My "MY PICTURES" folder and it's contents have been deleted

When I logged on yesterday morning it was fine... some 15 folders and over 6000 pictures. When I logged back on yesterday afternoon everything was gone. I've tried looking in the Recycle Bin, searching by individual folder and file name but to no avail. Everything seems to be gone. This morning I ran Spybot and it identified and removed something called "PurityScan." Would this have deleted my PICTURES folder? Is there any way they can be recovered? I'm running Windows XP and have RoadRunner. Thanks. Winelvr

 

Not sure if system restore to an earlier point would bring them back? I don't know x.p. yet

 

System restore should do the trick, providing one has not forgotten do punch in a restore date of recent

Oldie

 

Thanks guys but as far as I know System Restore will only restore sytemic issues (ie., system configuration issues); it will not replace files that have been deleted. I actually tried this but it didn't work. WL

 

Go to Start/All Programs / Accessories/ System tools / System Restore / Restore My Computer to an Early Time/ Click next / Find a date (Usually a day before something happen will do)/ Click next.
You have to be aware that if you installed or do anything in the computer, everything will be lost, so save your stuff. However, this only will restore your Operating System , not your Documents.

Do you have Norton?
If you do, double click your trash / find your folder/ and click recover.
Another way will be to open My Documents/ click tools/ Folder options/ View/and put a mark in "Show hidden files and folders/ click Apply.

Another way may be to do a search in Start/ Search / Pictures and Photos (don't put anything in the "All or part of the file name")/ put a mark in the "Use advanced search options)/ search.
Good luck.
Uly7

 

Are you sure the pictures that you are looking for aren't under another user log on name instead?

 

ULY - as I said, tried Sys Restore but no luck since they were picture files... I only have Norton Anti-Virus... and Internet Security...neither of those are the "Norton" you mean are they?

ACACandy - Looked there too... only one other user and all of her files are fine... Only those under my user name were deleted.

Thanks anyway.... WL

 

Have you try this?

"Another way may be to do a search in Start/ Search / Pictures and Photos (don't put anything in the "All or part of the file name")/ put a mark in the "Use advanced search options)/ search"

Uly7

 

When I logged on yesterday morning it was fine... some 15 folders and over 6000 pictures. When I logged back on yesterday afternoon everything was gone. I've tried looking in the Recycle Bin, searching by individual folder and file name, and using System Restore but to no avail. Everything seems to be gone. This morning I ran Spybot and it identified and removed something called "PurityScan." Would this have deleted my PICTURES folder? Is there any way they can be recovered? I'm running Windows XP and have RoadRunner. IThanks. Winelvr

 

Uly7 - Thanks. I did... but no luck. WL

 

if you remember the name of some of the pictures or folder names, can you try doing a search for them.. maybe the folders got moved by accident..


err.. nevermind, I saw your other thread, sorry, I have no idea..

 

Thanks anyway TNIK... I'm really stumped... I think it's got to have something to do with that "PurityScan" junk that found its way onto my system but I have no idea what it would have done with the files.... they're certainly not on the system anymore and weren't in the recycle BIN. WL

 

Well, I've searched around, and found nothing to the aspect that purityscan messes with files on a computer, it is just an adware program..

only thing I can think of is maybe somehow something went wrong and the My Pictures folder got deleted..

just for giggles, have you tried booting into safemode, log under Administrator, and search the drive, maybe something has happened to your current user profile..

 

Also your picture folder may have become "Hidden"(under folder options),and when you did the search,did you use "Advanced Search Options"?

 

Hey Rude... Yup, tried Folder Options and "unhiding" anything that was previously hidden... No luck there. I DID try using the "advanced search options"... looked in system files, hidden stuff etc....no luck there either... Kinda frustrated at this point ... 4 years worth of pics, jokes, gifs, all sorts of stuff... My own damn fault for not putting that stuff on CDs... just wish I knew for sure what had happened to it. WL