I have Windows XP and one of the users info has all been reset and files lost. HELP?

Question

There are three user accounts....the other two are fine...but one of them looks as if it was totally reset....all the saved pictures are gone....all word, excel, type files are gone....background is gone....There is nothing in the recycle bin....can I get this stuff back!?!

Answer 1

First try to find out from search option by file name. then think other action

Answer 2

You almost certainly have malware.  The missing files may not actually be missing; it may just be that the user no longer has permission to access them.  This happened to my wife's machine yesterday, and we run a firewall, an anti-virus and a spyware detector.

So the first order of things is indeed, to back up whatever you can.  

The second is to assess the damage.  You can look at the user's files by logging in as an administrator and doing the following:

1. Open Windows Explorer (My Computer) and navigate to the directory:

C:\Documents and Settings\user name\

2. Look around there and see if the user's files are still present or are actually missing (the user name directory may even be missing).

If the files are still there, they can be returned to the user, but it generally will take a professional (ask them if they know how to assign "special user permissions" to files to see how professional they are) to do it.

Of course, the machine should be cleared of malware before actually repairing the damage.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Before trying anything, BACK UP EVERYTHING ON THE OTHER ACCOUNTS IMMEDIATELY. I cannot stress this enough. This is most likely a worm or a virus, and it may try to kill the other accounts as well as the one that was reset.

Once you are finished with backup, take the PC into a computer specialist. Only they have the tools necessary for data recovery of this scale. I think the files may still be on the hard drive, they have just been deleted from the directory. With special data recovery software, they may be able to get your files back. Also, while you're at it, get them to try and rid the computer of whatever the h**l reset your account.