Lost files in Windows 10

Hi,

Thank you for posting on Microsoft Communities.

I will be glad to help you with the issue you have with the computer. I understand the frustration when things don't work the way it should.

I suggest you to check for the files in Windows.old. Please open C drive and check for Windows.old folder.

Hope this information is helpful. Please reply with the results. I will be glad to help you further.

Thank you.

Thank-you for getting back with me; I had attempted to answer previously but the mail was "bounced back" to me.

As it turned out, I was signed into the wrong account on Windows 10. My windows opened with "James" which is the name I had entered when downloading the new software. I had been using "Owner" in Windows 7.

Once I changed over to "Owner," all my files were present.

Again, many thanks. This has been a relatively painless experience and I am grateful for the effort Microsoft has endured to make it so.

Jim Roberts

Hi Ruth,

The same happened to me.

My files under my user name are now gone.

I have looked in the windows old file and there is absolutely nothing there.

What can I do?

Hi Marco,

If you don't find the files in the Windows.old check the users folder in C drive and browse the folders of the different users and you should find all your old files.

I have checked the Windows.Old folder and it only contains "coded" Empty Folders. My Excel files from pre Windows 10 cannot be located

I think It's too late for myself and for many to hope to find any lost personal files using windows.old.

To install Windows 10, I needed to make space so I marked a lot of items as 'available offline only' to achieve this. Since upgrading, a lot of items are now lost. There may be a connection. Either way, the situation is appalling. I don't imagine returning to a previous Windows OS offers a solution. You had my files on OneDrive; I want them back please. How can things be so bad? Have you had a good clear out on OneDrive? Have you just lost all these people's files? Where is the official document explaining all this - responding to so many complaints - so that people don't need to trawl through fruitless discussions etc? Please give me access to my files that you have deprived me of. What about compensation? Difficult to assess if you have lost or destroyed all the evidence!

Hi Ruth, 

Just come across this as I am now having the same problem!! Did you get it sorted? I updated to Windows 10, found my files (very hidden!), moved them to my Document and Pictures folders. Then I had an issue with wifi so I got Microsoft to call me, she fixed that problem but then all my files had gone again, nowhere to be found after hours of searching! I've just spent the morning on the phone to them, the first person told me to go back to Windows 8.1 and confirmed 'all your files will be there'..but of course, I went back to 8.1 and NOTHING! I spoke to them again, having to repeat everything, and she accessed my computer remotely and then said, 'I'm sorry, bad news, your files have been completely removed..'!!!! Suggested I could take it to a recovery shop but when I asked if they would pay for that, of course the answer was no. She then transferred me to someone in Asia in Sales (?!) without telling me, and this woman hadn't been given any of my details so had no idea what to do. I hung up and am now awaiting a call back from a 'level 2 technician'....to say I am stressed out doesn't even come close!! Utterly disgusting that this is happening to people and their personal files!