Windows 10: Entire Documents folder wiped

Hi. After restarting my PC, my entire Documents folder has been wiped, losing 20 GB of my project files. Was there a reason for this happening? I hadn't touched it and it just vanished. It wasn't hidden and I wasn't in a temporary user account. Using data recovery software only got me 5% of my files back despite it being fine right before I restarted it. Is there any way to recover at least some of the files?

:)

 

Downloads folder is the Documents folder

Hi Chris,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

I suggest you to Restore to Default the folders and document settings and see if it helps.

Step 1:

Please follow below steps and check if it helps.

• Go to Download folder.
• Right click on the Download Folder and go to Properties.
• In Properties go to Location tab.
• In location Tab Click on Restore Default.

Step 2:

Please follow below steps and check if it helps.

• Go to Documents folder.
• Right click on the Document folder and go to Properties.
• In Properties go to Location tab.
• In location Tab Click on Restore Default.

After performing above steps change the settings as you required and check if it helps.

Hope these information helps, please get back to us for future support, we’ll be glad to assist you further.

Thank you.

 

Multiple 'Documents' folders under 'This PC'

Hi,

Thank you for your interest in Windows 10.

This may happen if one the “documents” folder has been stored on different target location.

Follow the methods below and check if it helps:

Method 1

I suggest that you check both the folders location where they are saved using the below method:

• 
  Right-click on any one documents folder and then click Properties.
  
• 
  Click the Location tab, click Restore Default, and then click Apply and OK.
  
• 
  Check what happens, try these step on all the documents folder.
  

Method 2

If the above step fails then try checking the target location of both the folders by using the find target option:

• 
  Right-click on any one documents folder and then click Properties.
  
• 
  Click the Location tab, click Find target.
  
• 
  Check where the target location of both the folders is and check if any one goes to the user name location and later delete the one which goes to wrong location.
  

Hope this information is helpful. Please do let us know if you need further assistance, we’ll be glad to assist you.

 

Documents/Pictures folders under 'This PC' refer to onedrive - not the local folders

Since the only folder that has incorrect file path is the Documents folder under This PC, we would suggest you do the same steps provided above. However, do it in your Documents folder under This PC. To do so, kindly follow the steps below:

• Open File Explorer
• Click This PC
• Right-click on Documents
• Click Properties
• Click Location
• Click Restore Default
• Click Apply
• Click OK

Also, we would like to inform you that "winhelponline.com" is not associated with Microsoft.

Let us know how it goes.