Solved Desktop folder deleted

[larlar75]

I installed a fresh copy of Windows 7 Ultimate x64 and I went into my user folder named whatever your computer is named and I was trying to deleted some files when I accidently clicked the Desktop folder and deleted it ALL my Desktop icons and folders went with it and it's not in the Bin so I tried a system restore to no luck and I also downloaded Recuva to find out it didn't find the Desktop folder nor any of the folders or files in it...... I had some importent files on my Desktop and I would seriously LOVE to get them back :shock:

 

[larlar75]

BUMP please help!

 

[severedsolo]

Hi larlar75, welcome to SevenForums

Just a thought, but I have often had success recovering files using Ubuntu: Ubuntu homepage | Ubuntu

Basically, what you do, is you burn the ISO to a disk, boot from your new Live CD.
Then go to Computer and look for (however big your Windows Drive is)GB Filesystem.
Double click it, then find $Recycle Bin
Look through those folders, you may be able to find what your looking for.
If that doesn't work, look at Users\<Username> the folder may still be there, with a $ in front of it.

Couple of things to keep in mind:
1) Windows assumes all files with $ at the beginning of the name have been deleted, rename them to something without $ to get them back. Also if in the recycle bin, move them somewhere else.
2) Deleted files viewed from Ubuntu, on my machine at least, have stupid names. something like 1-2-34-1-23-4 obviously that's just an example, but make sure you check what each one actually is. (You'll probably know if you find your Desktop, because it will have loads of .lnk files in it)

Hope it helps

 

[larlar75]

Hi larlar75, welcome to SevenForums

Just a thought, but I have often had success recovering files using Ubuntu: Ubuntu homepage | Ubuntu

Basically, what you do, is you burn the ISO to a disk, boot from your new Live CD.
Then go to Computer and look for (however big your Windows Drive is)GB Filesystem.
Double click it, then find $Recycle Bin
Look through those folders, you may be able to find what your looking for.
If that doesn't work, look at Users\<Username> the folder may still be there, with a $ in front of it.

Couple of things to keep in mind:
1) Windows assumes all files with $ at the beginning of the name have been deleted, rename them to something without $ to get them back. Also if in the recycle bin, move them somewhere else.
2) Deleted files viewed from Ubuntu, on my machine at least, have stupid names. something like 1-2-34-1-23-4 obviously that's just an example, but make sure you check what each one actually is. (You'll probably know if you find your Desktop, because it will have loads of .lnk files in it)

Hope it helps

Thanks but no it didn't work... I guess I'll just reinstall Windows 7... Thanks for the help though!

 

[severedsolo]

No need at all to reinstall Windows

Worst case, just create a New User Account (Control Panel>Add or Remove User Accounts) and set it to be an Administrator. Then Delete Old account. Just one thing to bear in mind, name it something different to the account you currently have.

Even if you rename your current account first, the user path would still be the same.

Example: My current User account is Martin. Even if I renamed this account to Martin2 then the user profile would be C:\Users\Martin creating a new account called Martin would NOT just join old and new together, in fact the new accounts path would probably be something like C:\Users\Martin2 confusing as you see

That will at least recreate the Desktop Links, although it won't get back any actual files that were stored on the Desktop, but then again, neither will reinstalling Windows

 

[larlar75]

Hmm I guess I could.. Thanks I like this forum already.

 

[severedsolo]

No problem Just seems silly to reinstall Windows just for that, ya know?

On another note:

I had some importent files on my Desktop and I would seriously LOVE to get them back

Were these files just Shortcuts? or were they actual important files? Say spreadsheets/documents or something? If the former, dw about them, they will come back with the new account. If the latter, we may still be able to get them back for you

 

[larlar75]

They were mostly my exe files

 

[severedsolo]

Ok, gonna have to be a bit more specific there I'm afraid

Were they, the usual program shortcuts that get put on the desktop? With the big old arrow underneath them? (Like on my screenshot)

Or were they actual EXE's that had been saved to desktop (for whatever reason) like stuff you'd got from the internet?

 

[larlar75]

Yea they were saved to the desktop they're full on exe files no shortcuts

 

[severedsolo]

Ok... well we may be able to get them back.

Firstly, I'm going to go ahead and assume that they are NOT free softwares, and can't just be redownloaded or whatever, hence the need for recovery.

The first and most important rule is: Do NOT use the computer. Or use it as little as possible. Specifically, do not save anything to the drive that had the files on. That space has now been earmarked for overwriting, and every write to the drive decreases the chance of a successful recovery.

As Recuva and Ubuntu hasn't worked for you, (which is what I would recommend) I'm going to ask for some help from some other senior members, I'm not giving up on you. It's just I don't really use recovery software much, as I take regular backups, so don't have much knowledge in this area.

 

[larlar75]

Wait if I did a system recovery doesn't that mean it has already been overwritten? I've also updated windows quite a bit since this happened... If it's this bad I'm pretty sure I could just find the CDs in storage and call up some of the companies I got the software from.. Also I think my windows 7 got corrupted during install because windows media player gives me an install error and the desktop folder and icon are missing from my computer completely even after making a new account.

 

[larlar75]

IF I do reinstall windows is there any way to make the desktop folder untouchable meaning I can't delete it?

 

[severedsolo]

Wait if I did a system recovery doesn't that mean it has already been overwritten?

If you did a System Restore then there is a good chance they are still there somewhere. A System Image Recovery (completely different) it's probably gone. Having said that, if your obviously not that bothered about getting them back, and are willing to find CD's etc, so we'll move on.

On the subject of system corruption: Try this
Open an elevated Command Prompt (Right Click>Run as Administrator)
Type the following:

SFC /scannow

 

[larlar75]

Yup I did that already and it said it fixed somethings but I still get the error..

 

[severedsolo]

Do you have SP1 installed?

If not then I would seriously suggest you try a repair install: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

If you do have SP1 installed, and don't have a system image to fall back on, then yeah, looks like you'll have to reinstall I'm afraid.

 

[larlar75]

Now is there any way to make the desktop folder off limits to my sense less brain so I don't delete it again?

 

[Fayla]

Brink suggested a resolution to a somewhat similar problem in this thread: http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/155269-desktop-icons-removed.html (Post #8)

I installed a fresh copy of Windows 7 Ultimate x64 and I went into my user folder named whatever your computer is named and I was trying to deleted some files when I accidently clicked the Desktop folder and deleted it ALL my Desktop icons and folders went with it and it's not in the Bin so I tried a system restore to no luck and I also downloaded Recuva to find out it didn't find the Desktop folder nor any of the folders or files in it...... I had some importent files on my Desktop and I would seriously LOVE to get them back :shock:

 

[severedsolo]

Just change the permission:

Go to C:\Users\Username

Right Click Desktop>Properties
Go to Security Tab and click Advanced
Highlight Your Username then click Change Permissions.
Highlight your Username again and click Edit
Find Delete, and check the "Deny" Box DO NOT Deny "Delete subfolders and files" just the one that says "Delete" by itself.
Repeat for Administrators (necessary because otherwise you can get around it, all be it with a UAC prompt)
Sorted.

 

[larlar75]

Great! Now I just need you to make a app of yourself so I can call on you whenever I need help with windows 7 since I'm new to it. Vista was my playing field so I kinda feel lost with windows 7.