Missing Pictures

vixagimi · 09 Nov 2010

This is my first post on ANY forum soooooo..........
Many Pictures have disappeared from sub folders in the My Pictures folder. My Pictures contains 25-30 sub folders each folder contains JPG images. For no apparent reason, the contents of some of the sub folders has disappeared. What remains in the folders is the file name and the default image for the file associated program. A right click on the files, and then Properties, shows that there are 0 bytes for the file. There are 51 files in the folder each with 0 bytes. The folder contains 909,824 bytes.
I have restored several folders but I'm concerned that "The Phantom" will strike again.
Any and all help is appreciated.

richc46 · 09 Nov 2010

Welcome to the Forums
First we try to get back all your pics
Then we try to figure out the cause.
Recuva - Undelete, Unerase, File and Disk Recovery - Free Download
If you want to recover, use the computer as little as possible until recovered

Run your antivirus full scan
Download and run malwarebytes full scan after update

Check event viewer for what happened about the time of the problem
Check task scheduler for schedule events about the time of the problem. I think this is the cause. Some maintenance, maybe with your AntiVirus etc.

vixagimi · 09 Nov 2010

I use Spyware Doctor with anti virus. I've never had any problems with it over several years. But it was around the time that I renewed with them that my problem happened. The fact that only random folders were messed up is what frustrating me.

Jacee · 09 Nov 2010

I have pictures all over the place ... someday, I'll round 'em up ... have you looked in Windows Media Player > Pictures?

richc46 · 09 Nov 2010

May be one of two reasons
Malware or Virus

or

Something is scheduled or your computer that can cause this. It sounds like a maintenance thing. Do you use maintenance softwared. Does your Antivirus perform maintenance.

vixagimi · 11 Nov 2010

Hey Rich,
Thanks for the back and forth about my problem. Everything appears to be OK now. After running a complete drive C scan with the Malware I think I'm back to normal. Time will tell :)
Again..... Thank You.
Peace, Lou

richc46 · 11 Nov 2010

Lou
You were very kind with the rep and its appreciated, but this is the real reward. I know that I played a part in solving your problem.