To start with did you just do the IE cumulative update released this week? Any of the other ones?

To begin the remediation you can import the addresses from FF into IE or try the old stand-by of system restore.

DA

you might start off with trying a system restore and see if that works.

Are you sure your toolbar did not just get hidden?

This is why I tell everyone to USE xmarks on all browsers you then always have your bookmarks no matter where you are and if they disappear a simple sync will put them all back in seconds.

To start with did you just do the IE cumulative update released this week? Any of the other ones?
You mean the 22.5MB one? Not yet.
Is that a problem one to where I shouldn't?
I did the kb ones (3) and saved the MB ones for when time allows. (dialup)

This what it looks like. (Bare)

{{gwi:1455235}}

On your menu,, View/Toobars, maybe try unchecking "Favorites bar" .... then close/open IE and put the check mark back.

mikie,
Thanks but I put most of my favorite sites up there again and don't want to take a chance on them disappearing.
Darn anyhow that my Favorites was wiped clean too of all the folders named for separate places etc. etc..
Wonder what the heck happened.

Urlee

The cumulative update is not a problem. You should do it. Since the update is new I asked as a point of reference in assisting you. If you are leery just do it by itself.

DA

did you try a system restore as I suggested to get your favorites back? just to the day before it changed very quick and simple and if it does not work is just as easily reversed just pick a date on the calendar and try it.

I had them all lined up again and they were there an hour ago but I got knocked off (dialup) and when I just went on NOW, they were all GONE again?

raven, I looked at the system restore and was wondering what it takes back off like my recent updates and spyware, virus updates and scans??

only if anything was updated during that period that is nothing to worry about your AV will immediately re update itself etc. I would do it because it sounds like something has changed your settings so you need to go back to before it started.

I know my Avast updates every day but------
Yesterday:
I updated and scanned (Thorough) with SuperAntiSpyware.
Updated and scanned (FULL) with Malwarebytes.
Did my new updates for Windows7 etc.

Will those be washed down the drain to where I have to do them over again? Takes forever to do those, (dialup)

Your updates for Windows 7 will have to be done again. It is only things that you have downloaded or installed since the restore point that will be affected. System restore has no bearing on scans.

To DA with love (smiles)

* damccoy (My Page) on Thu, Feb 10, 11 at 21:23
Urlee
The cumulative update is not a problem. You should do it. Since the update is new I asked as a point of reference in assisting you. If you are leery just do it by itself.
DA

Did I get a scare when I went on my computer.
I got all set and turned on my computer as usual.
I can't remember if the welcome screen came but I ended up with a black screen with a dialog box saying:

C\windows\system 32\config\systemprofile\Desktop refers to a location that is unavailable. It could be on a hard drive on the computer or on a network. Check to make sure the disk is properly inserted or that you are connected to the Internet or your network and then try again. If it still cannot be located, the information may have been moved to a different location

Then the message disappeared when I clicked OK and a black desktop with white blank pages in place of the icons were there and the start button with a few of the system tray items. I didn't have the option to shut down (that I remember) so pressed the power button and it blinked so I hit it again or I did the Ctrl, Alt, Delete and the computer booted up with the welcome screen and came up normal. WHEW! That is all I need?

What do you think that was all about? Could it have been caused by the updates I did yesterday before I shut down?

Urlee, my personal opinion is that your main problem is still being on dialup. You have a super computer with all the bells and whistles, but your Internet service is like trying to take a shower with a tiny trickle of water. Windows 7 is a super operating system, and most web sites today are quite graphic intensive, but you have a pipeline serving you that has a real problem providing what you need. It is going to take quite a while to get all the MS updates done, so I would take the IE cumulative update and do it first, then do several of the smaller ones, and finally do the removal tool for malicious programs. I know what you are going through because I had a very, very slow dialup service until I finally changed to 3G wireless. Us folks out in the boondocks don't have much choice. Just ask DA how much difference it has made for him to have a faster internet service.

But first of all, do the system restore like Raven suggested, and then start doing the updates without trying to do lots of other stuff in between. Otherwise, you'll get farther and farther behind in your updates.

what caused that black screen is likely those windows updates if you have read the posts here several have had that same thing happen to them from the latest updates.

With the updates since you are on dial up you can get them one at a time just do it selectively instead of allowing windows updates to do it automatically that way you can keep from bogging down on dial up. Plus if you do them just one or 2 at a time and one causes that problem you know which one is the culprit. Plus windows 7 creates a restore point prior to doing the windows updates so you can restore back to the exact point you need to be at.

I do do a few at a time picking the "MB's" one at a time and a few KB's together.
I am afraid to do a restore to have to redo those updates and have that happen again where I may not be able to get out of it this time?
Those darn favorites and the favorite bar list disappeared again (twice) so I had to put them all up again to export to desktop to open and click.
They STAY on FFox? At least so far. Been on IE mostly cause FF doesn't do what IE does for me.

this is a perfect example of why we say to do a system restore IMMEDIATELY because if you do you will not have a lot of stuff that would be lost, in this example had you done it immediately when this happened it would have been well before these latest windows updates so that would not even be an issue. System restore is so simple to do and it is one of the first things I always try, why put it off?

And I have to say my gosh why on earth have you not installed xmarks on your browser yet? then there would not be the issue of you having to manually do any of what you are doing. If they disappear you simple click on the xmarks icon and hit sync and it puts everything back as it was in mere seconds. You are making yourself go through a LOT of very unnecessary grief.

My thought as I stated in the beginning is something changed your settings in IE somehow and until that is restored to how it was you will continue to have this problem. I would go into IE and set all settings back to default I would also disable any add ons that may be on it to see if one of them could be the culprit.
Internet Explorer add-ons: frequently asked questions
How to reset Internet Explorer settings
has a simple fixit for this.

GET XMARKS for IE
http://www.xmarks.com/

Here is a link that might be useful: xmarks

Try this exercise:

Click on start button > click on computer > click local disk "C" > click "Users" > Click on your user name > look for favorites folder > right click on that folder choose Properties > click Location tab at top > Restore default.

Also,

Next time the favorites disappear in IE,

Click start and in the search box type Favorites

This exercise will bring up the Favorites folder, so you can see if there actually there. Indicating the default location of the folder somehow is getting moved.

And Raven's advice too!

Oh oh zep,
No Favorites there and I am afraid 9 out of 10 I am the culprit!
I have been working on a whole slug of files and folders I took from my desktop (flash drive) to sort out and save for here (laptop) and had a file named Favorites which after gone through, I bet I deleted the WRONG one that belonged for THIS computer. Because I had a huge build up of items in my Recycle bin, I deleted it and along went the Favorites IF that is what happened.

Raven, I did look into xmarks when you first posted it and didn't understand how to use it (how it works) so I passed. (the simplest things I can't grasp)

I also got lost in how to reset IE settings to where lately I did a few screw ups which left me scared to do anything.

News Flash-----
Will IE 9 solve my missing folder problem to where I won't have to screw up here?

not likely and I would not move to 9 yet it is not really ready.

xmarks is extremely easy.