Lost Documents

[bobb]

I was chatting with an hp tech to help install a printer with a program
downloaded from their site. I never did get the printer installed and don't
care to at this point. Some how through all of the stuff the tech had me do
I've lost all of my word docs, spread sheets, pictures- everything. The
baffling thing to me is that shortcuts to all of these missing files are now
in a folder called my recent documents. Unfortunately when I click on any of
the short cuts the computer tells me that it cant locate the folder that the
document is in. When I hover on any of the short cuts it tells me that the
file is in My Documents- but that file is now empty? Does anybody have any
suggestions?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I was chatting with an hp tech to help install a printer with a
program downloaded from their site. I never did get the printer
installed and don't care to at this point. Some how through all of
the stuff the tech had me do I've lost all of my word docs, spread
sheets, pictures- everything. The baffling thing to me is that
shortcuts to all of these missing files are now in a folder called
my recent documents. Unfortunately when I click on any of the short
cuts the computer tells me that it cant locate the folder that the
document is in. When I hover on any of the short cuts it tells me
that the file is in My Documents- but that file is now empty? Does
anybody have any suggestions?

You'd have to let us know what the 'tech' had you do.

Checked your recycle bin?
Did the tech have you create a new account?
Log into a different account?
Delete anything?
Move anything?
Run anything?

 

[bobb]

Thank you for trying to help.
Yes, I checked the recycle bin and have restored everything in it.
No, he did not have me create a new account
No, he did not have me log in to a different account
Yes, he had me delete everything in the temp folder except the ones that a
pop up would say it wasn't possible.
No, he didn't have me move anything.
Yes, he had me run %temp%

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I was chatting with an hp tech to help install a printer with a
program downloaded from their site. I never did get the printer
installed and don't care to at this point. Some how through all of
the stuff the tech had me do I've lost all of my word docs, spread
sheets, pictures- everything. The baffling thing to me is that
shortcuts to all of these missing files are now in a folder called
my recent documents. Unfortunately when I click on any of the short
cuts the computer tells me that it cant locate the folder that the
document is in. When I hover on any of the short cuts it tells me
that the file is in My Documents- but that file is now empty? Does
anybody have any suggestions?

You'd have to let us know what the 'tech' had you do.

Checked your recycle bin?
Did the tech have you create a new account?
Log into a different account?
Delete anything?
Move anything?
Run anything?

Thank you for trying to help.
Yes, I checked the recycle bin and have restored everything in it.
No, he did not have me create a new account
No, he did not have me log in to a different account
Yes, he had me delete everything in the temp folder except the ones
that a pop up would say it wasn't possible.
No, he didn't have me move anything.
Yes, he had me run %temp%

Then nothing he did caused your "My Documents" folder to be emptied.
(Unless you left something out.)

Know the name of any single file (or maybe a file type) that was stored in
your "My Documents" folder? If so - search the entire C drive for the
file(s).

You can also use software like "Recuva" to look for deleted files and
possible recover them.

Better yet - restore the files from your external backups...

Before you ask - nothing about the shortcuts mean anything other than the
files were located in your "My Documents" folder but either that folder is
empty or changed locations and the shortcut no longer works.

Also - %TEMP% would have opened your Temporary folder located in
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Locals Settings\TEMP -- nothing to do
with your "My Documents" other than having the same second level folder
(C:\Documents and Setting\<username>\) --> you might look in the
C:\Documents and Settings\ to see if you have multiple profiles with similar
names.

 

[db]

well perhaps your folders are not organized.

maybe you were storing all your docs in the
temp folder inadverdently,

thus a possible cause of your problem.

however, another problem is that if you were
speaking with a tech then you were likely
experiencing an issue with your pc.

my guess is that your file system was unstable
and you may have not been saving your files on a
stabilize system.

for example your master file table index's "ALL"
your files of your file system.

if it became corrupted at some point in time, then
it is highly probable that every file your created or
store on the disk after the corruption cannot be
retrieved the normal methods.

the above being said you may need to run a chkdsk
"but" not before trying to undelete your user files and
moving them onto a cd or dvd.

so my suggestion is to install and use a freeware
called "recuva"

it will scan your system for all files that have been
deleted from the desktop.

you need to scrutinize the listing because the first
letter of the original files names has been replaced by a
question mark.

to restore the file you will have the opportunity to rename
that deleted file so it will appear in the file system.

then move all those files onto a dvd and run a chkdsk.

the chkdsk will reindex your file in the file system and correct
any issues with the master file table.

again, anything that was created after the master file table
became corrupted will not be included in the mft.

---------------

incidentally, you should be mindful of making copies
of your user files.

you can use a free tool called "synctoy" to simply make
copies into a different location for safe keeping.

the system restore feature only applies to "system" files
and not user files, like docs, pics, music, etc...


--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
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- @Hotmail.com
- nntp Postologist
~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Jose]

I was chatting with an hp tech to help install a printer with a program
downloaded from their site. I never did get the printer installed and don't
care to at this point. Some how through all of the stuff the tech had me do
I've lost all of my word docs, spread sheets, pictures- everything. The
baffling thing to me is that shortcuts to all of these missing files are now
in a folder called my recent documents. Unfortunately when I click on anyof
the short cuts the computer tells me that it cant locate the folder that the
document is in. When I hover on any of the short cuts it tells me that the
file is in My Documents- but that file is now empty? Does anybody have any
suggestions?

Sounds like your stuff is just lost (hope for the best!).

What do you mean "of these missing files are now in a folder called my
recent documents"? You searched, right

My Recent Documents is not like a regular folder, it is a list of
shortcuts to another folder with documents.

Every use that logs into Windows starts with a My Documents folder and
under that are My Pictures, My Music, etc.

Windows likes to organize everything for users under the My Documents
folder. So look for your My Documents folder, and look at everybody's
My Documents folder.

Forget about the shortcuts for now. Find the documents in the My
Documents folder that belongs to you or the folder that you think used
to belong to you. Windows will not let you delete a My Documents
folder easily. I think it is just not where you think it is or where
it is supposed to be.

Find it first, relax, then fix it.

For user Jose, that would be:

C:\Documents and Settings\Jose\My Documents

For you maybe that is:

C:\Documents and Settings\Bobb\My Documents

What can you find under there?

If it is not immediately apparent, check the Documents and Settings
for every user.

 

[Twayne]

Sounds like your stuff is just lost (hope for the best!).

What do you mean "of these missing files are now in a folder called my
recent documents"? You searched, right

My Recent Documents is not like a regular folder, it is a list of
shortcuts to another folder with documents.

Every use that logs into Windows starts with a My Documents folder and
under that are My Pictures, My Music, etc.

Windows likes to organize everything for users under the My Documents
folder. So look for your My Documents folder, and look at everybody's
My Documents folder.

Forget about the shortcuts for now. Find the documents in the My
Documents folder that belongs to you or the folder that you think used
to belong to you. Windows will not let you delete a My Documents
folder easily. I think it is just not where you think it is or where
it is supposed to be.

Find it first, relax, then fix it.

For user Jose, that would be:

C:\Documents and Settings\Jose\My Documents

For you maybe that is:

C:\Documents and Settings\Bobb\My Documents

What can you find under there?

If it is not immediately apparent, check the Documents and Settings
for every user.