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Photos and videos vanished/missing from HP laptop after updating 3/7/2020

Anonymous
2020-04-16T20:52:19+00:00

All my pictures and videos are gone from HP laptop.  Picture files show empty and C: drive search for jpeg etc.  doesn't bring them up either.  They were there before the update.  I looked in folder for Windows and nothing.  Please help these were from an old Samsung phone which I have no access too.  what happened and how do I get them back? :(

thank you

Windows for home | Other | Music, photos, and video

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-04-16T20:54:55+00:00

    Hi #Jen this is happening much too often at the moment, most likely, you are logged into a temporary account . . .

    Before you do anything or move any files around

    Restart (not shut down) your PC 4 times, each time let your PC get to the Desktop before the next restart, this will fix this issue a lot of the time . ..

    Otherwise:

    Please open Windows File Explorer

    Navigate to C:\Users

    Do you see two user folders that look like yours?

    Open those folders and check inside Pictures, Documents . . . etc. and see if your files are there

    If your files are there:

    Create a new user profile with Admin privileges

    Log into the new user profile

    Copy all your data from the old profile to the new profile (Documents Library, Pictures Library . . . etc.)

    If you still have not found your files, look for a Windows.old folder on your C Drive, expand that to open the users folder contained inside - check there for your files, icons . . .etc.

    If you do find your files . . . etc. there, copy them out as soon as possible as Windows will remove the Windows.old folder in time

    NOTE VERY IMPORTANT: Do Not copy your files into the Temporary profile you are currently in, when the situation is corrected, your files will be deleted with the Temporary Profile and will not be recoverable !!

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-04-16T21:08:52+00:00

    I'm a little concerned... my restart option is to UPDATE AND RESTART.  There is no option to just RESTART.    I also tried to Windows OLD option but, there was no OLD only showing Windows.  The searches I've done on Google stated after 10 days the OLD option isn't available.  The update happened on 3/7 and I'm just now logging in to view pictures.  Sorry to ramble just trying to be clear.  Thank you for trying to help.  Let me know your thoughts on the update restart not that I feel I have a choice but to select it : ( ...

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-04-17T06:07:39+00:00

    Hi #Jen

    Sorry, I was offline, yes, if there is an update pending, then the best option is to install that and let it run to completion, that should resolve this existing problem . . .

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-04-17T23:24:11+00:00

    Hi Dave, I did as instructed.  Updated and then did the RESTART 4 times.  I'm not gonna lie your instructions sounded like a prank but, I know nothing and was desperate.  Anyways, it didn't work and I'm still search of a fix.   If you have any other suggestions I'd like to hear them.  The photos lost include my dad and brother who past 3 years ago.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-04-18T06:39:40+00:00

    Hi #jen

    Sorry, I was offline . . .

    I an sorry, the multiple restarts did not fix this, believe me that was not a prank, that generally prompts Windows to remove the temporary profile and restore your own . . .

    In the users folder on your hard drive, was there not another profile folder which looked like your own?

    On your C drive was there not a Windows.Old folder?

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