Automated Windows 10 updates deleted all my documents and files

Is Linux a free program that you can install? I know of it but have never used it. Is it user friendly or does it look like the old dos programming from the 80's? I know my way around the user friendly kind of software but I'm no expert in how it works. Thanks for your knowledge. :) I don't like knowing that a company as big and bullish as Microsoft can just swoop in and wipe out anything on my computer and have no repercussions at all for it. That just isn't right and doesn't sit well with me.

I think I am one of who knows how many others who lost all of my downloads, documents, pictures and videos to this awful Windows 10 update. I went to turn on my laptop one morning about 3 months ago and was looking for a particular document and noticed that EVERYTHING I had stored on my hard drive was GONE. I was in awe and beyond upset. I had so many documents that were important and every one of them were erased. I had no idea what had happened at that point. A computer tech friend of mine said that when my computer went to sleep ( I just closed it and didn't actually shut it down) that this was what caused it to do the unwanted, unauthorized upgrade as soon as I woke it back up. Once that happened my laptop was doomed and all files wiped away. How can Microsoft get away with this?! Is it even legal to do this to a persons computer?? Is this monopolizing company going to be made to pay restitution to the millions of people who are forced to buy their product every year now(if they want to have a usable/fully workable Microsoft Works program) instead of it being free and simply pre-loaded into the operating system like it used to be? Since when was it ok to get away with doing something like this? Has anything come about with this major issue at all? I am so upset with this whole scenario. I just want all of my stored information back and my laptop the way it was before the upgrade. I have tried everything I have found to recover my files but I don't think I will ever be able to recover what was lost. >:(

Gicoms, dont wait for a Microsoft statement - it wont ever happen.

In their world;

        admission of fault = liability.

This shows how big the issue is, and the continued stunning silence from Microsoft.

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3293440/microsoft-windows/an-open-letter-to-microsoft-management-re-windows-updating.html

I had just the same problem  wiped some of my data on my server  crouped other files  windows became so unstable even the file explorer would crash th os  and say things like missing dlls  missng strings   missing files  my server was completely messed up after this update  files on raid storage drives that have nothing to do with windows or the os drive were affected as well  at this point i haft lost data and no one at micrsoft is owning up to there wrong doing i had a samll company a start up at that in voice over ip and hosting small file server and well i have had to back pay my clients due to this and close down till i can figurer out if wondows is safe for me  to uses any more i have decomitiond all computers running window 10 till an oficall anoucment is made   i might only have one server and 2 laptops but it dosent matter if the company is small or huge the fact that this has / could hapen agen is a masive problem from a producivity and law point of view  as if microsoft let the update out knowing it could do this it would actualy be illegle and could be  coniderd esponage and damage of property knowingly                                                                                                 a real sad day for me  i am fairly know my way around windows and doing server/it sutff thats why i uses it but this might be when i jump off the rolercoster

I have deleted the Windows.old Folder after the update. why not have notice about this problem ?

Hello John,

Files being lost after an update may be caused by you're signed in with a temporary profile or the files are moved to Windows.old folder. We recommend that you follow the methods below to retrieve your files:

Method 1: See if you're signed in with a temporary profile

1. Go to Settings then Accounts.
2. Click Sync your settings on the left pane.
3. Check if you see a message at the top that states You are logged on with a temporary profile. Roaming options are currently unavailable, if yes; Restart your computer then sign in again.

Note: We can't sign into your account. This problem can often be fixed by signing out of your account and then signing back in. can also be address by restarting your PC and signing in again.

You should back up everything you worked on since upgrading to an external drive, or it'll be deleted when you sign out of the temporary account.

Method 2:

Select the search box on the taskbar and search for your files. If you don’t see them and you’re not signed in with a temporary profile, use the troubleshooter to fix problems with Search. In the search box on the taskbar, type indexing, and then select Indexing Options. Select the Advanced Administrator icon button to view more options, then select the Troubleshoot search and indexing link and follow the steps.

More things to try:

• Some files might be hidden from view. In the search box, enter Show hidden files and folders. Under Hidden files and folders, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives. Then try searching for your files again.
• Look for all files of a certain type using the asterisk (*). For example, to search for all Word documents, search for *.doc. For music files, search for *.mp3.
• When you upgraded to Windows 10, some of your files may have been moved. To check the location of files you find, press and hold (or right-click) the file and select Open file location. Copy any files you want to move to a different location.

Method 3: Search for Windows.old folder

Click this link on how to retrieve file from the Windows.old folder. The article is also applicable for Windows 10.

If you think this was useful, feel free to "mark it as an answer" to help those who are facing the same problem.

Let us know if the methods above worked.