Automated Windows 10 updates deleted all my documents and files

Anonymous
2018-01-08T00:24:54+00:00

I am in a state of shock. I was already using windows 10 and last night automated updates started without allowing me to stop them. This morning my computer is cleaned out with all thosevery important document deleted!!! Microsoft can do that??? How can I recover them ALL?????

John

Moved from: Windows / Windows 10 / Windows update, recovery, & backup

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments

235 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Anonymous
    2019-03-09T13:57:27+00:00

    I have fixed over 30 computers this has happened to. The only way I have found to do this is to pull the hard drive from the computer and slave it to another computer. Backup any important files to another drive or thumb drive. Your files are still there they are just not accessible. After doing the backup put the hard drive back in the computer and do a Factory Reset on the computer. Once the computer is backup and running copy your files back to the places they belong by using a thumb drive.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2019-03-09T13:31:56+00:00

    This same thing happened to me on March 5, 2019...all files gone after auto update in windows 10. No restore points to reset to an earlier date. And so far I have not been able to get any answers from Microsoft. That Virtual Agent is useless! If anyone knows a way to get back all my personal and business files that were lost PLEASE share!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2019-01-22T18:16:27+00:00

    I had this issue. The problem was with my windows profile not being recognized after the update. Everything was in place the profile was missing the links / pointers to my documents downloads pictures and videos virtual directories. It also wiped out my desktop and my startup applications and configurations. The only thing that remained from a my profile was my Avatar.

    I restored to the previous checkpoint at startup and now my machine is back to normal. However the critical update is not applied and until Microsoft fixes this tissue with the update I cannot apply it.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2018-12-19T16:46:38+00:00

    I too am beyond angry, as I just had the same forced update and subsequent message and black screen with no functionality.  

    12/19/18

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  5. Anonymous
    2018-12-02T19:45:05+00:00

    linux updates are 100% voluntary and do not screw up your machine.  they also have other kernels you can use.  don't even compare windows to linux. it's not remotely the same thing.   windows consumes your computers resources making it almost unusable while it spends 30 to 60 mins doing updates.  updates on linux take 2 to 3 mins and you don't even know because it doesn't hog up all the resources.

    again, they are not FORCED UPDATES like windows.  linux doesn't change your drivers.  windows will.  for ones that don't work.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments