Lost Files

[LexiJ]

My laptop updated with the most recent update, and when I turned it back on, ALL of my files were gone, including my pictures. It seems to have basically restarted my laptop as a new computer. Is there any way I can recover my pictures? I care about the other documents as well, but I had pictures of my recently deceased grandmother stored on my laptop and would love to recover them as I don't have them stored anywhere else.  The update was an automatic one, and I've updated my laptop before. I'm just not understanding why the files would be deleted. There's a file folder labeled "recovery" on my laptop, but when I try to open it, I can't access what inside. The only wording it shows is a message from HP saying not to delete or alter the files in the folder as they're used to recover files on my computer, but I can't even access those files.

[David_J_W · Accepted solution]

My sympathies both on your loss and the horrible situation with your computer. We are always reminded to back up data, but none of us are perfect in doing so and it is always easy to be wise after the fact.

I very much doubt the lost files are in the Recovery folder or partition; that is almost certainly data for the 'restore to factory' functionality. What I suspect is more likely is that something went wrong with the recent update that caused a new user profile folder to be created for your login - in which case the damaged profile is probably still sitting in C:\Users.

Take a look in C:\Users - other than Public, look in each of the other folders. Hopefully one of them has the information you're looking for in the Documents and Pictures subfolders.

If the files have truly been deleted then then the options are limited and the likelihood of recovery diminishes the more that you use the computer. Professional data recovery is an option, but can be extremely expensive and there is no guarantee of success.

[LexiJ]

Thanks so much! I found all of the files!

[David_J_W]

That is wonderful news - thank you for your update.

I hope the found files help in your grieving for and celebrating your late grandmother. It is hard enough to lose someone you love, let alone contemplate the loss of any of your memories of them once they have gone. I wish you and your family well.