Can't find folder from desktop.

Question

I recently opened my laptop, i saw all my apps as if they are newly installed & properly organised, couldn't see my files which i made. I got a pop up message saying i have been logged in from a temporary account. After that I found all my files from users. I didn't know this thing about "temporary account" and had saved an important file on desktop itself. Now after 2 days when I have opened laptop i can't find that file which is really really important, please help.

Answer 1

Hi UrnabaD,

Sorry for the inconvenience caused to you, Thank you so much for your valuable question please,If you updated your system in near future, I would suggest you to please see the below mentioned thread and see it if it helps. I am hopeful that your query will be resolved, If the issue persists kindly do let me know,waiting for your kind reply please. Please check the solution given by DaveM121

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

Also please check helpful article

https://www.tenforums.com/general-support/63149...

Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

David Ziffer's post for "Temporary account"

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

Please let me know, if that helps and feel free to ask back any question.

Kind Regards:

Yasir

Answer 2

Hi UrnabaD Roy,

You can check for the lost file in the system using two methods. Follow either of the methods below:

Method 1: Using Cortana

1. Press Windows****key on the keyboard and type windows.old in the search box.
2. Select the search result which shows folder and drive location of the program.
3. Follow the file/folder path to check the contents of the same.

Method 2: Using Windows explorer

1. Press Windows key + E keys on the keyboard to open Windows Explorer.
2. Click on This PC option from the left side panel of the window.
3. Type windows.old in the Search This PC box located at the top right corner of the window.
4. Follow the file/folder path to check the contents of the same.

If you're able to locate the file you're looking for, you can now proceed to rectifying the issue with the temporary profile. When you log in to your Windows profile, your profile’s information and settings are picked up from registry entries and configuration files saved on your hard disk. Corruption of a single file can disable Windows from accessing it and it will log you to a temporary profile which you can use. I suggest that you enable the built-in admin account and run SFC to rectify the issue.

System File Checker (SFC) is a utility in Windows that scans for corrupted Windows system files. If it finds a problem, it will try to replace the problematic system files from a cached version that’s on your PC.

Here's how you can enable the built-in admin account and run SFC:

1. Launch **Command Prompt (Admin)**by typing Command Prompt in the search bar, right-clicking on the best match and choosing Run as administrator.
2. Type: net user Administrator /active yes
3. Run a System File Ccheck by typing the following command: sfc /scannow
4. Type net user Administrator /active no to disable the admin account.

Let me know how it goes.