[cookiemeow]

So, a few days back i was turning off my computer (compaq Presario CQ1) and windows (10) said i had to do some updates, i agreed with the updates and went to sleep.
Yesterday i turn on my computer and it logged me in a new user account with the same name as my old account but with no files or apps in it. I searched my files, and I found them in a different user, i moved all my files and everything. Then i turn my computer off.
Today i turned on my computer and it logged me in my old user account and my files are gone, i tried to find the new account i used yesterday but it's gone. I searched all over and they're gone. I searched for the names of the files and it says that they're in the windows.old folder, but i go to the windows.old folder and it's empty. When i try to click on the search results it says that it has been moved or the name has changed.
Please help, i'm freaking out!!

[itsmhuang]

I sent you a PM thinking this post was months old, but you posted it yesterday...
I'm having the same problem... Please help!

[julianich]

i guess you should install KrojamSoft FilesSearch and see if it can help

[TechFreak1]

Looks like some of the user directory keys in the registry have become corrupt. I had a similiar issue on Windows 7 however as i use custom directories - data being on a separate partition. I didn't lose any of the data just the links.

The first thing to do is go to C:\Users and check if the user folders are still here or have you checked here already?

You may need to enable hidden folders, go to:
1) File at top right hand corner in the file explorer
2) Change folder and search options
3) View tab
4) Click on show hidden folders, files and drives
5) Untick Hide folder merge conflicts
6) Untick Hide system protected folders

Click Apply and check the C:\Users directory again.

Also run the net user command in cmd:
1) winkey+x
2) command line
3) type in "net user" without speech marks - this will list the users on the current machine.
4) To reactivate a user type in for example: Net user John /active:yes

Post back what you find :).

[cookiemeow]

I already tried the hidden file thing and I got no result!!
I tried the net user and only two accounts were listed (mine and my mom's),not the other one that w10 created.
I downloaded an app called shadow explorer and found the files and I restored them but when I tried to open them, they were like corrupted.
I tried another app called EaseUS Data Recovery Software and i found my files!! but.. they had like a limit so i only was able to restore 1gb of them... but the good news is that they're somewhere in my computer!!
Do you have any other ideas of how can I find them? or an app that has no limit?

[TechFreak1]

I already tried the hidden file thing and I got no result!!
I tried the net user and only two accounts were listed (mine and my mom's),not the other one that w10 created.
I downloaded an app called shadow explorer and found the files and I restored them but when I tried to open them, they were like corrupted.
I tried another app called EaseUS Data Recovery Software and i found my files!! but.. they had like a limit so i only was able to restore 1gb of them... but the good news is that they're somewhere in my computer!!
Do you have any other ideas of how can I find them? or an app that has no limit?

Sorry have been busy with work, that is certainly good news.

Any decent app will have limits unfortunately, in the recovery programme can you see where the directory / folders are?

If so can you navigate to them using the right click context menu?

Also if you can, attach a screenshot - it will be shown as an attachment to your post.