Can I recover my files back when I copied them into a temporary profile?

Basically what I meant is that I've copied all my files from my C:\Users\pog folder and I copied them into the temporary profile then after I logged out of the temporary profile all my libraries are gone from the C:\Users\pog folder for example: Desktop, Downloads, and etc. when I opened my C: drive I didn't see a single folder with the name windows.old, and my version of windows is 1909 so last time when I tried to update it to 21h2 it keeps failing maybe that's the reason why I got logged onto a temporary profile, I also have a question with the repair install method, Does it keep my data on my games, browser, certain apps, and all my schoolwork? and I remember it also said this when I read to retrieve files from the windows.old folder. "You have only 28 days to retrieve most files from the Windows.old folder" which 28 days have passed my settings don't work too I can't open settings. I haven't infected the computer with a virus or any sort of dangerous malware that harms my computer. I've come across my files when I checked E:\Users\pog I saw Documents, Desktop, Downloads, and a single pptx file.

I see my old account inside the C:\Users folder but when I checked it's empty, so I turned on so that I can see hidden files and when I turned it on I can only see the AppData folder

I wish you would have asked us when it first started into the Temp Account because we would have warned you first thing not to copy the files into the Temporary Accounts because it can go away at any restart. If you had left them in your account they would still be there. Apparently the temp account went away and took your files with them. If not then they went away with the windows.old folder. Next time please ask us first thing.

The best thing to do now is a Reset saving nothing. Choose the cloud option so it downloads the latest installation files. Try it first from the Log-in Screen as shown here:

https://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/how-...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zonjyd2L_GQ

If it won't work from the Log In screen then Use whichever method works here to get into Repair Mode so you can try another Reset: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-advanc...

Easiest is to force shutdown by holding in the power button to cut the power, do this 3 times until it starts into Repair Mode.

Then choose Troubleshoot Options > Reset, then Deep Clean Reset (not saving files) and cloud option to download fresh files for reinstall instead of using possibly corrupted onboard files that often fail.

It may be necessary to create bootable media on another PC to access Advanced Startup Options to do a Reset or do the Clean install. Booting into the media is the only method that doesn't require a password and has it's own set of Windows files so the Reset might work better, and if not you'll have it to do the vastly superior Clean Install.

To create Windows 10 Installation Media on another PC install Media Creation Tool and follow the directions here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m.... Uncheck the box for Recommended Settings to choose the exact version and bit rate for the target PC only.

Insert media, boot it by powering up PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key given here: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutor...

If the media won't boot you may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup (pressing key given in chart in link above) to turn off Fast Boot or Fast Startup first.

Choose the boot device as a UEFI device if offered, on second screen choose Repair Your Computer, then Troubleshoot Options to try a Reset. Make sure to choose a Cloud Reset if offered so it downloads fresh files first, also do a Deep Clean Reset which is cleaner but doesn't save your files. .

If that fails choose Install Now, then Custom Install, then at the drive selection screen delete all partitions down to Unallocated Space to get it cleanest, click Next to let it create needed partitions and start install - this makes it foolproof. Everything needed to get the best possible Clean Install is here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki.... It is a better install than any amount of money can buy and a great learning experience that will make you the master of your PC because you will learn what works best and how to apply it with your own hands.

If you have files that aren't backed up you can use the same bootable media to try to rescue your files using these methods: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

BACK UP SUGGESTIONS -

Some suggestions to help ease into this habit:

1. You can sync your Desktop, Documents and Pictures folder using OneDrive Backup, or just drag valuable files into OneDrive folder, offering 5gb free with additional space for cheap: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/116029-turn...
2. Google Drive has a new Desktop that allows you to choose User folders (Documents, Pictures, etc.) to sync up to 15gb for free to their cloud in real time so it always has the latest version: https://support.google.com/drive/answer/1083812...
3. In addition I'd have an on-site hard copy backup. The best way to do this is to sort all of your files into their User folders and then drag or copy them to another hard drive, USB external or flash drive. Here's how to drag, copy or move large groups of files: https://www.pcworld.com/article/2086566/the-man...
4. Besides your files you should save a System Image back up to use in place of reinstall in 20 minutes. The best free alternative is Macrium: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/7363/macrium-ref... You can even use the Macrium program to mount and extract files from this image so it can serve as both image and file backup too.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

______________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

You said in the title of t his thread you copied your files into a Temporary Profile. Please explain what you meant exactly.

Did you get a message that you had been started into a Temporary Profile because your account could not start? If so then the files are almost always in the old account. You said you had been running this way for awhile, did you come across your files at any time?

