files suddenly gone

I log off before going to bed and everything's fine. I log on this morning
and my computer acts like a new one just out of the box with no files on it.
XP and pre-installed stuff is there, but my documents, music, pictures,
e-mails saved in Outlook; all gone. Should I just hire one of those guys who
Data Retrieval or what? System Restore is totally useless. Is Geek Squad any
good?
--
nothing succeeds like bs

"Memyself" wrote:

I log off before going to bed and everything's fine. I log on this morning
and my computer acts like a new one just out of the box with no files on it.
XP and pre-installed stuff is there, but my documents, music, pictures,
e-mails saved in Outlook; all gone. Should I just hire one of those guys who
Data Retrieval or what? System Restore is totally useless. Is Geek Squad any
good?
--
nothing succeeds like bs

Try to restore to yesterday and see if that will help.
Make sure the machine malware and virus free by scanning with whichever
security software you have and anti-malware.

If the above didn't help try one of the tools below.
PC INSPECTORâ„¢ File Recovery 4.x
http://www.pcinspector.de/Sites/file...htm?language=1
Undelete Plus
http://undelete-plus.com/
HTH,
nass
---
http://www.nasstec.co.uk

"Memyself" wrote in message
...
I log off before going to bed and everything's fine. I log on this morning
and my computer acts like a new one just out of the box with no files on
it.
XP and pre-installed stuff is there, but my documents, music, pictures,
e-mails saved in Outlook; all gone. Should I just hire one of those guys
who
Data Retrieval or what? System Restore is totally useless. Is Geek Squad
any
good?
--
nothing succeeds like bs


It's possible the machine is simply logged on to a profile other than your
own (possibly administrator)

log off and then check your other log-on options and make sure you log on to
your actual profile

thanks for responding so quickly. I'lltry that and see what happens. System
Restore, though, just constantly tells me that the computer can't be restored
to any of the date I try
--
nothing succeeds like bs


"nass" wrote:



"Memyself" wrote:

I log off before going to bed and everything's fine. I log on this morning
and my computer acts like a new one just out of the box with no files on it.
XP and pre-installed stuff is there, but my documents, music, pictures,
e-mails saved in Outlook; all gone. Should I just hire one of those guys who
Data Retrieval or what? System Restore is totally useless. Is Geek Squad any
good?
--
nothing succeeds like bs

Try to restore to yesterday and see if that will help.
Make sure the machine malware and virus free by scanning with whichever
security software you have and anti-malware.

If the above didn't help try one of the tools below.
PC INSPECTORâ„¢ File Recovery 4.x
http://www.pcinspector.de/Sites/file...htm?language=1
Undelete Plus
http://undelete-plus.com/
HTH,
nass
---
http://www.nasstec.co.uk

thanks for quick response. I'll try that, though when I clicked "options" on
the log on window, nothing happened.
--
nothing succeeds like bs


"philo" wrote:


"Memyself" wrote in message
...
I log off before going to bed and everything's fine. I log on this morning
and my computer acts like a new one just out of the box with no files on
it.
XP and pre-installed stuff is there, but my documents, music, pictures,
e-mails saved in Outlook; all gone. Should I just hire one of those guys
who
Data Retrieval or what? System Restore is totally useless. Is Geek Squad
any
good?
--
nothing succeeds like bs


It's possible the machine is simply logged on to a profile other than your
own (possibly administrator)

log off and then check your other log-on options and make sure you log on to
your actual profile

"Memyself" wrote in message
...
thanks for quick response. I'll try that, though when I clicked "options"
on
the log on window, nothing happened.




Go to


Start

Shut down


then log off...


you should then be presented with a log-on window
and if your user name is not show, just type it in
and log back on .






nothing succeeds like bs


"philo" wrote:


"Memyself" wrote in message
...
I log off before going to bed and everything's fine. I log on this
morning
and my computer acts like a new one just out of the box with no files
on
it.
XP and pre-installed stuff is there, but my documents, music,
pictures,
e-mails saved in Outlook; all gone. Should I just hire one of those
guys
who
Data Retrieval or what? System Restore is totally useless. Is Geek
Squad
any
good?
--
nothing succeeds like bs


It's possible the machine is simply logged on to a profile other than
your
own (possibly administrator)

log off and then check your other log-on options and make sure you log
on to
your actual profile

Well, I tried your suggestions but I can't get either one of them to work. I
sent e-mails to them and am waiting to see what they say. Thanks anyway. I do
wonder if Windows Updates can cause this? I heard that some microsoft updates
can cause problems for ZoneAlarm users. I don't use ZA, but I wonder about
other applications.
--
nothing succeeds like bs


"nass" wrote:



"Memyself" wrote:

I log off before going to bed and everything's fine. I log on this morning
and my computer acts like a new one just out of the box with no files on it.
XP and pre-installed stuff is there, but my documents, music, pictures,
e-mails saved in Outlook; all gone. Should I just hire one of those guys who
Data Retrieval or what? System Restore is totally useless. Is Geek Squad any
good?
--
nothing succeeds like bs

Try to restore to yesterday and see if that will help.
Make sure the machine malware and virus free by scanning with whichever
security software you have and anti-malware.

