Automated Windows 10 updates deleted all my documents and files

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.

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You may click this support link to contact Answer Desk for further assistance about addressing the issue.

Update us with the status of the issue.

Oh my GOD what on earth is happening!!! On  Saturday January 6, 2017 in the evening I was working on my  computer and automated Windows 10 updates started with a warning that this may take a while and the computer might start several times please do not shut your computer. I decided to go to bed and let Windows do its own thing. On Sunday morning when I  went to see it the updates completed, to my surprise my computer was cleaned out like new. All those document on my desktop were no longer there as well as the third part programs icons(Anaconda, python, Oracle Virtual Box, pictures, my lecture videos, you name it ) I panicked, I saw 6 Windows.old folders and looked in the and they were all empty.I could not believe Windows can do this . I started seeking for help on MS websites and  on two occasions online assistants based in SE Asia remoted into my computer and they told me what I did not want to hear that there is no data on my computer!!!! I asked where did the updates take my data to and their answer was updates are not supposed to to delete data. The referred me to a local Microsoft Store to look at my computer and the store agent told me the same thing that the data was not on my computer and they do not do data recovery and I better contact a data recovery company called Seagate at my cost. I told my cowokers this they told me if I was using Linux that would not have happened. I have not used any operating System in my life but Windows. I asked the agent if each update type has no its (Reverse Type) to undo what it did and the answer was I have never heard that. MY Question is. Why does Microsoft push automated updates that wipe clients data and they cannot reverse what the updates have done? I am confused and  cannot believe this. If there are GURUs there your help on this is required

John

Exactly the same thing here! What´s going on?