Windows 10: ALL Files and Folders in the 'Downloads' SUDDENLY Disappeared!

Hi all,


I had 3 years worth of files (thousands of files) in my Downloads folder which have all suddenly disappeared completely (Except for one folder that contains 76 other folders, however their content have also vanished).


Unfortunately I don't have any back-ups of my my laptop or the Downloads folder.

I have not installed any new software; the only change(s) would probably be some kind of Update suggested via Windows.


I'm using an Acer laptop with Windows 10, and also have Norton Anti-Virus.


Any help would be appreciated.


Thank You!

:)

 

Downloaded files disappear


When you download a file through any browser, there's an option somewhere to 'Open Containing Folder.'

In Windows, to find a file you have downloaded...

1. Open your personal folder by clicking the Start button and then clicking your user name at the top of the Start menu's right pane.
   
2. Double-click one of the following folders:
   
   • Downloads
     
   • Documents
     
   • Pictures
     
   • Videos
     
   • Music

If you do not see the file you are looking for, but know its file name, you can search for it by following these steps:
To search for a file you have downloaded...

1. Click the Start button
   
2. Type all or part of the file name into the Search box.
   The file you are looking for will appear in the list of results.

 

Disappearing folder

I've encountered a strange problem in windows 10 where I tried to delete a file in a folder, but ended up deleting the whole directory. It did so without the usual pop-up to confirm delete or say it was too big for the recycle bin. It was my Videos folder, so pretty big, but the disk allocation has also remained the same.

I've always had a problem with 'double icons' for the different user folders, including videos, and so I'm thinking it could have something to do with the whole thing, especially as now one of the two video folders has disappeared from the users folders.

The first thing i tried was 'Undo delete', but it just bought the folder back with non of the contents. Then, I went straight to Recuva, but it came up blank (there must have been over 50 videos in the folder)

I'm at a little bit of a loss as where to start looking for this disappeared folder and was hoping someone might have some suggestions?

Screenshots below:

 

Picture folders mysteriously disappearing


I'm having a problem with folders in my picture files. I have one called "Art" which disappeared and I couuldn't find it anywhere. I tried file explorer to no avail. I replaced the Arts folder with an identical folder from my desktop and then suddenly a folder call "Home and Garden" disappeared. Any suggestions re how to locate these missing folders?