If the above didn't help try one of the tools below.
PC INSPECTORâ„¢ File Recovery 4.x
http://www.pcinspector.de/Sites/file...htm?language=1
Undelete Plus
http://undelete-plus.com/
HTH,
nass
---
http://www.nasstec.co.uk

On Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:31:00 -0800, Memyself
wrote:

Well, I tried your suggestions but I can't get either one of them to work. I
sent e-mails to them and am waiting to see what they say. Thanks anyway. I do
wonder if Windows Updates can cause this? I heard that some microsoft updates
can cause problems for ZoneAlarm users. I don't use ZA, but I wonder about
other applications.
--
nothing succeeds like bs

System Restore didn't work? What do you mean by that? Did it succeed
in restoring, but things are still messed up? Maybe you need to
choose an older restore point.

Data Retrieval: it will cost you more than a new computer to have that
done.

Geek Squad: they are prohibitively costly as well and THEY SUCK.


"nass" wrote:



"Memyself" wrote:

I log off before going to bed and everything's fine. I log on this morning
and my computer acts like a new one just out of the box with no files on it.
XP and pre-installed stuff is there, but my documents, music, pictures,
e-mails saved in Outlook; all gone. Should I just hire one of those guys who
Data Retrieval or what? System Restore is totally useless. Is Geek Squad any
good?
--
nothing succeeds like bs

Try to restore to yesterday and see if that will help.
Make sure the machine malware and virus free by scanning with whichever
security software you have and anti-malware.

If the above didn't help try one of the tools below.
PC INSPECTORâ„¢ File Recovery 4.x
http://www.pcinspector.de/Sites/file...htm?language=1
Undelete Plus
http://undelete-plus.com/
HTH,
nass
---
http://www.nasstec.co.uk


--
Max

SystemRestore keeps telling me "Cannot restore your computer to (whatever
date I tried; as of a few minutes ago must be 20 different days) No changes
made to your computer" And so far I can't get Nass's or Philo's suggestions
to work either.
I scanned for adware, malware., etc. I'm getting ready to throw this thing
in this garbage and wipe my hands of all this high tech crap. I've had it
with the constant bs. Thanks for tip on Geek Squad. Was already suspicious
when the Dell tech support gal did nothing , but recommended them.
Can anyone tell me if Microsoft will acept a check for their $59 support? I
don't, I mean Never use credit cards .
--
nothing succeeds like bs


"The Max" wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:31:00 -0800, Memyself
wrote:

Well, I tried your suggestions but I can't get either one of them to work. I
sent e-mails to them and am waiting to see what they say. Thanks anyway. I do
wonder if Windows Updates can cause this? I heard that some microsoft updates
can cause problems for ZoneAlarm users. I don't use ZA, but I wonder about
other applications.
--
nothing succeeds like bs

System Restore didn't work? What do you mean by that? Did it succeed
in restoring, but things are still messed up? Maybe you need to
choose an older restore point.

Data Retrieval: it will cost you more than a new computer to have that
done.

Geek Squad: they are prohibitively costly as well and THEY SUCK.


"nass" wrote:



"Memyself" wrote:

I log off before going to bed and everything's fine. I log on this morning
and my computer acts like a new one just out of the box with no files on it.
XP and pre-installed stuff is there, but my documents, music, pictures,
e-mails saved in Outlook; all gone. Should I just hire one of those guys who
Data Retrieval or what? System Restore is totally useless. Is Geek Squad any
good?
--
nothing succeeds like bs

Try to restore to yesterday and see if that will help.
Make sure the machine malware and virus free by scanning with whichever
security software you have and anti-malware.

If the above didn't help try one of the tools below.
PC INSPECTORâ„¢ File Recovery 4.x
http://www.pcinspector.de/Sites/file...htm?language=1
Undelete Plus
http://undelete-plus.com/
HTH,
nass
---
http://www.nasstec.co.uk


--
Max

Memyself wrote:
SystemRestore keeps telling me "Cannot restore your computer to (whatever
date I tried; as of a few minutes ago must be 20 different days). No changes
made to your computer" And so far I can't get Nass's or Philo's suggestions
to work either.
I scanned for adware, malware., etc. I'm getting ready to throw this thing
in this garbage and wipe my hands of all this high tech crap. I've had it
with the constant bs. Thanks for tip on Geek Squad. Was already suspicious
when the Dell tech support gal did nothing , but recommended them.
Can anyone tell me if Microsoft will accept a check for their $59 support? I
don't, I mean Never use credit cards .

