Lost everything... I think

[KIDDO680]

So I logged onto my Windows 7 account to find everything reset to factory default and all my desktop icons (which are important) gone! Everything is factory default. If I go to Windows --> User --> and select my account I have all my files there and can open them, but on the account itself everything is factory default. The other account on the computer is fine, just this one. At the moment I am backing up my computer then doing a system restore. Will this work? Thanks.

 

[ThrashZone]

Fresh Install options,
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219576-clean-up-factory-bloatware.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[AmericanPharaoh]

Sounds like you have a poltergeist.

System restore is a good place to start, providing your system is not infected.

Restoring an infected system will spread the virus.

You should first try running a few different cleaners.

 

[gregrocker]

Before you do anything else back up your files which you say you can access now.

If your files are there under a different account, can you log out and log back into that account?

If not what accounts are available at the Log On screen, and in Control Panel>User Accounts>Manage other accounts?

As suggested try System Restore, then run a full Malwarebytes scan. Report back results of all steps given thusfar.

 

[andrew129260]

System restore only returns registry entries, programs installed, and system files changes back to what it was when the restore point was created. It does not affect personal files, meaning this will most likely not fix the users profile problem.

I suggest booting normally, (or safe mode) and go into my computer. Then C/users. Right click your user account folder (The name of your windows account) and choose restore previous versions.
Select the day before this problem occurred, select your user folder, click the folder and choose restore.

Shadow copies is a feature in windows 7 that can restore files using restore points. Although system restore and shadow copies are 2 different things.

Sources:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/system-restore-frequently-asked-questions

Shadow Copy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

System Restore - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia