Files missing from folders in "my documents"

13 years ago

I swear I have the computer from Hedoubletoothpicks!
I go to all the trouble of making up folders, put files inside, and then come to search for them, the folder is empty. This happens in the document area, and if I keep them on the desktop in folders, they are available. The desktop is getting a little crowded, and I am getting more and more nervous about the losses, not that the end of the world will occur, but lots of work has gone into the making of the documents, and all for naught.
I checked my XHD, nothing shows there, also googled and the language used is sometimes over my head, can someone lead me in the right direction?
W7 is gonna be the death of me yet.
This machine was built, not a name brand purchase from the store. Otherwise, think I am getting the hang of the OS finally, and my dummies book is getting a workout. Someone have a clue? All files are in pdf format.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

emma
13 years ago
You might try this recovery, then scroll down. He said desktop is only for shortcuts. I didn't now that, interesting.

Here is a link that might be useful: This may help
owbist
13 years ago
Shaddy as you have Windows 7 you should see a yellow folder on the taskbar beside the Start button. This is your file cabinet or Windows Explorer to be exact. There is no need to clutter up your desktop, simply click that folder and all your folders appear., You might find this so much easier than using the desktop as storage.
Related Discussions
Disappearing Files
Q
Comments (10)
Unless configured otherwise Vista accounts should by default save to their respective profile default file locations. Shall I assume MS Word is the app in question? If so the default should be My Documents. What does the Word MRU show if you go to File->Open? Was a memory key in use at the time? Finally if you know the filename or type of document, do a search for it. Having said that, I am not a fan of Vista's default search by comaparion to previous Windows versions. For Vista and 7 I use Nirsoft's SearchMyFiles. Located here You would enter your search criteria in the "Files Wildcard" field.
...See More
Lost some of My Documents
Q
Comments (4)
I found one PDF shortcut which states "location: My Documents". The target is "D" but the actual location is C:\Documents and Settings\Recent. I just saved a notepad titled "Ben", saved as a text file and one titled "Zen". The "Ben" file located and showed in My Documents and created a shortcut in the Recent folder. The "Zen" file is located in C:\Documents and Settings\Recent and has a shortcut there. The target is D:\zen.txt. Somehow when I save to My Documents, I'm involving the Recent folder. Never heard of this folder before but it seems to have intertwined with My Documents and its save feature.
...See More
Method to organize data files on my computer?
Q
Comments (7)
Bob - Good Grief is right. But it's probably not as bad as it sounds. One of the problems is that before I found this forum a year ago (and had some sense of saving files to the appropriate place), not only did my husband and I just save files (with no regard to where they were being placed) - we also had 2 different computer guys help at various times - and I've discovered that one of them took it upon himself to set up some folders and put items there (he set up a Lynn's documents) when he transferred data from one computer to another. Now I can see why he set up my own folder (since my husband and I shared a computer in those days) - but he never told me he was doing that- so lo and behold - I have an entire Lynn's documents folder that I never use but contains some of my older files. yeah - I guess it's a lot to sort. Personally, your method makes sense to me - just set up folders in the C drive for the categories I'm interested in. I'm now the only one on my computer - so I don't think I need a "my documents" folder (and certainly not a separate "Lynn's documents" folder). I am so glad to have found this forum and decided to get mastery and comprehension of my computer. Having professionals set things up - but not bother telling you what and why they did things - just complicates everything. And the pictures are also a mess bc. this helpful computer guy put picasa on my pc - which grabbed every picture - so that many pictures appear in picasa and elsewhere. It's the picture finding and organizing that seems the most daunting. Videos and music I've done myself in the past year - no one else has touched it but me. Word files are manageable too. BP - my question about the Tivo files is that I want to sit in my living room, have Tivo search my computer to see what's on it. That's what I'm thinking has to be in the Tivo desktop program. When I'm at my computer, I think I can find the videos anywhere - I'm just thinking that no matter where they came from (Tivo desktop, hulu, my camcorder, edited in Videoredo), that I might somehow have to move them all to My Tivo Recordings folder in order to access it using the Tivo and watching tv. Do I have that right? Jemdandy - that's one interesting way to