Windows 10 1809 update deleted all files from Documents!

Michael, I repeat for the third time--I do not have the missing files problem. It is Martipello who has the problem and is in the process of trying to do a deep scan to retrieve them. Please read all my posts again. Also, I am a big fan of Windows 10 and consider it the best Windows ever and the second place Windows 7 is not even close. It will be even better when Microsoft introduces the Chromium based Edge browser in 2020. This will be my last reply to you on this subject. Thanks and good luck.

I dont see how the link is relevant, my files were in a windows.old folder, the microsoft tech support guy told me this is a temp folder, which sounds dubious to me, but regardless the entire directory has been gutted running recovery software now that looks like it may be doing the job

Your link talks about hidden admin accounts and corrupt user accounts neither apply to me, im physically missing 500gb of data from my machine 

A quick scan has found 260gb its currently doing a deep scan so fingers crossed it finds the rest, but this just shouldnt be happening, why would a windows update be deleting data, i work at a software company and if we did anything similar we would be all out of work in a heart beat

Martipello, I have combined all 3 of your replies above.

My point in making the post is not that it will apply to everyone, but there could be some who will benefit, because the underlying reason for the lost files does seem to vary. It will be interesting and potentially helpful to others if you could post the location of the files after your deep scan is finished. That could be a real benefit to many. I would also note that people who are searching for the missing folders/files and hidden identities could benefit by changing their File Explorer settings to "Show Hidden Files" and remove the check mark from "Hide protected operating system files" at least temporarily. 

You are right that this should not happen and that Microsoft is not giving the support that we have a right to expect, but we can't do much about that. All we can do is try to help those affected by posting solutions that could work for at least some of them. I hope that your deep scan does the full job for you.

Hello Derrald. I so sorry to hear you are going still through this.  As I mentioned, it did happen to my in January. And thank the lord I had a backup of what was removed. Here Derrald, go to this link and download the: 'free home version' of EaseUs Recovery Manager. Here: 

https://www.easeus.com/datarecoverywizard/free-data-recovery-software.htm

Install it and allow it to run a full search and see if it finds all you lost and then, check off all the files you want replaced (and to where) also.  My computer had Windows 10 pro 1803 installed when I bought it and it recently updated to 1903 and just yesterday updated once again and all is OK Now thankfully so, Microsoft is trying to correct and rectify whatever happened with security update and new patches that Look at everything installed and then update and log those also now.  Lord willing you can recover everything back again and know you are in my prayer lord bless, Shalom Michael.

Thanks, Michael, but you misunderstood my posts.

I do not have that problem and have done more than 20 installations of 1809 with no problems. My post was just to help out some others. Please go back and read the posts in context.

I am hoping that Martipello will be able to post the location of the files found by his EaseUs scan. That could be very helpful to many people. I am very familiar with EaseUs and have used it for other purposes, but if the files can be located simply by unhiding a hidden Admin identity/user profile or by fixing a corrupted profile, that is by far the easiest and surest way of getting all lost files back. There are many cases when the user's identity after installing 1809 does not have the previous files, but the files are still on the hard drive under another identity/profile that might not be readily visible.

Version 1903 that you mentioned is the Insider version not released to the general public. I do run it on one of my machines, but I do not use it on my main computer, which remains at 1809.

Thanks again and God bless you as well.

Hello once again Derrald. I just saw your email message pop on as I was checking my email online account so, I just wanted to thank you for helping so many others that are having this issue and others issues and, for all of your Tech Knowledge too my friend.  And, I'm sorry for I failed to mention to you Derrald that the 1903 version that I mentioned was sent to me from a Tech where I purchased this HP Laptop. he sent me that Windows 10 Professional CDRom with 1903 along with it.  i'm happy to hear you are retrieving and finding your  MIA update lost files. 500GB of Data is a lot so, I do I feel your loss and disgust in this matter also. As we both know Derrald, any new opp`system has it's bugs in the beginning yet windows 10 has been around for a while now so my dilemma and major question still remains as to -why?- did they make it so difficult?

Man, brother,  I knew XP like the back of my hand and windows 7 also yet 10 is driving me batty~ hah hah hah.  Have a great day and once again Thank you for all of your help and insights. Michael.

Im about to do the same thing but not through easeUS but why shoukd i have to pay to fix their mistake

Hello again CWW and Derrold.   Yes, I just wrote you guys today and mentioned to use: EaseUS Recovery Manager, the free home version. And, yes I know, Reimage  also, yet, I found EaseUs to be free and reliable also. Try it.    I also understand that millions of people lost a lot if not everything and it is horrible but like i said Microsoft Is fixing that 1809 update with patches and corrections in this last update with more security using the new Edge browser.  The only reason I didn't mention the old.file temp folder is because I have and also use Avast security and also there cleanup manager Which deletes old files and reg items. And, yes again you or I could still retrieve them back-again if I chose to.  I'm just so sorry guys for i do fully understand how painstaking this who Windows 10 System is at the moment for i too still find myself doing research looking for other ways to fix things I fully don't know nor understand with this also. it's messed up and not a simple system. Even adding users or changing our possible wrong admin name is difficult.  Win 10 is here to stay my friends so learn all you can but didn't get discouraged Ok? Lord bless, Michael.

