your input.

    Curt

    Since writing the above I tried an experiment and created a new OpenOffice file and a new LibreOffice one. In neither case did the Properties show "Hidden" as ticked. Strange.
    Last edited by curt jugg; 08 Jul 2018 at 07:04.
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