PROGRAM DATA folder suddenly missing, START menu shortcuts don't w

[Roger Agness]

Have been using this HP Pavilion laptop successfully for almost a year now,
when suddenly the Start menu shortcuts to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint don't
work. You click them and nothing happens.

Careful investigation (right-click the menu option and look at Properties)
shows the General tab, Location as: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start
Menu\Programs\Microsoft Office.

Problem is... the ProgramData folder is gone. Disappeared into thin air. Not
even in the Recycle Bin.

That is annoying on its own. BUT... what else was in the Program Data folder
that is now missing also?

Grrrr. I have been a Technical Trainer for 20 years, but can't figure out
this one.

Can anybody help?

Roger Agness
Orlando, Fl

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

At:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Shell
Folders
"Common AppData"="C:\ProgramData"

 

[Roger Agness]

Thank you, Mark. I do appreciate your expertise, but what am I supposed to do
with that info? I know that the Registry is a dangerous place to tread. Are
you saying to change a setting, or what?

Thank you, and any others who respond.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

You are trying to repair your system. If some default setting is not there,
you have little choice about treading in the registry to find out what is
there.
Windows registry information for advanced users:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/
You alternative would be reinstalling the system, or getting someone else to
fix it.

 

[Michael Walraven]

did you check that 'show hidden files and folders' is enabled in
tools/options/view?
Michael