[licoaz]

I had been using Vista for 2 months. Doesn't have any problems except when my DVD drive went missing, but have got that fixed. But now, a bigger problem.

My "Documents" folder, literally emptied itself. Everything I have on it is gone. I only have useless empty folders in it. I don't even have any idea when this happened. I just realised it today when I was trying to load one of my saved documents from Words, and it says "cannot find the path specified". Then I realised that all my words, my mp3 files, and my other received files (from MSN) are all missing. Gone.

I thought I might have accidentally deleted it being the blur queen that I am. So I downloaded "undelete", "restoration" and even "handy recovery" but none of these can find any of those files that went missing from the "documents" folder.

Then, I thought I might have virus or spyware, so I ran Avast and Super Antispyware. Avast scans turn out to have nothing, but they came up with a long list of folders and an error message saying "Cannot find the path specified". Whereas when I ran Super Antispyware, I had 18 adwares. But these still does not solve my problems.

Also when I try to delete or transfer some files I recently saved onto "documents" I can't do it. It would come up with a "calculating time required" but it doesn't do anything. Even after 2 hours, it is still "calculating". And those files are not even 1MB. I did receive an error message about ffdshow.ax so I followed online microsoft recommendation and disable that codec via cmd. Thought I'd mention this though I don't think it has got anything to do with my "self empty documents folder".

I asked my husband (who builds and sells computers), but he said he had never heard of this problem with any of his customers.

I would be eternally grateful to anyone who can kindly assist. I am desperate for my saved word documents as those are part of my assignments which I spent the last 2 months on.

Thank you.

[Enigma49]

Click the start button then click "Computer". Double-click on the "Local Disk (C: )" icon, or whatever drive you installed Windows on, then go into the "Users" folder. All of the folders in this folder should contain a "Documents" folder and with any luck one of them should have your data in it.

[licoaz]

Hi Enigma49,

Yep, have tried this long ago. Doesn't work as well. I searched the whole computer using search, I even check the hidden folders. Nothing at all. Whatever's in it is the same as whatever is on my "documents" folder's desktop shortcut.

I have done whatever I could. I've never had this problem with XP. Only thing that worries me is that even when I am trying to scan for virus my antivirus says "cannot find specified path" and the fact that I cannot delete or even transfer my files in "documents".

[unbidden]

If the My Docs folder was deleted, Windows creates a new one at reboot; check the Recycle Bin.

Freeware file recovery program: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/restoration.html

google search as there may be others.

[licoaz]

Hi Unbidden,

Yep, I have checked my Recycle bin, and have also used that "restoration" program u recommended. Not only that I have also tried others like "undelete" and "handy recovery". But none of the files that were missing can be found.

I did not delete my "documents" folder. The folder is still there, but the files I have inside are all missing, & I cannot find it anywhere on my pc.

[unbidden]

I found this fix; I hope it is applicable to your problem.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It's possible that all the file inside your documents folder are hidden. To confirm this, open any Explorer window, click Organize, then "Folder and Search Options". Click the View tab, then make sure that "Show hidden files and folders" are checked.

If you can now see your files, then they have been hidden. You can permanently remove the hidden attribute on the files like this:
Open a Command Prompt (<WINKEY>+<R>, Type "CMD" (without quotes), press <ENTER>)
Use the CD command to go to your documents folder
type "ATTRIB -h *.* /s /d" (without quotes) then press <ENTER>
This could take several seconds to a few minutes to complete, depending on how many files there are. System-attribute files will not be affected.
When complete, go back into Explorer, and turn off the display of hidden files.

[licoaz]

Hi Unbidden,

Sadly, I have also tried this method. But, no. My files are still missing.

[davehc]

There is one, very delicate way, you may find those docs.
In Windows Explorer, right click the Documents and Settings folder.
Select properties. Select the "Security" tab and then "Advanced"

You are about to change the security options, so it is a good idea to recerse these procedures, when finished, or leave the folder really alone in the future!!
Select the "Owner" tab and then edit

Select your username as the owner. OK
Now you should be back at the first window. Select "Edit" in the top window. If it is not already there, "Add" your username.
If you highlight your username, you will find you can then select all the boxes in the bottom window.
Apply and OK.
You may now be able to access the "Documents and settings" folder, where you will find all your docs.
If not, go back, following the initial steps above, to the "Owner "window. You will find an entry for "everyone" which says "Deny". Delete this.


Please, please note, this is an extreme measure if your docs are important to you. I have done in several times in the course of Beta testing, but it is not for the timid. The worst case is you could lose all the "My...." folders under Users.


Don't try this unless you feel really confident. Make an image of your OS before proceeding.

[licoaz]

Hi Davehc,

I just tried your method. Not via the "Documents & Settings" since vista doesn't have this folder anymore. I did it via "C: users". So I checked under security, and advanced, I found that for all my users, it's all "Allow". And I do not have anything under "Deny".

So I went back to check on my "documents" folder. And sadly nothing changes.

[unbidden]

Right click the doc's folder - left click Properties - check to see if the folder was created at a time that coincides with the creation of your user profile.

[licoaz]

Hi Unbidden,

No. It doesn't coincide. What does this mean?

[unbidden]

I see you are using Vista Business edition. Have you or another admin user made changes using gpedit?

refer to: http://codylogan.net/2008/01/15/rece...ents-in-vista/

[unbidden]

Originally Posted by licoaz

Hi Unbidden,

No. It doesn't coincide. What does this mean?

If the doc's folder has a recent creation date, then it was some how deleted. Windows will create a new folder at reboot.

[licoaz]

Hi Unbidden,

I am the only user to this pc. So no, I never heard of gpedit so, I would not have touched it. And also, I did not delete the documents folder at all. So would there be another explanation for this?

[unbidden]

Originally Posted by licoaz

Hi Unbidden,

I am the only user to this pc. So no, I never heard of gpedit so, I would not have touched it. And also, I did not delete the documents folder at all. So would there be another explanation for this?

I assume you did try a System Restore?

--

It's seems you are not alone. This is looking like another Windows glitch. At this point I would try a few different things. Slave the drive to another computer and see if you can extract the files. The other option is much more advanced and you'll need to do your homework; create a live Knoppix cd to see if you can access/find the files.

http://www.knoppix.org/ If the page is not in English, click the US/Brit flag at the top of the page.