Vista - Personal User Folder - Restore Missing Folder

Thanks very much , that helps me much...

You're welcome Christena, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

Hi i really need some help.... i am using a Compaq laptop-window vista of course and i experienced that my entire (my pictures) folder/shortcut from the start menu was inactive and that i lost all my files and sub-folders (included==thousands of images/files) so this concerned me because i didn't delete them because i use them frequently business only.

Now i followed the steps in the tutorial and i was successful at getting the original my pictures shortcut/folder back (shows a yellow folder on start menu) However all my subfolders and files are no longer showing/available..

Im totally confused and is there a way to find out what happened and how i can restore if I didnt personally remove these files at all???

Hello BossLadyBBW, and welcome to Vista Forums.

If you had the Pictures folder located somewhere else before this, then double check there to see if your images may still be there in another folder. You may also do a thorough non-index search on the entire computer for one of the image files. For example for a jpg file, you would use *.jpg to search with. The * is for any name with that file extension. It may find them for you if they are still on the drive somewhere.

Advanced Search


If you are sure you have the correct default location set in the registry for the Pictures (My Pictures) in the registry, then this tutorial below may help get the green folder back for it instead of the yellow one.

Personal User Shell Folders

Hope this helps,
Shawn

THanks for the great walk-through - this issue has robbed me of hours.

One question - How do I do a complete restor of all the "user data" (shinny green) foldes. I need a "reset" button so-to-speak.

Also, do you know how to restore/bring back the contacts folder? This folder seems to have different charicturistics than the others. It's not even listed in the "user shell" registry section your tutorial directed us to.

To be clear I have 2 questions:

1: Is it possable to restore the entire user data folders listed under ...C: drive/users/**my name**?

2: How do I restore the contacts user file. It's currently there but not visable (except in the "tree view" on the left) and it' not a green folder - normal yellow.

THanks for the help - I'm SO glad I found this forum.

J.

Hello Jeff, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Q1) A system Restore using a restore point dated before you lost them may be able restore the data folders for you and Q2.


Q2) Have you already tried the shell:contacts folder command?

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks for the reply. I tried the restore point without success so looks like I have only 2 options. 1) open a new user profile and transfer my stuff or 2) live with it missing - which probably wouldn't bug me since I never use it (Outlook handles that for me).

Added later: I've done the new user profile and -except for the pain in the @$$ of resetting absolutely every customization - I'm back to full operational status. Thanks for the help.

P.S. Maybe you can help clear up the situation that started this entire problem...

My issue began when I tried to relocate my "user" files onto another drive. The first thing I did was I moved the contacts to the drive but (...as I now understand) didn't create a new folder (believing in error that windows would actually move the green folder in a nice and easy manner.) So, I lost the folder and couldn't move it back because of an error with the D: drive - which was now my actual "contacts" location.

Anyway. I still need to move the "user" folders to a more secure second hard drive but I am nervous and would welcome a clear guide to this probably simple process.

Jeff47 these tutorials will show you how to move your personal folders.

Personal User Shell Folders - Move Location

User Profile Folders - Prevent or Allow Location Change

Hope this helps

Thanks for the links mansrm81.

excellent