approach the 2 drives - one for programs and one for data files. But then I'd be backing up data files to yet another place. I have a 500GB hard drive and am thinking of adding a second 1TB hard drive. So both drives have lots of room. Except for video files, I would think my c drive could easily handle my programs and data files (music, documents and pictures) - and the software and those files could be on the c drive and backed up to the second internal drive. Is there a reason - in terms of improved performance, etc - to use the c drive only for software? Does that add an extra step if I want to use one of my software programs (say photo editing) and have to go to the other drive to get the actual photos to work on? Or is it just as quick to run a program on one drive and get the data from the other? [Okay - good grief, it is]. Thanks everyone. Lynn.
...See More
Can't access my computer,recycle bin or my documents
Q
Comments (18)
Turn your computer on and instantly start Tapping the F8 Key and don't stop until you know you have a new screen. Select last known good configuration. Enter It's possible to get on the Internet using the Task Manager If a computer is working OK. I will give you the commands for Control Panel Icons if they will open using Start - Run - nusrmgr.cpl - OK That one is for User Accounts. System Properties = sysdm.cpl Network Connections = ncpa.cpl ODBC Administrator = odbccp32.cpl Display Properties = desk.cpl Add or remove programs = appwiz.cpl Internet Properties = Inetcpl.cpl Game Controllers = joy.cpl Phone and modem Options = telephon.cpl Time and Date Properties = timedate.cpl Region and Language Options = intl.cpl Power Options = powercfg.cpl Mouse Properties = main.cpl Accessibility Options = access.cpl Add Hardware Wizard = hdwwiz.cpl Sound and Audio Devices = mmsys.cpl User Accounts = nusrmgr.cpl Speech Properties = sapi.cpl
...See More
shaddy101
Original Author
13 years ago
Finally back online, tech took machine back and rebuilt, as we read googling that indeed the machines sometimes do eat up the files from folders, go figger. The only way I could save from being eaten was put on the desktop, and am still going with that format til I know for sure it doesn't happen again. What do you think could have been the problem? The tech said he did a lot of research, went to his gurus etc., and found no real answers, and when I did google, I didn't understand the lingo much myself, but then, am not literate about the machines anyway.
I am currently in the process of getting reacquainted with my machine, had just gotten some comfy with it, and will not in the future be adding much extra til I know for sure things are right and proper with it to begin with.
Was mentioned there is a free program out there that would sort of "freeze" my machine, and allow me to try some programs/addons before I really decided to install and use, does anyone know of this? I have undone any of the extra things I added to the mix, and gradually will seek things out again, but thank you all for your help and support this has been somewhat of an experience for me, hope it doesn't happen to anyone else.
Name that free program if you can, and let me know where I might find info on it. tech couldn't remember the name, tho he has used it with some success. Especially for parents whose kiddos like to install things and shouldn't.
Thanks owbist, you always are so calm and collected with all the info you give out, are you a tech behind the scenes?
mikie_gw
13 years ago
There is a program called Deep Freeze ... that I run into sometimes. Oh man I hate that program .. its pass worded and Hidden. After I fix the computer and reboot.. all my efforts disappear. And usually the owner doesn't know the password once I figure it out. It always rebuilds the partition to exactly how it was at reboot... unless you have the password and tell it to allow changes.

Toolwiz has a simple program to freeze new installs but you have to remember to turn it on and off. I tried it once.. there was something about the uninstall or install that's special... so pay attention and read.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.toolwiz.com/products/toolwiz-time-freeze/
ilmbg
13 years ago
Oh Thank You! I am not crazy!!
I lost many of mine also....!
I KNOW I put them in a file!
Have done this also with pictures on the phone...never to see them again :((
emma
13 years ago
I have W 7 and put recycle, my computer and documents on my desk top. I go to start, right click on documents and send to desktop. All of my "stuff" go in there and have never lost anything. Those are the only folders on my desktop. I don't use the libraries at all. By not having folders on my desk top I can do this.

Files missing from folders in "my documents"

Comments (6)

emma

owbist

Related Discussions

shaddy101
Original Author

mikie_gw

ilmbg

emma

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Files missing from folders in "my documents"

Comments (6)

emma

owbist

Related Discussions

shaddy101Original Author

mikie_gw

ilmbg

emma

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

shaddy101
Original Author