If the account (with all your settings, software and files) was damaged,
the files would still be there, on the hd. You just need to locate the
folder for the old account and move everything to the new account. You
should see the folder with all its files and settings he

C:\Documents and Settings\Old_Username folder

This MSKB article might help:

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;811151

http://groups.google.com/group/micro...9870d68b3f197f

--
Joe =o)

To the garbage bin...best bet.
-

"Memyself" wrote in message
...
SystemRestore keeps telling me "Cannot restore your computer
to (whatever
date I tried; as of a few minutes ago must be 20 different
days) No changes
made to your computer" And so far I can't get Nass's or
Philo's suggestions
to work either.
I scanned for adware, malware., etc. I'm getting ready to
throw this thing
in this garbage and wipe my hands of all this high tech crap.
I've had it
with the constant bs. Thanks for tip on Geek Squad. Was
already suspicious
when the Dell tech support gal did nothing , but recommended
them.
Can anyone tell me if Microsoft will acept a check for their
$59 support? I
don't, I mean Never use credit cards .
--
nothing succeeds like bs


"The Max" wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:31:00 -0800, Memyself

wrote:

Well, I tried your suggestions but I can't get either one of
them to work. I
sent e-mails to them and am waiting to see what they say.
Thanks anyway. I do
wonder if Windows Updates can cause this? I heard that some
microsoft updates
can cause problems for ZoneAlarm users. I don't use ZA, but
I wonder about
other applications.
--
nothing succeeds like bs

System Restore didn't work? What do you mean by that? Did
it succeed
in restoring, but things are still messed up? Maybe you need
to
choose an older restore point.

Data Retrieval: it will cost you more than a new computer to
have that
done.

Geek Squad: they are prohibitively costly as well and THEY
SUCK.


"nass" wrote:



"Memyself" wrote:

I log off before going to bed and everything's fine. I
log on this morning
and my computer acts like a new one just out of the box
with no files on it.
XP and pre-installed stuff is there, but my documents,
music, pictures,
e-mails saved in Outlook; all gone. Should I just hire
one of those guys who
Data Retrieval or what? System Restore is totally
useless. Is Geek Squad any
good?
--
nothing succeeds like bs

Try to restore to yesterday and see if that will help.
Make sure the machine malware and virus free by scanning
with whichever
security software you have and anti-malware.

If the above didn't help try one of the tools below.
PC INSPECTORâ„¢ File Recovery 4.x
http://www.pcinspector.de/Sites/file...htm?language=1
Undelete Plus
http://undelete-plus.com/
HTH,
nass
---
http://www.nasstec.co.uk


--
Max

Okay, I'll try that link you gave me. Thanks. Thanks to all who offered
suggestions and links to sites. I didn't about
most of these.
--
nothing succeeds like bs


"Elmo" wrote:

Memyself wrote:
SystemRestore keeps telling me "Cannot restore your computer to (whatever
date I tried; as of a few minutes ago must be 20 different days). No changes
made to your computer" And so far I can't get Nass's or Philo's suggestions
to work either.
I scanned for adware, malware., etc. I'm getting ready to throw this thing
in this garbage and wipe my hands of all this high tech crap. I've had it
with the constant bs. Thanks for tip on Geek Squad. Was already suspicious
when the Dell tech support gal did nothing , but recommended them.
Can anyone tell me if Microsoft will accept a check for their $59 support? I
don't, I mean Never use credit cards .

If the account (with all your settings, software and files) was damaged,
the files would still be there, on the hd. You just need to locate the
folder for the old account and move everything to the new account. You
should see the folder with all its files and settings he

C:\Documents and Settings\Old_Username folder

This MSKB article might help:

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;811151

http://groups.google.com/group/micro...9870d68b3f197f

--
Joe =o)

Hi again,
Just thought I should point out that I never changed any user
profile or anything like that at all. As I said before, I logged off Saturday
night and all my files were there. I wake up Sunday morning and they're gone.
The only thing I can see is that either the McAfee update that occured around
1AM or the Windows Update that automatically occured at 3AM somehow caused
this. McAfee's , Dell's, and ATT's tech people seemed to not understand one
word of it. By the way, I had this computer and XP for over a year without
ever going online
as internal modem never worked. I never had any problems except not being
able to go online. In October I joined ATT and have had lots of problems I
never had before. Has anyone else had this and could it be possible that ATT
caused me to lose my files?



--
nothing succeeds like bs


"Elmo" wrote:

Memyself wrote:
SystemRestore keeps telling me "Cannot restore your computer to (whatever
date I tried; as of a few minutes ago must be 20 different days). No changes
made to your computer" And so far I can't get Nass's or Philo's suggestions
to work either.
I scanned for adware, malware., etc. I'm getting ready to throw this thing
in this garbage and wipe my hands of all this high tech crap. I've had it
with the constant bs. Thanks for tip on Geek Squad. Was already suspicious
when the Dell tech support gal did nothing , but recommended them.
Can anyone tell me if Microsoft will accept a check for their $59 support? I
don't, I mean Never use credit cards .

