Most files on desktop missing
undisclosed
*Most files on desktop missing*
Greetings and SOS
During a 'disk cleanup'
(http://www.technologyquestions.com/technology/#) of temporary 'Internet
files' (http://www.technologyquestions.com/technology/#) (which I
regularly perform) on XP pro the 'PC'
(http://www.technologyquestions.com/technology/#) slowed down and I had
to restart. Once the new session started I saw almost all my files on
the desktop (pdf, doc , rtf,) missing as well as some shortcuts and
links. Strange that in some folders on the desktop some files are
missing and some are intact. Other folders are missing entirely. Same
with files directly on desktop. PLEASE HELP
I have tried this so far
1. Recycle bin empty
2. System restore - tells me that it could not be done since there are
no changes following my last restore point
3 I installed EasyRecovery pro but the files are not there - I get all
sorts of old doc rtf and pdf files but not the ones missing from my
desktop
4. I ve tried show hidden files but doesnt work as well
5. there is no unused desktop items folder - i created one and still no
files
Thank you in advance
--
valerossy
PA20Pilot
If you open Windoze Explorer and browse to your desktop folder are any
of your missing items there? Have you tried right clicking on your
desktop, then use your icons arrange options to make sure they aren't
just off the edge somewhere?
---==X={}=X==---
Jim Self
AVIATION ANIMATION, the internet's largest depository.
http://avanimation.avsupport.com
Your only internet source for spiral staircase plans.
http://jself.com/stair/Stair.htm
Experimental Aircraft Association #140897
EAA Technical Counselor #4562
Ol�rin
<undisclosed> wrote in message
news:0a82ef014362cb63...@nntp-gateway.com...
It could be that your profile has become corrupted and you have been logged
in with a new one; the icons/files/folders you CAN see are those in the "All
Users" area, the missing ones were specific to you.
Open a Command Prompt (under Programs > Accessories or Start > Run > "cmd"
[Enter]). In it, type
c: [Enter]
cd %userprofile% [Enter]
This will come back with a prompt looking something like
C:\Documents and Settings\valerossy>
Remember the "valerossy" bit - that's the profile in use at the moment.
Close the Command Prompt window and open Windows Explorer.
Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings. You should see "All Users" and
"valerossy" or whatever it was. Look through the Desktops of the *other*
folders, see if the missing items are there. If so, that's your old
profile - report back if that's the case and we can take it from there.
Smiles
shortcut on you desktop if needed.
A lot of the cleanup programs do remove desktop documents along with
temp files. see if you can find an undelete program to see if it can
recover them what ever you do do not defrag
good look
undisclosed
thanks for the help but none has worked so far
i am logged with my account and some of my specific files are still
there most are missing
i have also tried the windows explorer/desktop and have tried show
hidden files as well - still no sign
if you could come up wit further suggestions i would appreciate it
thanks anyway
--
valerossy
Bill P
Have you tried doing a search for .doc , .pdf and then .rtf files (separate
search for each)
Bill
<undisclosed> wrote in message
news:0a82ef014362cb63...@nntp-gateway.com...
>
Ol�rin
<undisclosed> wrote in message
news:d21d834e34f0951b...@nntp-gateway.com...
You may well be logged in under your usual name, but did you check which
folder in C:\Documents and Settings is being used, as I described in my last
post?
You say you've set Windows Explorer to show hidden files - did you tell it
to "Apply to all folders"? I'd also set it (for now) to "Display the
contents of system folders" and to NOT "Hide protected operating system
files", just in case something really squiffy happened.
Do you happen to have a tool that "takes over" the Recycle Bin (eg I think
Norton), managing deleted files in a special way?
Most expedient thing might be to restore the missing files from backup,
although of course that doesn't address the problem directly and enable you
to stop it recurring.
What tool do you use when doing your "'disk cleanup' of temporary 'Internet
files'"? If some third-party one, does it have un "undo" feature?
If EasyRecovery didn't find the files in question, they're probably not
deleted (unless your cleaner-up does some in-depth erasing). You might want
to try another file recovery tool (there are several good freebies out
there) just to be sure, though. I'd try installing a decent search utility
like AgentRansack (don't rely on XP's search) and scouring your computer for
these files, if you can remember part or all of their names. If not, search
by type (extension) and trawl through the results.
Could the clean-up you did be a coincidental red herring - does anyone else
have access to the machine - either directly or through remote access?
Oh, and please don't snip out the text of previous posts when replying - it
gives your message no immediate context.
undisclosed
what kind of search bill please specify since
--
valerossy
PA20Pilot
Hi again,
I think what Bill is suggesting is to go to your Windoze Explorer and
try a search for one of your file types that is missing. You can
enter/search one of your file extensions and there's a possibility that
things of yours that are currently missing will be found. Keep the
search broad, all of C drive at least. It's hard to imagine your files
were deleted without a trace. If you really can't find anything, it may
be a matter of trying several undelete programs and see what they may do
for you.
Bill P
Go to Start/Search and click on "All files and folders". In the box "All or
part of the file name" type .doc ( including the full stop or period if you
are in USA) look in "All hard drives" and click on Search. Do the same for
.pdf and .rtf files.
It will find all the files of that type on your machine. Hopefully your lost
files will be among them.
Regards Bill
<undisclosed> wrote in message
news:11018de332480fc0...@nntp-gateway.com...