Windows 10: In windows 10 all of my files in download folder have disappeared & file history is turned...

About 3 days ago, I had problems with my Windows 10 key (it stopped working) and I thought I'd update the program and then noticed that all of the files that had been downloaded prior to Feb 9th (going back years) were now not in the download folder or C drive. When I went to file history & backup, the system says file history is turned off & there are no usable drives found. When I try to choose another drive, I get an error msg that the drive can't be added. So I need help with finding out how to fix the file history issue or how to find where all of my downloaded files have disappeared. I lost a lot of important files that I really need to find. I'm a grad school student and many of my saved papers have gone missing. Like I said, all downloaded files going back to 2017 are now reachable. Can anybody advise me?

:)

 

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.

 

Turn on File History in Windows 10

Hi,

To address your concern, we suggest that you turn off File history then add the drive again.


To turn off File History, please follow these steps:

• Click the Start​ button, select Settings.
  Click Update & security.
• Choose Backupand click More options.
• See advanced settings, then click the Turn off button.
  

Restart the system then turn back on File History and add the drive.

If the issue persist, run the System File Checker tool. System File Checker
scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore corrupted files.

To run this tool, please refer to this
link.

Let us know how it goes.

 

Turn on File History in Windows 10

Thanks for the suggestions.

The turn off button was greyed out and was unresponsive.

I had been advised to run the system file checker several time and found no problems.

In the meantime my machine has been returned to the suppler for a factory reset and is working again.