Latest Windows Updates Cause Folders to disappear from desktop

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  1. Posts : 212
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #1

    Latest Windows Updates Cause Folders to disappear from desktop


    Hey guys...these latest Updates have caused my various folders...music, downloads, images, docs....all my self made folders to disappear from the desktop. In addition Windows reverted back to default settings, I lost all my Firefox favourites and FF wasn't recognised anymore as my default browser, Windowes themes all reverted to default....basically a big scramble and mess. I did system restore and am back to normal...but Windows still wants to update.

    What should I do? These updates are messing my PC up...but the updates are listed as 'critical'....what should I do?

    thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 21,482
    Win 7 x64 Home Premium (and x86 VirtualBox VM)/Win10
       #2


    It sounds as if the system has created a new User Profile because of corruption.
    Try using System Restore to get back to a time before the problem arose.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 21,482
    Win 7 x64 Home Premium (and x86 VirtualBox VM)/Win10
       #3

    Sorry - misread it....

    Please follow the instructions at Windows Update Posting Instructions and post the requested information.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 212
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Ok...well the restore point that my PC went back to was not acceptable for me because I lost too much saved stuff between the restore points. So I had to undo the restore...which leaves me with my folders gone from desktop. If I search for the names of those folders they can be 'found' in Windows Explorer and they say they are on the 'desktop'....which they aren't...but everything is there in the folders.

    So...how can I get them back?

    How can I fix what these updates have done?

    Should I follow the directions gven in post 3?



    thanks
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 21,482
    Win 7 x64 Home Premium (and x86 VirtualBox VM)/Win10
       #5

    That sounds like you have a variant of ZeroAccess malware present. - or your folders have moved off-screen because of resolution changes.



    Please boot to Safe Mode with Networking and download and install Malwarebytes Anti-malware (free version) from http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/ - UNtick 'Enable free trial of MBAM PRO' at the end of the installation - and update it, then run a full scan in your main account, and Quick scans in any other user accounts.

    Delete everything it finds
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 212
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I just ran a full scan on C drive....what do you mean by 'main account' and 'other user accounts'? I'm the only user of the computer.

    The full C drive scan turned up nothing.

    What to do now?

    Will a reinstall solve this problem?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 21,482
    Win 7 x64 Home Premium (and x86 VirtualBox VM)/Win10
       #7

    It certainly *should* do, unless there's a rootkit present.
    Since you only have one active account, that's your main one :)

    Check your desktop Personalisation details - the screen resolution etc., and ensure that you have up-to-date drivers installed for the graphics adapter.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 212
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Ok

    I am following this Remove ZeroAccess rootkit (Uninstall Guide) advice...but I don't see how it can help me get back my stuff that was in folders on my desktop.

    Immediately after the Windows updates my computer restarted and the folders were gone and everything was set back to default (Windows themes etc)...so I searched My Computer for folders I knew were on my desk...they were found and the search indicated that yeah they are on the desktop...of course...they were not.

    So I did a system restore...which got the folders back no problem...only the folders were restored back to an earlier time where a lot of the content that I had put in those folders was not present. So I undid system restore.

    Now when I search My Computer for those desktop folders most of the content is gone...seemingly it only finds what was in there at the last restore point...which means I have lost a lot of stuff.

    Can you undo a system restore undo??

    lol

    What a mess.

    At this stage I want to reinstall...but if you say there is some lurking rootkit thing then that won't do me any good.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 21,482
    Win 7 x64 Home Premium (and x86 VirtualBox VM)/Win10
       #9

    There are some very sophisticated rootkits out there, and they can need more than just a standard reformat/reinstall. If you find any real trace, then I recommend visiting a specialist malware site for assistance, as they will probably be able to recover at least some of your files.

    Make sure that you enable viewing of Hidden and System files when looking for your files - they may simply have had the attribute switched.

    There's also the possibility of physical damage to the disk being the root cause - you may want to test that using the HD manufacturer's utility.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 212
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Good times ahead
      My Computer


 
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