Windows 10: Lost data after windows update

An unfortunate series of events ended with me losing some important files after a windows 10 update version 1909.


Steps to reproduce:


1: After the initial update, my computer rebooted to a nearly clean desktop. Missing 90% of my desktop seemed to only contains certain applications like Google Chrome, Steam..etc . Google Chrome had no references to any gmail profile/accounts that were previously used.


2: At this point I thought I lost everything on my computer. Luckily, after going through file explorer I saw that my old desktop & files were just in a different users' desktop location. I dragged some important files from my old desktop to this new fresh desktop so that I didn't lose them again.Ironically, these are the files that I ended up losing


3: I saw that windows needed an update again so I clicked on "Update and Restart Windows"


4: After rebooting my desktop was back to normal, just as it always was...except for the files that I dragged onto that temporary desktop, which are now lost.


Notes:

- I saw some of the folders that I lost inside of the file explorers' "Frequent Folders", but when I tried to open it it said something along the lines of "Unable locate the file path...etc. "


- I went through all of the users desktops on my computer and none of them are from that "temporary user profile"


- I tried using "EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard" to see if it can find a lost partition or any of the lost files somewhere on my current C or F drives, with no luck.


- Checked the recycling bin to see if maybe the files got sent there.



I really hope someone knows how to recover the lost files that were on the "temporary user profile" desktop.


Thanks, I appreciate the help in advance.

:)

 

Lost data from hard drive, what to do now?

Well, I'm sorry to hear that it's a WD My Passport that failed on you, @tomhenry ! *Frown
I'd recommend you to try using a different USB cable with it and see if that will help your system to detect it without it disconnecting.
I'd also suggest you to go to Disk Management and see how the drive is listed there. It won't hurt to check up on the health and SMART status of the HDD by running the QUICK and EXTENDED tests from the WD's Data LifeGuard Diagnostics. Here's a link to the available software: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=11ZOpD

Give these troubleshooting steps a try and keep us posted with the results!
SuperSoph_WD

 

Lost Data After Update

Hello Maddalen,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

1. Which update was installed on your PC?
   
2. Which version of Windows 10 you are using currently?
   
3. Are you trying to access apps using the hot bar?
   

I suggest you to refer the article on
Find lost files after the upgrade to Windows 10.



Please get back to us with detailed information to assist you better with the issue.



Regards,

Prakhar Khare

Microsoft Community – Moderator

 

LOST DATA ONENOTE

Hi Jeff,





There are a lot of possible factors for this matter. To isolate the issue, I have a couple of questions for you:

• 
  Were there any changes made before the issue occurred?
  
• 
  What activity triggered the issue?
  
• 
  Were there any error messages appear before your device went to repair mode?
  
• 
  What troubleshooting steps have you done so far?
  

I recommend that you perform a system restore and see if you can still recover the lost data. To perform a system
restore, follow these steps:

• 
  Go to
  Control Panel.
  
• 
  Change
  View to Small icons.
  
• 
  Choose
  Recovery.
  
• 
  Click on
  Open System Restore.
  
• 
  Choose the restore point to when the issue is not occurring.
  

For more information, check to the article entitled
"Recovery
options in Windows 10" and refer to the instructions under
Restore from a system restore point.



We'll waiting for any updates from you.



Regards.