Missing files

FreeBooter · 2026-08-22T06:47:28-0400

Looks like you have no care to try my suggestions so i'm out helping you.

M1000tutorials · 2026-08-22T06:54:07-0400

System restore is not going to bring files back . . . is my guess.

My bad re: I havent got system restore set up

I dont know what files are missing so I wont know if its recovered

garlin · 2026-08-22T06:58:44-0400

kelper said:
Well, I have 430,000 empty files. @M1000tutorials do you have Voidtools Everything installed?

425,000 are in C:\Windows\WinSxS\Temp\InFlight. I will see if moving them breaks Windows.

You have a separate known issue.

@Tester wrote a script to clean up those specific folders.
How to delete folders under C:\Windows\WinSxS\Temp\InFlight

FreeBooter · 2026-08-22T07:05:28-0400

Oh so why search for files you don't know weird case for me, but you know where these files missing like i said before you can browse system points for that folder who is missing files.

M1000tutorials · 2026-08-22T10:41:45-0400

I want to know why files are missing and how to stop it

There may be some situations where I will know what files were there, like in the capture that has the whole alphabet

kelper · 2026-08-22T10:46:03-0400

Well, you need to describe the problem in more detail. I see you were sorting files like a telephone directory. Why? There are many ways to look for files and this is an odd way to organise files. How do you know that files are missing? Have you found any files in any of the folders with names like ABC?

KevTech · 2026-08-22T11:00:10-0400

M1000tutorials said:
I havent got system restore set up

Are you sure it is not on?

If it is you can right-click on a folder and select properties.

Go to the previous versions tab and there may be previous versions in there you can restore that have your files.

remover · 2026-08-22T16:18:58-0400

Go to the start menu, look for Settings, It will take you to System>Recovery, at the top type in System Restore,

then you will see (near or at the bottom) Create a restore point. when this page come's up in the pic. Create a Restore Point, Don't close it yet, you

may have t hit apply? Create a point call it "missed filles" post back - one of us will reply to you !!!

M1000tutorials · 2026-08-22T16:45:19-0400

kelper said:
Well, you need to describe the problem in more detail. I see you were sorting files like a telephone directory. Why? There are many ways to look for files and this is an odd way to organise files. How do you know that files are missing? Have you found any files in any of the folders with names like ABC?

Did you listen to the video I posted in post 37?

I organise files using A - F; G - L; M - R; S - Z
For example, 'stamps', if I collected, but I dont, would be under S - Z

I know the files are missing because I created folders, named it, placed files in the folder, and now its gone

M1000tutorials · 2026-08-22T16:49:01-0400

KevTech said:
Are you sure it is not on?

It is on, but 'manage space' was 2% so I increased the size. That might be why it was not working

M1000tutorials · 2026-08-22T16:50:06-0400

remover said:
Go to the start menu, look for Settings, It will take you to System>Recovery, at the top type in System Restore,

then you will see (near or at the bottom) Create a restore point. when this page come's up in the pic. Create a Restore Point, Don't close it yet, you

may have t hit apply? Create a point call it "missed filles" post back - one of us will reply to you !!!

I created a restore point. thanks

M1000tutorials · 2026-08-22T16:52:12-0400

Here is how dropbox is set up (to show how the folders are set up alphabetically)

remover · 2026-08-22T16:59:46-0400

You have to pick an instruction & follow it please - I would advise you go to
Page 1 post 20

Page 2 Post 23 & 24 read please......

Restore files from System Restore Points using ShadowExplorer.

Start by downloading the latest version of ShadowExplorer: there posted on the pages by FreeBooter. Can you do that?

Banjoman301 · 2026-08-22T17:12:34-0400

Another thing to keep in mind...

Regarding using ShadowExplorer...you don't have to know the names of all the files.

You would look in the corresponding folders, and see what files are there.

If there are files showing that you don't have on your computer (which appear to be none), those are probably ones you would want to get.

And you may need to check more than one restore point, since we don't really know when they disappeared.

All that said, you really need to start doing frequent drive image backups (backs up your entire drive), and similarly, a daily backup routine for your personal files and folders only, since those can change pretty frequently (they do on our systems).

An external USB drive is perfect for home users to store backups, and should be disconnected from the system when not in use.

A few simple steps, and a small investment in an external USB drive would have likely prevented this situation.
.

M1000tutorials · 2026-08-22T17:18:52-0400

As I said before, system restore wont work because I dont know what files, by name, are missing

I only know when files are missing when I come across an empty folder

System restore wouldnt work because it has not been creating restore points (probably due to low percentage / manage space)

Banjoman301 · 2026-08-22T17:25:02-0400

M1000tutorials said:
I dont know what files, by name, are missing

You are not doing a "system restore"...you are looking at a system restore point "file", using a tool called ShadowExplorer to see if any of your missing files exist there.

If they do, you can then extract those files from the restore point file using ShadowExplorer.

Banjoman301 · 2026-08-22T17:28:53-0400

M1000tutorials said:
System restore wouldnt work because it has not been creating restore points (probably due to low percentage / manage space)

Then, if there are no restore points, and you have no other backup methods (did you try checking OneDrive online? or Dropbox?)...you are screwed.

M1000tutorials · 2026-08-22T17:29:00-0400

Ok
Ill try it (shadowcopy)

my Onedrive is empty

M1000tutorials · 2026-08-22T17:46:42-0400

when installed, I go to task scheduler , like he did?

Banjoman301 · 2026-08-22T17:49:50-0400

M1000tutorials said:
Ill try it (shadowcopy)

my Onedrive is empty

So, unless that stuff is stored in the cloud somewhere, your method of last resort is data recovery software.

You might download and install Disk Drill.

If will show you what is recoverable on your hard drive, but the free version only allows you minimal recovery.

I am not affliated with Disk Drill.

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