I dont see how the link is relevant, my files were in a windows.old folder, the microsoft tech support guy told me this is a temp folder, which sounds dubious to me, but regardless the entire directory has been gutted running recovery software now that looks like it may be doing the job

Your link talks about hidden admin accounts and corrupt user accounts neither apply to me, im physically missing 500gb of data from my machine 

A quick scan has found 260gb its currently doing a deep scan so fingers crossed it finds the rest, but this just shouldnt be happening, why would a windows update be deleting data, i work at a software company and if we did anything similar we would be all out of work in a heart beat

Martipello, I have combined all 3 of your replies above.

My point in making the post is not that it will apply to everyone, but there could be some who will benefit, because the underlying reason for the lost files does seem to vary. It will be interesting and potentially helpful to others if you could post the location of the files after your deep scan is finished. That could be a real benefit to many. I would also note that people who are searching for the missing folders/files and hidden identities could benefit by changing their File Explorer settings to "Show Hidden Files" and remove the check mark from "Hide protected operating system files" at least temporarily. 

You are right that this should not happen and that Microsoft is not giving the support that we have a right to expect, but we can't do much about that. All we can do is try to help those affected by posting solutions that could work for at least some of them. I hope that your deep scan does the full job for you.

Hello Derrald. I so sorry to hear you are going still through this.  As I mentioned, it did happen to my in January. And thank the lord I had a backup of what was removed. Here Derrald, go to this link and download the: 'free home version' of EaseUs Recovery Manager. Here: 

https://www.easeus.com/datarecoverywizard/free-data-recovery-software.htm

Install it and allow it to run a full search and see if it finds all you lost and then, check off all the files you want replaced (and to where) also.  My computer had Windows 10 pro 1803 installed when I bought it and it recently updated to 1903 and just yesterday updated once again and all is OK Now thankfully so, Microsoft is trying to correct and rectify whatever happened with security update and new patches that Look at everything installed and then update and log those also now.  Lord willing you can recover everything back again and know you are in my prayer lord bless, Shalom Michael.

Thanks, Michael, but you misunderstood my posts.

I do not have that problem and have done more than 20 installations of 1809 with no problems. My post was just to help out some others. Please go back and read the posts in context.

I am hoping that Martipello will be able to post the location of the files found by his EaseUs scan. That could be very helpful to many people. I am very familiar with EaseUs and have used it for other purposes, but if the files can be located simply by unhiding a hidden Admin identity/user profile or by fixing a corrupted profile, that is by far the easiest and surest way of getting all lost files back. There are many cases when the user's identity after installing 1809 does not have the previous files, but the files are still on the hard drive under another identity/profile that might not be readily visible.

Version 1903 that you mentioned is the Insider version not released to the general public. I do run it on one of my machines, but I do not use it on my main computer, which remains at 1809.

Thanks again and God bless you as well.

I dont see how the link is relevant, my files were in a windows.old folder, the microsoft tech support guy told me this is a temp folder, which sounds dubious to me, but regardless the entire directory has been gutted running recovery software now that looks like it may be doing the job

Your link talks about hidden admin accounts and corrupt user accounts neither apply to me, im physically missing 500gb of data from my machine 

A quick scan has found 260gb its currently doing a deep scan so fingers crossed it finds the rest, but this just shouldnt be happening, why would a windows update be deleting data, i work at a software company and if we did anything similar we would be all out of work in a heart beat

Martipello, I have combined all 3 of your replies above.

My point in making the post is not that it will apply to everyone, but there could be some who will benefit, because the underlying reason for the lost files does seem to vary. It will be interesting and potentially helpful to others if you could post the location of the files after your deep scan is finished. That could be a real benefit to many. I would also note that people who are searching for the missing folders/files and hidden identities could benefit by changing their File Explorer settings to "Show Hidden Files" and remove the check mark from "Hide protected operating system files" at least temporarily. 

You are right that this should not happen and that Microsoft is not giving the support that we have a right to expect, but we can't do much about that. All we can do is try to help those affected by posting solutions that could work for at least some of them. I hope that your deep scan does the full job for you.

Hello Derrald. I so sorry to hear you are going still through this.  As I mentioned, it did happen to my in January. And thank the lord I had a backup of what was removed. Here Derrald, go to this link and download the: 'free home version' of EaseUs Recovery Manager. Here: 

https://www.easeus.com/datarecoverywizard/free-data-recovery-software.htm

Install it and allow it to run a full search and see if it finds all you lost and then, check off all the files you want replaced (and to where) also.  My computer had Windows 10 pro 1803 installed when I bought it and it recently updated to 1903 and just yesterday updated once again and all is OK Now thankfully so, Microsoft is trying to correct and rectify whatever happened with security update and new patches that Look at everything installed and then update and log those also now.  Lord willing you can recover everything back again and know you are in my prayer lord bless, Shalom Michael.