My user folder is gone from explorer

fbernaus · 15 Nov 2009

Help please. My user folder 'fermin' is gone from the c:\users folder. I can only see the 'public' folder. I know it is there and besides begin invisible everything is working fine: I can go to my Libraries and if I type 'c:\users\fermin' at the address bar in Windows Explorer I get access to all its subfolders: pictures, contacts, my documents, etc.

The problem is I am sure this folder was visible some weeks ago, I can not tell when and why it dissapeared. From the command line I can see attributes S, H and I set. I've tried to remove the H attribute by issuing the 'attrib -h fermin' command as a superuser but it won't execute it.

Here is a screenshot.

My user folder is gone from explorer-user_folder.jpg

Anyone has gone through a similar problem? what causes this annoying behavior? I had a similar problem with my Windows Vista installation - it was worse then, since the system could not index its contents making windows search useless - at least this is working under 7.

Now I am on Win7 it appears again... it must be some of the applications I use that causes this but I do not know which one is.

richc46 · 15 Nov 2009

Do you have a system restore point or sytem image from a point prior to the problem; if so, use it? You can get back to the point prior to your problem.

If you do not have many applications, if you can go back with system image or system restore to a point prior to all the applications. Install one at a time. Use it for a while. If you are sure that it is not the cause of your problem, install another. When you find the cause, you can decide if you want to keep it installed or maybe, you can change it in some way.

Brink · 15 Nov 2009

Hello Fnernus,

In your Fermin account, use a elevated (run as administrator) command prompt with attrib +r -h %USERPROFILE% or attrib +r -h C:\Users\Fermin instead to see if that may help after a restart.

If it doesn't work either, then you will need to do a system restore as Rich posted.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

fbernaus · 16 Nov 2009

Thank you to both of you. By the time I posted this help message I had already tried setting the proper attributes using an elevated command prompt but it won't work. Yes of course I have a restore point to which I can go back. But since this problem is not really affecting the system in any other way (as long as I know) I think I've decided to keep it like it is. Do you think it can cause any problem?

Thank you so much for your help.

reghakr · 17 Nov 2009

Question is.............

I assume you can log into this account, correct?

fbernaus · 18 Nov 2009

Yes I can, I've experienced no problems so far.

cruisefx · 09 Dec 2009

I was confused by this problem until I came across the solution by accident. In the left pane in Explorer, find an empty space near the top (should be below Favorites) and right-click. Check the "Show All Folders" option. That should restore your user folder, in addition to the remainder of the missing folders.

Navigation Pane - Show All Folders

fbernaus · 10 Dec 2009

That's great! thanks, quite a hidden option they created...

JulesFox · 23 Dec 2012

Oh my god! You guys are LIFESAVERS!!

I had this problem and tried a system restore and it did NOTHING. I was afraid I had a nasty virus or something horrible. Any time I would try to get to my user files I couldn't see anything. It was like the folder was empty or not there at all.

I went to "organize" then "Folder and search Options" and found the "Show all folders" unchecked!

I think this must have happened when I was trying to show the hidden folders...

Again Thank you so much!!!

My user folder is gone from explorer

My user folder is gone from explorer

"Show All Folders" Option...

Thank you!