Question Windows 11 file loss

[Wrighty1987]

Hi I am new here but it's because I need to try and fix a file issue with windows 11, I updated to Windows 11 from Windows 10 about 2 months ago (rough guess)
After the update I turned my system off as was late at night and then didn't really boot pc again till today.

When I went to load up some music I couldn't find any music files and so I checked other things such as pictures and documents and there was nothing there, now I know people will ask when I updated did I click clean install but I defo clicked keep all files etc and did not do a clean wipe.

All of Mt games are all still installed with all Game save files available I also have dated files in my downloads folder from like a year ago so I know I defo didn't do a c drive clean or chose clean install so now I have come to the conclusion they have got to be hidden somewhere but there is no folder in c called windows.old either in desperate need of help.

Also to add on to this problem I have gone to back up previous version or files whatever its called and it days there is no backup is available.

 

[USAFRet]

Install and run either WinDirStat, or WizTree.

Run as Administrator, selecting only the drive in question.
Post a screencap here.

Also, a screencap of your Disk Management window.

 

[Wrighty1987]

Which programme is the best one?

 

[USAFRet]

Which programme is the best one?

Either.
WizTree is somewhat faster

 

[Wrighty1987]

Right ok will get that done shortly just got wait till little man goes for his nap

 

[Wrighty1987]

https://ibb.co/PYwqFWB

 

[USAFRet]

Under the user 'wrigh'...what is in there?
101.5GB.

 

[Lafong]

"Couldn't find any music files"............


Have you used a search tool on the drive for something like:

Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line.mp3

or whatever song titles you would expect to find.

"Everything" from voidtools.com is highly recommended. It will find files in 1 second flat if you know part or all of the file name.

 

[Wrighty1987]

Under the user 'wrigh'...what is in there?
101.5GB.

https://ibb.co/cD4mZvR

 

[Wrighty1987]

"Couldn't find any music files"............


Have you used a search tool on the drive for something like:

Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line.mp3

or whatever song titles you would expect to find.

"Everything" from voidtools.com is highly recommended. It will find files in 1 second flat if you know part or all of the file name.

i have searched for mp3 files yes and nothing shows up

not used void tools no

 

[USAFRet]

i have searched for mp3 files yes and nothing shows up

not used void tools no

Then it appears they are all gone.

 

[Wrighty1987]

its pictures mainly i want back but how can they go when i clicked keep files and all my old dated files in downloads are still there?
They must be hidden somewhere, it can't just delete them and not the other files surely ?

 

[Wrighty1987]

https://ibb.co/cCkFL70 look at the dates there old files that didnt get deleted

 

[USAFRet]

its pictures mainly i want back but how can they go when i clicked keep files and all my old dated files in downloads are still there they must be hidden somewhere it cant just delete them and not the other files

Reason # 853 why we preach backups so much.

Especially when doing something major like an OS update.

 

[Wrighty1987]

But when your doing an OS update and it says keep files surely your not expecting to lose anything ?

 

[Lafong]

Expecting? No.

Could be any reason; doesn't much matter now.

I'd use Everything from voidtools to confirm your other search tool, whatever it was. Windows built in search is clunky unless you are quite experienced with it.

 

[Wrighty1987]

https://ibb.co/K0bYSxv thats the disck managment

 

[Wrighty1987]

Expecting? No.

Could be any reason; doesn't much matter now.

I'd use Everything from voidtools to confirm your other search tool, whatever it was. Windows built in search is clunky unless you are quite experienced with it.

i used that voidtools and it found zero for any files i can reember the name of

 

[zesun]

i used that voidtools and it found zero for any files i can reember the name of

Sadly it means they are gone.

Always do backups, no matter what the program says, things like this can happen.

I would also advise against having anything remotely important, such as images etc. on your c drive only.

It's a shame it happened to you, but take it as a lesson learned if nothing else.

 

[USAFRet]

For future reference:

What is your backup situation at home?

What is your backup situation at home? And if you don't do that, why not? Every single day, I read multiple threads here of "How do I get my stuff back?" or "That drive had 5 years of photos of my kids!!" Be it a dead drive, dropped phone, virus, accidental deletion, formatting the wrong...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[Wrighty1987]

Thats if they were on c I cant remember as it was that long ago

 

[punkncat]

Have you checked inside the Window.old file?
If you did the upgrade that should be tucked away, although I think it's only supposed to keep that on hand for a short while after an update before it will purge it. Basically should be a shapshot of your system as it was on 10. Check the user file folders.

Did you move the directories at some point within 10? IE you can tell W10 to place the "music" folder elsewhere. You have searched the supplemental drive(s) that is/was connected to this PC for those files?

 

[Wrighty1987]

I have not got that folder to check windows.old, it is nowhere to be found.

Yes I have searched them, done a tree search thing and wiztree, used voidfiles search system and nothing but if they have gone why have the download files not been deleted that's what's confusing ?

 

[DSzymborski]

But when your doing an OS Update and it says keep files surly your not expecting to lose anything

Your important data files should be backed up at all times, under all conditions.

 

[Wrighty1987]

How reliable are data recovery software tools?