Desktop Folder Suddenly Went Missing - Can't Find it Anywhere

khamilton · 09 Sep 2016

I suddenly lost a folder with a bunch of important files in it. I also lost another folder with a lot of family videos. I'm not as worried about the videos because I have those backed up with Google and on thumb drives, but the other folder I need desperately.

I have done 2 restore points but this didn't help. I restarted the computer, I search in hidden folders view, I searched the computer for the names of the documents, folder, etc but can't find any shred of evidence.

Why would this happen and is there any recourse for gaining these files back?

Thanks

RolandJS · 09 Sep 2016

If by chance the Desktop folders were not over-written, you might be able to get them back by, on another computer, downloading a Puppy Linux ISO, create a usb boot stick or DVD boot, boot said utility on the problem computer, and use the abbreviated Linux file manager to copy the desktop folders onto any trusted available external media.

spunk · 09 Sep 2016

System Restore does not recover any missing or deleted files.
If you have searched the computer for files within the lost folder by a file's Name and you can't find it, it is most likely deleted. You can also do a search for the type of file (ie) if searching for a Word document, in the search box type *.doc, or *.docx etc.
You can try to recover deleted files by using the free Recuva. I have had the best luck with GetDataBack.

dalchina · 09 Sep 2016

Your first port of call: You didn't mention whether you had looked in the recycle bin. Double click it to open it in file explorer.

If not, most important you don't write to the drive or partition where the folder was. If the folder was on the same drive as your OS, and not in your recycle bin, it could be overwritten by routine OS writes... another good reason to keep personal data off your OS drive.

After that proceed to scan with Recuva as above- ensuring it's not saved to or installed on the same drive where your lost data was.

How were these lost or deleted? Failing disk? User mistake? Rogue program?

Steve C · 10 Sep 2016

Are you using File History? If so, you might find your folder there. I recommend you schedule regular incremental backups of your system (at least weekly?) and keep archives going back several months. Most people on this forum use Macrium Reflect. You can mount a Reflect backup and copy/paste the files/folders you have lost.