All Documents//Pictures on Window disappeared

bazdvd

its not so much about restoring files but restoring access to them

cisko65

bazdvd said:

ok do a system restore and choose the most recent restore point.

watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr77A_65_BE

I've created a system restore but it only gives me today's date.  

JSmithy45AD

Click the 'Start' button, you should see a picture or icon and a name there, is it yours? Click on it and it'll show the email address associated with the account.  Even if it is yours, click on log out and then log back in (you'll need your log in details obviously).

sausage_time

Life lesson - always have a robust backup strategy in place.  I have two - one on a remote server (with versions) and snapshots to a local disk.  There are many options, but be sure to have something in place - especially before upgrading an OS.

Vitor

- Only 1 user folder with a Public folder inside: empty. -

Looks like the disk has corrupted and directory structure has got messed up

cisko65

Alleluia! I found my pre-Christmas folders/documents.

When I go to File Explorer and click on OneDrive ''the folder is empty'' appears, and after a second Set up OneDrive.

BUT when I go to

-Window there are 2 Users

- In one User there are a few folders, with none of my folders/documents.

In the other User a long list of folders appear:

-Program files (full of folders)

-Windows (full of folders)

 -Documents only an empty file

And

-One Drive

When I open One Drive here I get my documents!

It would be helpful to understand what I did wrong. What do you think?

I think that when I opened OneDrive in the file explorer and it looked empty, I assumed no files where there.

I have a new laptop. I'll do a separate tread as I'm sure I'll need help.

Thank you so much everybody!

Vitor

If your files are in the OneDrive folder, then surely they have been syncronised to the cloud and should be online in cloud storage at https://onedrive.live.com/ 

cisko65

Vitor said:

If your files are in the OneDrive folder, then surely they have been syncronised to the cloud and should be online in cloud storage?

I'm not entirely sure of what you mean, sorry. I remember that some folders and files were synchronized. From what I understand this means they got saved in Microsoft's cloud storage.

But why I have them only in OneDrive folder and none in Documents/pictures etc.?

spud17

Interesting thread.
My experience.
I recently up fired up an old HP laptop running unsupported Win11 just to let it update.
I always uninstall One Drive.
Imagine my surprise when i found that my Documents and Pictures folders plus contents had been moved to a brand new One Drive folder!
One Drive still not installed.
Every time I tried to locate them back and delete the One Drive folder, it regenerated and moved back the Documents and Pictures folders plus contents.
Eventually I managed to succeed by deleting/rebooting a few times.

P.S. This particular laptop has never been associated with a Microsoft account.

cisko65

spud17 said:

Interesting thread.
My experience.
I recently up fired up an old HP laptop running unsupported Win11 just to let it update.
I always uninstall One Drive.
Imagine my surprise when i found that my Documents and Pictures folders plus contents had been moved to a brand new One Drive folder!
One Drive still not installed.
Every time I tried to locate them back and delete the One Drive folder, it regenerated and moved back the Documents and Pictures folders plus contents.
Eventually I managed to succeed by deleting/rebooting a few times.

P.S. This particular laptop has never been associated with a Microsoft account.

Interesting to know you had a similar experience.
Why did you try and delete the folders in OneDrive if they didn't ''remain'' in the Documents and Pictures folders?
I do not want to loose anything by deleting (what?)/rebooting, so:
I need to better understand what OneDrive is and how it works.
How to keep the folders/files in the Documents and Pictures folders.
I have a new laptop and will need to transfer them to it.

Very happy I found what I thought I had lost. Must learn to do Back up, if possible automatically regularly.