Check in C: for a C:\windows.old folder to see if your files are in there. Do you have any back up at all for your files? If not I will give you easy steps to have your files backed up by two different methods so this doesn't happen again. Files must always be backed up because a hard drive can die at any time without notice.

If you know for sure that you were put into a Temporary account, I will give you the steps to get out of it. Follow the steps carefully.

Some times if the User account gets corrupted and cannot start, Windows will sign into a temporary account. A Temp Account cannot be used as a normal account so do not set it up or copy files into it because at any restart it might decide to start into your old Account. I'll give you everything that can be done to repair or replace your account, based on helping others get through it.

1. Try restarting the PC a few times to see if it can sign into your account.
2. Check at C:\Users if you can see your old account with its files intact. If not check at C:\Windows.old to see if files were archived there during a version install that fails.

If so copy the files out externally so they are safe. Files should always be backed up if you value them at all. You can copy or drag them to an external USB flash or hard drive.

3. From the temp account try to repair the old account using one of these methods:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win...

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/48012-fix-y...

https://winaero.com/blog/windows-10-youve-been-...

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/corrupted-user-p... (Avoid ad links which intrude into editorial copy, especially avoid Restoro ad)

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/fix...

4. If not then you can try to create a new Local Administrator Account to see how it works: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for....

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-change-user-...

5. If you cannot create a new account then to do this enable the built-in hidden Administrator used in emergencies like this, following Option Five here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2969-enable...

This requires accessing the Command Prompt using bootable media which is the only method that doesn't require a password. If you don't want to do that then you can try now to Reset Windows 10 from the Sign in Screen as shown in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zonjyd2L_GQ

6. To proceed to replace or repair the old account go to another PC to create bootable media following the steps toward the bottom of the download page here in the section "Using the tool to create installation media:"

https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/software-downlo... Uncheck the box for Recommended Settings to choose the exact version and bit rate for the target PC only.

Insert media, boot it by powering up PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutor...

If the media won't boot you may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup (pressing key given in chart in link above) to turn off Fast Boot or Fast Startup first.

Choose the boot device as a UEFI device if offered, on second screen choose Repair Your Computer, then Advanced Troubleshoot Options to open Command Prompt to enable the built-in Hidden Administrator following https://www.isumsoft.com/it/enable-hidden-admin...

7. Sign into the now unhidden built-in Administrator account leaving password box blank, then create a new Local Admin account to replace yours:

https://www.isumsoft.com/windows-10/3-ways-to-c...

http://www.windowscentral.com/how-change-user-a...

8. Sign into the new account, test it works and resolves the problem(s), if so you can move your files over at C:\Users.
9. You can also try to repair the old Account by running a Repair Install by running the media you created earlier from Windows as shown here: https://www.yourwindowsguide.com/2016/06/how-to.... This reinstalls Windows while saving your files and apps in place; takes about an hour, resolves most problems. It also brings it to the latest version by the most stable method.
10. If it doesn't fix the old account, when ready you can delete the old account by one of these methods:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5464-delete...

11. Then if desired change it to a MS Account: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5375-switch...
12. And if all that fails from bootable media choose Install Now, then Custom Install, then at the drive selection screen delete all partitions down to Unallocated Space to get it cleanest, click Next to let it create needed partitions and start install - this makes it foolproof.

Everything needed to get the best possible Clean Install is here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki.... It is a better install than any amount of money can buy and a great learning experience that will make you the master of your PC because you will learn what works best and how to apply it with your own hands.

If you have files that aren't backed up you can use the same bootable media to try to rescue your files using these methods: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. If you will wait to choose if I solved your problem, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

________________________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Hi Einerson. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, here to help you.

It sounds like it created a Temporary Account because your account was too corrupted to start. If so it should have informed you it needed to do this. It would be a brand new account which is named differently.

Check in C:\Users if you see your old account. If so copy your files out externally now from the old account because repairs could cause them to disappear!. Do not set up the new account as it may go away with any restart. It sounds like you've had time for plenty of restarts though so let's assume it's not going to resolve by itself.

Here are ways to try to fix your old account when Windows 10 starts into a Temporary Account:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/48012-fix-y...

If that doesn't work or you want to save time then Create a new Local Admin account in Settings > Accounts > Family & Other People > Other Users, as shown here: http://www.howtogeek.com/226540/how-to-create-a...

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-change-user-...

Sign into the new account, test that it runs fine for as long as you want, if so then when ready move your files over via C:\Users by opening each User folder, from File tab choose Select All, then Copy, browse to the matching folder in new account to choose Paste from the Home tab.

When ready you can either 1) delete the old account by one of these methods: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5464-delete...

You can then change the new account to your Microsoft account if desired:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5375-switch...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. If you'll wait to rate whether my post resolved your problem, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

______________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.