Full File Directory Tree

SarahTGO · 2 Weeks Ago

Hi all,

I need help locating a full file directory tree for a rebuild. Things that shouldn’t have touched, moved or deleted have been interfered with and now my important data is stuck in amongst it all. I have already tried everything. So options actually caused me to lose more data.

I just need the full directory map and I will manually put everything back where it supposedly belongs before doing any other checks.

I’m running Windows 10 home (22H2) on a HP AMD A4-9120 Radeon R3. Cutting my losses and reformatting is not an option.

Thank you.

BurrWalnut · 2 Weeks Ago

I use the tree command as follows. Open a cmd prompt at the location you wish to start at, e.g. drive C:, drive D: or folder C:\Windows. A listing of C: will take some time and will be very long, perhaps 50,000 folders.

Type tree |clip and press Enter, when it is finished open your word processor program (or Notepad) and paste (Ctrl+V) the list to it. You can now print it, edit it or save it.

To display the files in each folder, type tree /f |clip and press Enter.

SarahTGO · 2 Weeks Ago

Sorry, I don’t need my current directory tree. I need an example of the correct one. As mine is broken etc. can someone please provide?

dalchina · 2 Weeks Ago

Hi, given the somewhat generalised description of your problem suggesting files have been randomly moved around or are maybe inaccessible does suggest you need more of a magic wand that a technical fix.

Things that shouldn’t have touched, moved or deleted have been interfered with

- was someone else responsible?

I suggest that what you ask is infeasible.

I’m running Windows 10 home (22H2) ....Cutting my losses and reformatting is not an option.

- may I ask whay not?

And further, if your installation is so critical, how is it that you have not taken precautions to protect it? The routine and regular use of 3rd party disk imaging is endlessly recommended here.

Had you been using that you could have simply restore a recent image and been back as you were when it was created.

Do you have a full backup of your 'important' data? Or do you need help recovering that?

Is your PC bootable? Do your comments refer to O/S files as well as data files? Too many unknowns...

SarahTGO · 2 Weeks Ago

The person responsible had an episode and caused significant damage to my systems while fiddling with it. I understand that things should have been done differently. But we’re here now. I’m looking for a copy of an accurate directory and I will fix everything manually myself.

If I cut my losses I literally lose 20 years of files that I cannot get back. That’s why it’s not an option. I’ve asked for assistance, not a lecture on how I could have done better.

It affects O/S and personal files. I have recovered a heap of the O/S but it’s come back in a clump so I can’t even figure out what I’m still missing. I just need the accurate tree so that I allocate the files properly. Command prompt fixes aren’t working for it so please don’t suggest it.

All other answers are simply “no”. This is my option.

dalchina · 2 Weeks Ago

And thank you for your reply. Sorry to hear of your difficulty..

If I cut my losses I literally lose 20 years of files that I cannot get back.

1. As these are so critical, do you really not have backups - of any kind?

2. Are you confident that the files you really want but are not backed up still exist on your internal disk(s)?

3. Given your concern about these, if they exist on the disk but you cannot presently access them, that we can help with.

4. I suggest the less you write to your internal disk(s) the better.

If someone deleted key files (which are not backed up) then they can be recovered. But not if overwritten.

I rather think you will not get an answer which you find acceptable. Sadly it seems you put your system at risk without appropriate precautions.

Good luck.

FreeBooter · 2 Weeks Ago

I think you are looking for command Tree that will display the tree structure beginning with the current directory of the current drive.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/wi...-commands/tree

dalchina · 2 Weeks Ago

What is sought seems to be an exact guide to where all files are normally placed in a Windows installation.

SarahTGO intends to try to use that to rebuild this randomly damaged installation.

Recovering data and reinstalling the O/S is an unacceptable path to SarahTGO; my impression is there's no backup at all.

Pentagon · 2 Weeks Ago

@SarahTGO
1. You are responsible for your computer and for the information you provide.
2. Are you talking about the "Personal Folders" like Documents, Pictures etc.?

C:\WINDOWS\system32>cd %userprofile%
followed by dir command

3. If your disk is big enough, create a new partition and install a 2nd WIN10. (DualBoot)
When you have that you can see the right structure and switch between the 2 installations and make the corrections.
When finished, just remove the 2nd installation.

See this:
Nested Program Files

Nobody will be able to help YOU!

bro67 · 2 Weeks Ago

Unless the system was fully unlocked which is doubtful and very hard to do, it makes you wonder why they do not have that information in archives on media that can be removable or in storage on backups, also the fact that we do not have a clue which directories they are trying to fix without first off stating, and also that it is not as easy as they believe without sometimes formatting and dumping any garbage that you have not accessed in over a year.