Posted on 12/15/2015 8:45:12 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj
Just a few minutes ago, I turned on my computer. Nothing seemed to be wrong, but as I clicked on my user name, got the strange message of something regarding my desktop (formatting or updating).
When the page finally loaded, I knew something was very wrong. The tab bar was in the wrong place, and when I clicked on it, all of my files, all of my webpages, everything was GONE.
It was like this was a brand new computer, with nothing in it. I'm in a panic as to what to do to recover my files and the like (as I have stupidly not backed them up en masse in awhile).
The computer was fine when I signed off this morning. My father apparently used it on his user name this morning, but swears he did nothing besides looking at AOL Mail and Drudge.
According to the System Restore (which I'm not comfortable operating without expert guidance), the last thing done was an update approximately 50 minutes ago (9:55pm) which was in between my having turned on the computer and discovering the wipe-out.
If anyone can help me here, I'd greatly appreciate it. This is a real computer emergency.
Windows 10?
You may have logged on as a new or different user. Go to Start, and it should give you the option to log off, restart, or switch user. Click switch user and see if you can get your original back. Hope this helps.
Re-boot in safe mode and see if your files are still on the hard drive. then run chkdsk
It happened to me this morning. AVAST seemed to straighten everything out.
At first, I thought that was loaded inadvertently. But it’s still under my current one (7?), just everything is missing.
+1
I’m not an expert, but if it said “formatting”, you have a problem. I think, also, that the fewer keystrokes that you make, the better chance for professional recovery of the data. If the hard drive was formatted, I would take it to an expert.
So, tell me again how you are able to access the internet?
There’s two users, mine and my father’s. I logged in under mine.
Open the system drive (normally C:) and look for the Users folder and see if there is more than 1 user listed.
"something regarding my desktop (formatting or updating)."
If it was something like 'preparing your desktop' ... then it sounds very much like you are logged in as someone else, and looking at someone else's desktop ... which could appear as if you've lost everything ... like an empty empty/new installation ... when really you're just looking at someone else's profile/desktop.
Maybe you're still logged in as your Dad or whoever last used it ...
Use system restore and go back a day. Easy.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/11238/using-system-restore-to-recover-your-windows-7-computer/
You can later install Rollback RX which is even easier to use.
RollBack Rxâ„¢ Home edition Is the FREE System Restore utility designed for Windows based PC’S...
http://www.horizondatasys.com/en/rollback_rx.ihtml
On second thought, it would not have been formatting your hard drive, or you would not be able to get any system information. That makes it much more hopeful.
I had to get to FR by typing in the address. It works, but there are no webpages saved beyond what you get when you first load. I’m now typing on another computer, since I don’t want to screw up anything beyond what has already happened. But I need those files.
Windows, or something else?
Click on Start, All programs, System tools, System restore and see if there are any restore points.
Can your dad still login?
Maybe your dad made an alternate profile to log in to. If not, well, there’s always booze and drugs to kill the pain away.
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