I am running Vista Home Basic. I first noticed this afternoon that my “Documents” folder was empty. I searched all locations and all I found was a shortcut to one of the missing files. It gave me the following error:
The item that this shortcut refers to has been changed or moved, so this shortcut will no longer work properly. Do you want to remove the shortcut?
I did a system restore to the recommended restore point. On reboot some folders and files had appeared in “Documents” but many were still missing. I tried another system restore to an earlier date but upon reboot had a message stating the restore was not successfull and no files or settings had been changed.
I had a look for my “Documents and Settings” folder but couldn’t find it.
I chose options to show hidden files and prtected system files. I turned of the sharing wizard option also.
I searched again for “Documents and Settings” and it appeared in the search window, on clicking I got the error:
Documents and Settings refers to a location that is unavailable. It could be on a hard drive on this computer or on a network. Check that the disk is properly inserted and that you are connected to the internet or your network and then try again. If it still cannot be located, the information might have been moved to a different location.
I went my computer > C: to locate the folder but all I could find was a shortcut to the folder, although it wasn’t showing up as a shortcut in the search facility.
I had another look in “Documents” and several shortcuts had appeared. “My Music” “My Videos” “My Pictures” I also noticed quite a few other new files and shortcuts under User. Of note “my documents”. I tried to click on “my documents” and got this error:
mydocuments is not accessable. Access is denied.
Same error for all other shortcuts.
I disabled AUC and security alerts, then I used an Unlock program and managed to gain full control of the file. The contents were an exact copy of the current state of the “Documents” folder…still minus the missing files.
Next I ran file scavenger data recovery software and was unable to locate any of the missing files though I did spot a folder “Documents” which I successfully restored. Once restored it showed the path to be Unknown\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo\Documents. It is a MyDocs Drop Targert folder with the extension .mydocs. I have been unable to open it as I do not know which programme I need to use.
I also downloaded Microsoft Automated Troubleshooter which gave me the following report:
File and Folder TroubleshooterPublisher details
Issues found
Icons randomly change to different iconsIcons randomly change to different
icons
Some icons in My Computer, in Windows Explorer, on the desktop, or on the
Quick Launch bar change randomly. This behavior occurs if the icon cache
is not updated correctly.Not fixed
Rebuild the icon cacheSucceeded
You cannot use keyboard shortcuts to select more than one item in Windows
Explorer after you install certain applications on a Windows Vista-based
computerYou cannot use keyboard shortcuts to select more than one item in
Windows Explorer after you install certain applications on a Windows
Vista-based computer
On a Windows Vista-based computer, you cannot use keyboard shortcuts to
select more than one item in Windows Explorer. For example, you cannot use
the CTRL+A keyboard shortcut to select all the items in a Windows Explorer
window. Also, you cannot select multiple items in a Windows Explorer
window by holding the SHIFT key or the CTRL key while you click the items.
This problem occurs because certain applications add a key to the
registry. The key prevents you from selecting multiple items in Windows
Explorer.Fixed
Reset folder settingsSucceeded
Recycle Bin is corruptedRecycle Bin is corrupted
You cannot empty the Recycle Bin or delete a file or a folder inside the
Recycle Bin.Fixed
Restore the Recycle bin folderSucceeded
View settings or customizations for a folder are lost or incorrectView
settings or customizations for a folder are lost or incorrect
Your view settings or customizations for a folder may be lost or
incorrect. This is caused by incorrect registry settings for folder
options.Fixed
Reset view settings and customization for foldersSucceeded
Issues checked
Folder error or cannot rename or move a fileFolder error or cannot rename
or move a file
You receive the following error: "The file or folder does not exist" when
you try to rename or move a file. The "...\FolderDescriptions" registry
key may be corrupted or deleted.Checked
Permission errors when you perform file operations on network
sharesPermission errors when you perform file operations on network shares
You receive the following error: "There is a network or file permission
error. The network connection may be lost" or "The folder does not exist.
The file may have been moved or deleted. Do you want to create it?" A
missing key or value, or both, in the registry may cause an error when you
perform file operations on network shares.Checked
Issues foundDetection details
6Icons randomly change to different iconsNot fixed
Some icons in My Computer, in Windows Explorer, on the desktop, or on the
Quick Launch bar change randomly. This behavior occurs if the icon cache
is not updated correctly.
Rebuild the icon cacheSucceeded
Rebuilding the icon cache resolves this problem.
6You cannot use keyboard shortcuts to select more than one item in
Windows Explorer after you install certain applications on a Windows
Vista-based computerFixed
On a Windows Vista-based computer, you cannot use keyboard shortcuts to
select more than one item in Windows Explorer. For example, you cannot use
the CTRL+A keyboard shortcut to select all the items in a Windows Explorer
window. Also, you cannot select multiple items in a Windows Explorer
window by holding the SHIFT key or the CTRL key while you click the items.
This problem occurs because certain applications add a key to the
registry. The key prevents you from selecting multiple items in Windows
Explorer.
Reset folder settingsSucceeded
A registry change to reset the affected folder settings resolves
this problem. Note: You may have to run this troubleshooter again if
this problem reoccurs. The applications that cause this problem may
modify the registry when they are running.
6Recycle Bin is corruptedFixed
You cannot empty the Recycle Bin or delete a file or a folder inside the
Recycle Bin.
Restore the Recycle bin folderSucceeded
Removing and restoring the Recycle Bin folder...
6View settings or customizations for a folder are lost or
incorrectFixed
Your view settings or customizations for a folder may be lost or
incorrect. This is caused by incorrect registry settings for folder
options.
Reset view settings and customization for foldersSucceeded
Resetting registry settings and customizations for folders corrects
his problem.
Issues checkedDetection details
6Folder error or cannot rename or move a fileChecked
You receive the following error: "The file or folder does not exist" when
you try to rename or move a file. The "...\FolderDescriptions" registry
key may be corrupted or deleted.
Create or update registry keysNot Run
Rebuilding the 'FolderDescriptions' registry keys will resolve this
problem.
6Permission errors when you perform file operations on network
sharesChecked
You receive the following error: "There is a network or file permission
error. The network connection may be lost" or "The folder does not exist.
The file may have been moved or deleted. Do you want to create it?" A
missing key or value, or both, in the registry may cause an error when you
perform file operations on network shares.
Reformat the Offline Files cacheNot Run
Creating the missing registry subkey together with its value
resolves this problem.
Detection details
Collection information
Computer Name: H
Windows Version:6.0
Architecture:x86
Time:10/30/2010 5:52:35 PM
Publisher details
File and Folder Troubleshooter
Troubleshoots and fixes common issues with file and folder operations in
Windows
Package Version:1.0
Publisher:Microsoft Corporation
I also suspected my virus protection may not be effective to I purchased a new one, Webroot Antivirus with Spy Sweeper. That came back with numerous issues.
atlasdmt cooke
clickpotato
doubleclick cookie x 4
hotbar / zango x 2
Mal\JavaDes-A
Mal\JavaHr-A x 2
rogue security products x 2
statcounter cookie
Troj/FakeAV-BBH
Troj/Java/DI-AF x 2
Troj/Java/DI-E x 2
Troj/Java/DI-Fam
Trojan clicksearch
yieldmanger cookie x 4
I am not really sure if this is the actual cause, and if so I don’t know what I can do about it and whether or not my files are recoverable.
Sorry for such a long post I wanted to be thorough as to not waste anyones time.
Thanks for reading, I hope you will be able to advise me further.
Kind Regards
Gemma Williams