Solved Deleted Program Data folder. How to restore Start Menu

[ritratt]

My program data folder in the windows drive was accidentally deleted. As a result, most of my start menu items are gone.
How can I restore my start menu and anything else that might be affected by the deletion of program data?
Thank you.

 

[not so gray matter]

Download Recuva to see if you can retrieve the lost file.

Good Luck, if that doesn't work, you'll need to use System Restore.

 

[ritratt]

tried Recuva. Did not work. Restore point not set so cannot recover. Now what?

 

[Wallonn7]

My program data folder in the windows drive was accidentally deleted. As a result, most of my start menu items are gone.
How can I restore my start menu and anything else that might be affected by the deletion of program data?
Thank you.

Go to windows drive, exactly where program data folder would be found. Right click mouse, "properties". Look each day "shadow", from today to yesterdays, until you find what you looking for!!! See attachment:


Hope it helps you!!!


"PLEASE REP ANYONE WHO HELPS YOU"

 

[ritratt]

I tried it and there is only one version of Windows in that list. However, thanks for the help.

I dont want the installed programs in my start menu. My major concern is to get back the default start menu items like accessories etc. Will it work if I copy the Program Data folders containing "Accessories" from another Windows 7 machine?

 

[Wallonn7]

I tried it and there is only one version of Windows in that list. However, thanks for the help.

I dont want the installed programs in my start menu. My major concern is to get back the default start menu items like accessories etc. Will it work if I copy the Program Data folders containing "Accessories" from another Windows 7 machine?

Yes, I think it will works but... not all "Accessories" default shortcus... Remember to paste into default folder - "C:\Users\User name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" - . And to use a 32bit copy to 32bit Windows, etc.

Try it and let us know if it works!!!

"PLEASE REP ANYONE WHO HELPS YOU"


​

 

[Billy]

Here is a cleaned up version of 'C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu' I think I removed all of my shortcuts from it. This is from a 64 bit version.

Start Menu Programs.zip

I'm not sure about the rest of the program data

 

[ritratt]

It worked perfectly!
I copied the content of Freakaziod's zip file into C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Thanks a lot for all your help. This forum is helpful as well as active. I think I am going to refer to it in my blog. Cheers!

@Wallon
I did not try what you suggested but I think it should work as well. Thanks for the help though.

 

[Bukhari1986]

Billy you solved my trouble

thanks

 

[Billy]

it's no problem