Solved Disappearing files\programs

[antcj]

Think i may have a solution
use the take ownership script
Add "Take Ownership" to Explorer Right-Click Menu in Win 7 or Vista

doing that allowed me to view the files

another solution was to change the folder setting to show hidden system files

 

[Dr Cluster]

Issue persists

This is an old thread, but on searching the only solutions are drastic: restore from backup. Has anyone found a root cause and/or a way to repair this? It seems a bit extreme (if not totally prudent) to be setting backup points nightly anticipating the inevitable return of this drastic issue.

 

[Dr Cluster]

Windows defender found a long list of viruses that were the certain cause. I am still working through a solution and may end up re-imaging, but on my system it was not a bug, it was a virus.

 

[scouse722]

Over the last fw weeks I have re-installed Windows 7 64 bit because of disappearing programs.

I have run Windows 7 on the same machine for the last few years with no problem.

After re-install everything is fine fine a few days and then programs disappear.

As an example I installed Superantispyware and Microsopt Office lone afternoon.

The next day only the icons were left. When I put the disk in to re-install Office, it came up the the screen which asked if I wanted to repair or add/remove programs.

The files where on the computer but I could not see them.

Also I could not access any drive. Windows Explorer when clicked would drop down to the Taskbar. The more I clicked the more it would build ip on top of itself on the Taskbar.

If I click on the icon on the Tasbar, Explorer would race across the screen from left to right and disappear.

Tried SFC/Scannow which reports corrupted files,unable to repair.

So I thought I had a virus or some malware. Reformatted all drives and re-installed Windows 7 for gthe fourth time.

It is a bug in a Windows 7 update. Tomorrow I am installing Windows 8

 

[Silencer]

Crazytekkie - TYVM Sir. Semper Fi man!

;o)

)

---

ChefHeph - You said:

"My 2c worth on this issue is its a Security/Permissions problem hidden somewhere within windows."

I agree. I mentioned that was my best current guess. But what you said that really stood out to me, was:

(And, is helpful here, in solving our problem, possibly,)

"To take it another notch, we've encountered situations where a user modifies and saves a document, then goes to retireve it later in the same day or the next day and all the changes are gone!"

Ditto.

Ditto. Ditto. Ditto.

Idk if this is one problem, or two, but me also.

Changes NOT saved, and, SEVERAL TIMES.


Yep.


Your contribution, advanced the thread. Thank-you VERY MUCH.

---

antcj - Thank-you for your contribution. I will look into it when i have time.


scouse722 - You had/have a failing Hard Drive buddy. WD is the best, get it.


Dr Cluster - Virus Removal:


Move all of your data, onto an external drive and/or disc(s). (BR-DLs hold 50 GB.)

Download the latest version of: MICROSOFT SECURITY ESSENTIALS. STORE IT ALSO, ON AN EXTERNAL DRIVE, OR DISC.

Get your Windows Installation Disc, and Product Key if you have it.

DISCONNECT EVERY SINGLE EXTERNAL DEVICE, ESPECIALLY ANY THAT CAN STORE DATA.

DISCONNECT FROM THE NETWORK, COMPLETELY.

BIOS Viruses are no longer prevalent. Else, you would need to clear your BIOS, first.

DELETE ALL OF YOUR DRIVES ENTIRELY.

TELL WINDOWS TO INSTALL ON YOUR C DRIVE, "AS IT IS." -> UNFORMATTED, UNPARTIONED; JUST: DELETED.

When you're at the desktop, FORMAT YOUR REMAINING DRIVES.

INSTALL: MICROSOFT SECURITY ESSENTIALS.

Connect to the network.

UPDATE: MICROSOFT SECURITY ESSENTIALS.

DO ALL WINDOWS UPDATES.

Feel free to install the latest FireFox, before, during, or after, that.

Connect all of your EXTERNAL DEVICES. SCAN THEM ALL AS COMPLETELY AS POSSIBLE.

FRY *EVERYTHING* IT MENTIONS, *NO MERCY*. (Get it cracked another way.)

Install:

Malwarebytes AntiMalware

SuperAntiSpyware

Update and run both with the deepest scans possible.

Reboot everytime you are prompted, and then resume.

When done, do complete, deep as possible, scans, of your entire system, with those 3 programs, AGAIN.


If you have a Virus after THIS PROCEEDURE (i AM an EXPERT AT THIS,) email me: [email protected] , and tell me all of the details.

(Because you don't. Probably another bad HDD.)


;o)

)


- Steve

 

[Sylveon Fetish]

Many years later, I am also having this problem. All copies of my team Valor outfit jpgs and pngs have disappeared. tried searching my hard drives and nothing.

This happens on ALL Windows 7 machines I own. It is amazing after all these years, this problem is still there.

 

[ethel]

Hi Sylveon Fetish, This is probably a long shot and something you may have already tried.

Control Panel

Type in Folder Options in the search box

Click View

Check Show hidden files folders and drives.

 

[Gerry]

I know this is an old thread but I had a similar issue and was tearing my hair out. 2 folders all containing video files became empty one day, 0 bytes. I was running Win 7 but the disk was an external data disk, no OS on there. I searched on the Net to no avail, there were ppl that said do this or do that and maybe but I did not want to delete anything because afaics the disk was still pretty nearly full, however these two folders with approx 300 video files were empty. What I did was boot from a Win 10 disk an lo and behold all the files were there. I still do not know what caused this, was it something amiss with Win 7. However a lot of people tried to tell me it was a virus, it was not. So if you do come across his and it does appear to be common enough do not do too much messing with the disk, try and attach the disk to another PC and take it from there especially if the data is important.