If the account (with all your settings, software and files) was damaged,
the files would still be there, on the hd. You just need to locate the
folder for the old account and move everything to the new account. You
should see the folder with all its files and settings he

C:\Documents and Settings\Old_Username folder

This MSKB article might help:

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;811151

http://groups.google.com/group/micro...9870d68b3f197f

--
Joe =o)

Elmo, want to thank you for telling me about running Documents and Settings.
It did list my documents so I now know they're still there. Haven't been able
to get them back yet, but am working on it. Did want to put this out there
for anyone else who may be having this same problem: I just found out that
McAfee may have caused this. A few minutes ago I checked the McAfee Security
Center Event Logs. It said, "12-14-2008, 6:19AM, System Guard allowed a
change to your computer". I logged on about 9AM to find the files gone so
that must be it!
In case anyone else has this problem, don't go to McAfee's techh support.
They keep telling me that as I got the software when I joined ATT, they can't
help me. Don't do the ATT LiveChat support either. They told me to call their
phone support people. I'm going to try the things suggested here first as ATT
techies leave somewhat to be desired.

Also, I've heard that if System Restore won't go to the date you want, you
can turn it off, wait a bit, then turn it back on.
But, won't that destroy the restore points you want? In other words, if
computer was fine December 12, and you want to take it back to that point;
won't turning System Restore off erase that point?
--
nothing succeeds like bs


"Elmo" wrote:

Memyself wrote:
SystemRestore keeps telling me "Cannot restore your computer to (whatever
date I tried; as of a few minutes ago must be 20 different days). No changes
made to your computer" And so far I can't get Nass's or Philo's suggestions
to work either.
I scanned for adware, malware., etc. I'm getting ready to throw this thing
in this garbage and wipe my hands of all this high tech crap. I've had it
with the constant bs. Thanks for tip on Geek Squad. Was already suspicious
when the Dell tech support gal did nothing , but recommended them.
Can anyone tell me if Microsoft will accept a check for their $59 support? I
don't, I mean Never use credit cards .

If the account (with all your settings, software and files) was damaged,
the files would still be there, on the hd. You just need to locate the
folder for the old account and move everything to the new account. You
should see the folder with all its files and settings he

C:\Documents and Settings\Old_Username folder

This MSKB article might help:

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;811151

http://groups.google.com/group/micro...9870d68b3f197f

--
Joe =o)

Do your system restore in Safe Mode. Don't turn off Restore or you will
clean out all that restore info you want.

Larry

"Memyself" wrote in message
...
Elmo, want to thank you for telling me about running Documents and Settings.
It did list my documents so I now know they're still there. Haven't been
able
to get them back yet, but am working on it. Did want to put this out there
for anyone else who may be having this same problem: I just found out that
McAfee may have caused this. A few minutes ago I checked the McAfee Security
Center Event Logs. It said, "12-14-2008, 6:19AM, System Guard allowed a
change to your computer". I logged on about 9AM to find the files gone so
that must be it!
In case anyone else has this problem, don't go to McAfee's techh support.
They keep telling me that as I got the software when I joined ATT, they
can't
help me. Don't do the ATT LiveChat support either. They told me to call
their
phone support people. I'm going to try the things suggested here first as
ATT
techies leave somewhat to be desired.

Also, I've heard that if System Restore won't go to the date you want, you
can turn it off, wait a bit, then turn it back on.
But, won't that destroy the restore points you want? In other words, if
computer was fine December 12, and you want to take it back to that point;
won't turning System Restore off erase that point?
--
nothing succeeds like bs


"Elmo" wrote:

Memyself wrote:
SystemRestore keeps telling me "Cannot restore your computer to
(whatever
date I tried; as of a few minutes ago must be 20 different days). No
changes
made to your computer" And so far I can't get Nass's or Philo's
suggestions
to work either.
I scanned for adware, malware., etc. I'm getting ready to throw this
thing
in this garbage and wipe my hands of all this high tech crap. I've had
it
with the constant bs. Thanks for tip on Geek Squad. Was already
suspicious
when the Dell tech support gal did nothing , but recommended them.
Can anyone tell me if Microsoft will accept a check for their $59
support? I
don't, I mean Never use credit cards .

If the account (with all your settings, software and files) was damaged,
the files would still be there, on the hd. You just need to locate the
folder for the old account and move everything to the new account. You
should see the folder with all its files and settings he

C:\Documents and Settings\Old_Username folder

This MSKB article might help:

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;811151

http://groups.google.com/group/micro...9870d68b3f197f

--
Joe =o)