User Files MIA

[JonDavis18]

Hey guys,

I'm relatively new to windows 7 on my home PC and still use vista on my laptop. After a random restart of the home PC with windows 7 installed on it, all the user files have vanished. My Pics folder, My Music folder, etc are all now empty. I open iTunes and everything plays but all txt, mp3, wmv, etc are all gone from the folders in explorer. Although the properties of the folders show high data usage and the full user rights for the files are on, everything inside is blank. I have tried countless system restore points, but nothing helps. I have low to mid level experience with this OS so I am really stuck. Has anyone encountered this or have any ideas of how to fix it? I would be happy being able to just back up the family movies, music, and pictures and do a fresh install if a repair is impossible. Any help is GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks...

 

[brady]

start / search / *.mp3

 

[JonDavis18]

It completely shows up empty but the files play from within iTunes....it's really strange

 

[richc46]

Type the name of a folder in search, it should show location, as advised by Brady. If they do not show, you probably marked them to hide. I will get you our tutorial how to restore them.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/56005-file-folder-hide-unhide.html

Let us know the results.

 

[brady]

When you say "random" restart, can you explain a bit more? Were there drivers installed? any software added or removed to prompt the restart?

 

[JonDavis18]

If ALL user files are able to be hidden somehow...ie...desktop files, pics, music, videos...that would make sense

 

[richc46]

Read and understand the tutorial that I gave you. Any questions, just ask. Then give it a try. It may not work, but then we can move on.

 

[JonDavis18]

To Brady...I d/l the trial version of RegCure 2.0 but never ran it.

 

[JonDavis18]

To RichC46...I appologize but I am not seeing a tutorial...what is the link to learning how to unhide files?

 

[belikexp]

To RichC46...I appologize but I am not seeing a tutorial...what is the link to learning how to unhide files?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/56005-file-folder-hide-unhide.html

 

[brady]

please scan with your current (up to date) antivirus software. Please install and run Malwarebytes and scan in safemode.

 

[richc46]

To RichC46...I appologize but I am not seeing a tutorial...what is the link to learning how to unhide files?

It is posted in Post number 4 Just click and you should see the tutorial.

 

[richc46]

Actually, I posted the tutorial in post number 4.

 

[JonDavis18]

Okay...I went through the tutorial and followed the instructions. None of the "hidden" buttons were clicked under user name, my music, my pictures, etc. I followed the command window instructions also. All desktop files, music, pics, & videos are still invisible.

 

[richc46]

You can also try to restore with shadow copies. Go to the "mysterious folders" right click,>properties>restore to previous versions.

You can, also try back up and restore.

 

[JonDavis18]

I have most of my files backed up on an external drive. There were a few recent folders of family pictures and school files that I would really like to recover if possible. What really confuses me is that I can play the music files under this user name through itunes...but the files themselves are just gone.

 

[richc46]

Try the procedures that I have outlined above. You will get them back, they are there. They are moved, renamed, or hidden.

 

[JonDavis18]

Here's an odd thing...I opened one of those "previous" folders and tried to just copy a txt file called class notes to the desktop and it's asking if I want to "copy and replace"????


Would it be best to just restore my entire C:\Users\<Username> folder?

 

[richc46]

Restore using the previous version feature. Make sure that you have external backup of everything that you can back up.

 

[computersplus]

go to control panel folder options on all three tabs restore defaults