Downloads have all disappeared. Unable to restore.

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  1. Posts : 8
    Windows 7
       #1

    Downloads have all disappeared. Unable to restore.


    I have lost all my downloads. It just happened. One day they were all there, the next day gone. I thought that I must have accidentally deleted the folder, but the recycle bin was empty too. When I click on the download arrow (top right of firefox browser) the downloads are listed. However, apart from the three latest ones, none of them will open.
    I know I had all my downloads on 22 July but they disappeared on that date or 23 July. I have tried several times to restore the system to an earlier date but without success. I keep getting the message that system restore was not completed. Can anyone please help. Thank you. I am not very IT literate so please keep it simple. Thank you again.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 10,485
    W7 Pro SP1 64bit
       #2

    Click on Start > Computer

    Downloads have all disappeared. Unable to restore.-dl1.png


    Once Windows (file) Explorer comes up...
    ...click on Downloads in the left pane:

    Downloads have all disappeared. Unable to restore.-dl2.png


    Are the files of interest shown in the right pane?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 8
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hi,

    Thank you for responding.
    No, only the last 3 downloads I made are shown in the right pane.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 10,485
    W7 Pro SP1 64bit
       #4

    Have you run Disk Cleanup?

    Downloads have all disappeared. Unable to restore.-dl3.png


    Or maybe CCleaner?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 8
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #5

    No, I haven't. Where do I find Disk Cleanup please.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #6

    Type "disk cleanup" into the start button search box.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 10,485
    W7 Pro SP1 64bit
       #7

    Sorry that I was not clear. I was not suggesting that you run the Disk Cleanup tool.

    Disk Cleanup or CCleaner would be tools that might remove files from the download folder.

    You might see if the steps in this tutorial show any problems with your hard drive:
    Disk Check
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 8
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Thank you. I have found it. Should I run it?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 SP1 64 bit Home Premium
       #9

    Sparklieboots said:
    I have lost all my downloads. It just happened. One day they were all there, the next day gone. I thought that I must have accidentally deleted the folder, but the recycle bin was empty too. When I click on the download arrow (top right of firefox browser) the downloads are listed. However, apart from the three latest ones, none of them will open.
    I know I had all my downloads on 22 July but they disappeared on that date or 23 July. I have tried several times to restore the system to an earlier date but without success. I keep getting the message that system restore was not completed. Can anyone please help. Thank you. I am not very IT literate so please keep it simple. Thank you again.
    If you right-click the filename in Firefox, does it give option to open it or open its folder? If so, that may be the key. (I don't use Firefox, but Google Chrome DOES give those options.)(I'm probably reaching here.)

    I don't think System Restore would help since it's not supposed to mess with your data, just system files. Downloads are under your User name, yes?
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 10,485
    W7 Pro SP1 64bit
       #10

    Sparklieboots said:
    Thank you. I have found it. Should I run it?
    You can run chkdsk if you want. Follow the tutorial and chkdsk won't hurt anything. chkdsk probably won't get your files back. But chkdsk might let us know why they went away.
      My Computer


 
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