Windows 10 update reset my entire system. Need help recovering

pronto32 · 25 Aug 2019

Hi All,

This might come off as a rant, but please bear with me. My system started updating today without any warning, this updated lasted couple of hours. After the update I tried to login to the system and received a message on the lines of " unable to load user profile". I restarted the system, only then I could login using my password.
Upon logging in I find that my all the files, icons on my desktop are gone, except for some. All the files in my downloads folder, my email id which was configured on Outlook is gone. My saved bookmarks in chrome has vanished. EVERYTHING LOOKS LIKE A NEW INSTALL OF WINDOWS 10.

Please help me in recovering the files.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Pronto

dalchina · 25 Aug 2019

Hi, welcome to tenforums.

Could you possibly have been assigned a temporary profile? Check before making any changes..
Windows 10 Tutorial Index
Fix You've been signed in with a temporary profile in Windows 10

If Windows cannot access the user profile folder or the profile contains errors that prevent it from loading, Windows will sign in the user with a temporary profile by default.

Which update or upgrade has occurred? Please have a look at your Update History.
Do you have Windows.old on your C: ?

What is your current build?
Windows key +r , winver

Have a look at your user profile folder name. Is it the one you usually use?
User profiles are under C:\Users

If you boot your PC using a boot disk, can you see your missing files anywhere?
(If you are familiar with command prompt commands, you could use those, but a desktop environment would be much easiier to use).
Toolkit Item: Kyhi’s Rescue Disk – Win10.Guru
- then create a bootable flash drive from the iso file using e.g. Rufus.

Do you use disk imaging, and if so do you have a Windows image created shortly before this update/upgrade occurred?
This forum constantly urges users to use disk imaging e.g. Macrium reflect - free- so recovery to a previous good state is often possible relatively quickly, without too much stress and without tech help.

Do you have full backups of your personal files?

mrgeek · 25 Aug 2019

"Upon logging in I find that my all the files, icons on my desktop are gone, except for some. All the files in my downloads folder, my email id which was configured on Outlook is gone. My saved bookmarks in chrome has vanished. EVERYTHING LOOKS LIKE A NEW INSTALL OF WINDOWS 10.
Please help me in recovering the files."

Something in your profile was corrupted during installation, didn't load and you're using a temp profile, as dalchina posted. All your files are still there. Do not do anything with the current login, as the message that flashed by, said because nothing new will be saved ! Logout, restart and you should be able to login normally or use the tutorial posted in Post 2, if necessary. Good Luck

pronto32 · 25 Aug 2019

Hi Dalchina & Mrgeek,

The option 2 worked perfectly. I was able to signin after the registry edit. Thank you very very much.

dalchina · 25 Aug 2019

Phew!

Now's the time to consolidate your new state, and create a base disk image e.g. Macrium Reflect - free- to external storage and thereafter routine differential images (if using free version).

mrgeek · 25 Aug 2019

pronto32 said:

Hi Dalchina & Mrgeek, ... The option 2 worked perfectly. I was able to signin after the registry edit. Thank you very very much.

Good to hear. I get this every year or so too but know not to panic because I know what it looks like.
Please take a minute to mark Topic as Solved so others can find this solution, it comes up fairly consistently. Thanks