OMG Complete lockout of Explorer only pics and docs no drives

[DonM123]

I went to help a guy with his system and a local computer place had his win 7 home premium on lock down somehow. I have never seen windows like this before I would right click on start and go to explore and it would only let me see the pixs docs and videos. I could not get to the hard drives or the external drives or the regular explorer. Was this a user account control setting ? like to make it more secure ? Or was this system hacked via the registry ? Any ideas. ? The only way I could figure out how to do anything was to boot up to a my flash and run windows mini 7.

 

[Snick]

DonM123

I'd suggest you go back to, or call the "local computer place" to have them FIX the PROBLEM they CREATED, or at a minimum explain what operations they performed to cause your friend's issue so you can relay that info to us for troubleshooting!

1. Can you access System Restore?
2. Do you have a backup? Full System Image prior to the repair shop snafu?
3. Can you get to the Desktop?
4. Can you download or install anything?

 

[DonM123]

In a way it might simplify things for the user but in another it is crippling. I suppose for security reasons it might be advantageous. But I tell you it sure did make me look like a total fool at first. Thankfully I was able to boot onto a linux based setup and i was able to get at his drives and see their size and how much space was left. I was wondering if it might be a user account control setting? But i have never witnessed a windows computer that would ONLY ALLOW me to see the my pictures documents videos folders. and the Desktop- Nothing but one simple window only showing those 3 folders no options for details no side window on the left that normally exposes the drives on the left side as normally seen in windows explorer. I was thinking that must have been a registry hack and not a user account control setting like when it lets you control the security level

 

[Snick]

Again I ask, can you download or install anything? I'm assuming NO.

If so, you can perform a Repair Install, it reinstall Windows OS and keeps all your installed programs, files, folders, music, etc. You need a DVD copy of Windows or a Windows ISO file to do this.

 

[DonM123]

Thank you Snick. Thanks for the Backup Reminder Cloning and Imaging is of no use unless you do it often.

 

[Snick]

Thank you Snick. Thanks for the Backup Reminder Cloning and Imaging is of no use unless you do it often.

I do mine Sunday evening, every week if I used that OS and changed anything.

FIY: I crashed my system a few days ago trying to re-establish dual boot, win7 win10 on separate SSDs.
Couldn't fix it without re-imaging my drives. Still not sure what I did wrong, if anything, & I've set that up on numerous computers, numerous times.

Only lost a couple days on Win10. Win7 is dad's and it didn't change from the previous backup.

External Hard Drives USB 3.0 are getting less expensive as SSDs take over.
Recommend EHDs for backup, more stable than "flash type memory used in SSD, was cheaper too.

I have a Seagate Expansion Desktop 8TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC Laptop
& older Seagate 4TB