Your files likely disappeared due to a Windows update logging you into a temporary profile, OneDrive syncing issues, or files being accidentally hidden/moved; first, restart your PC a few times and check for a temporary profile in C:\Users, then check File Explorer for hidden items or use File History for backups, or search your OneDrive account online if syncing was involved.
It's possible that the missing files had the hidden attribute set before the Windows update took place. The update might have caused a change in your folder settings, making these files invisible. To fix this problem, configure File Explorer to display hidden files.
Look for the files using Search
Right-click the Start menu and select File Explorer. In the left-hand navigation panel of the window that opens, select This PC. In the Search This PC text box found in the top right-hand corner of the window, enter in the file name of a missing file.
Microsoft Defender is Deleting Files
Microsoft Defender can falsely flag safe files as malware, and quarantine or delete them. If you notice that Windows 10/11 keeps deleting specific programs and documents after a restart, consider adding an exception for them in Windows Defender.
If you can't see any icons at all, they may have been hidden. Right-click on an empty space on your desktop. Select View from the context menu. Click Show desktop icons (ensure it is checked).
Method 1: Check the Recycle Bin
Damaged system files, registry errors, or boot issues can cause Windows to revert to default settings or perform an automatic reset. During troubleshooting, you might have clicked "Remove everything" in the Reset this PC wizard instead of keeping files.
Like the real thing, computer viruses replicate themselves, spreading through your operating system and network. At the same time, the virus is wreaking havoc: it can damage programs, delete files, and make devastating changes to your hard drive, all of which can result in reduced performance.
Windows Defender removes dangerous files automatically to safeguard your computer from potential threats. This is not a bug, but a security feature. You can temporarily turn off real-time protection to download the file and then make an exception from being scanned.
Windows keeps a backup of the previous installation in a folder called "Windows. old." Navigate to the folder where your files were stored, right-click, and choose "Restore previous versions." This opens a window displaying different versions of your files. Select the one you want and click "Restore."
It probably loaded a temporary profile instead, so everything seems to be gone. If this is your case, try to log out of the current user account and log in with your own account and password. If logging into the user account works, the missing files, folders, and applications should reappear on your computer.
Windows 10
Here's a detailed guide on running SFC scannow to diagnose or repair system files:
When you delete files in Windows, they are usually considered gone forever. However, under some conditions, a few files (or segments of files) might still be recoverable using special data recovery software. If you work with sensitive information on your computer, you should know that these files could be recovered.
Go to settings > update and security > recovery. Under "reset this pc," click "get started." Choose "remove everything" to reinstall Windows while removing your files or "keep my files" to reinstall without losing personal data.
Some viruses can delete files, like the CIH virus. The CIH virus, also known as the Chernobyl virus, threatened to delete files automatically and erase the core system code kept in flash memory on the motherboard of certain types of computers. This page will focus on the virus that automatically delete files.
Signs that your computer running Windows might be affected by a virus or malware
The reasons for the computer restarted and deleted everything are various, like human error, virus attack, software conflict, corrupted system files, power failure, and more.
The Ctrl + F4 keyboard shortcut is primarily used to close the active tab or window within an application, making it great for quickly closing one document or webpage without exiting the whole program, unlike Alt + F4, which closes the entire application. In web browsers, it closes the current tab; in programs like Microsoft Excel, it closes the active workbook, leaving Excel open.
It is mostly used as a modifier key for key-combinations. Pressing Control and clicking the mouse button will invoke a contextual menu. This is a compatibility feature for users with one-button mice; users with two-button mice just use the right mouse-button, with no modifiers.
F11 is commonly used for factory resets by many brands like HP and Lenovo, entering the recovery environment to restore the system, while F12 usually opens the boot menu to select a boot device, though keys vary by manufacturer, so check your specific model's manual. To factory reset, restart your PC and repeatedly press the correct key (often F11) before the Windows logo, then navigate to "Troubleshoot" and "Reset this PC" in the recovery screen.
Check the Recycle Bin
When files have been deleted or even lost, the Recycle Bin is always the number one place to check.
When your hard drive randomly wiped itself, it is a sign of imminent component or hardware failure. You need to take prompt measures to recover data from the hard drive and, if it's badly damaged beyond repair, you need to replace the hard drive with a new one.