Windows 10 1809 update deleted all files from Documents!

i don't understand any of this i upgraded my pc to 1809 on the 4th of october i was given the option to keep my settings and files so i did and proceeded with the upgrade and i'm running windows 10 1809 without any problems could it be people chose not to keep their existing settings and files and just proceeded with the upgrade i also backup my files but as of today nothing has mysteriously deleted only what i myself have deleted so i am very baffled here why people are having problems and now microsoft have pulled the upgrade i have spoke to other people who have upgraded and neither have had these problems also there is another reason this may be happening they may have had malware on their pc that can delete files im sure microsoft will resume the upgrade very soon obviously they had cause to pull this and investigate those who are experiencing these problems i suggest running a deep scan on your pc's for malware etc

Punctuation helps...  but if I get the gist, you were asked to check a check box or click ok on an item saying "keep your settings and files" when you ran the update? And you updated through Windows Update or how? I'm wondering myself now if people just didn't see that item...

Hi, there is an option to install updates in much the same way as you would install Windows on a completely raw PC through bootable DVD/USB Stick. With the so-called Media Creation Tool (download from the Microsoft site - ask Bing or Google to direct you) you will be asked whether download for current PC only or for use on other PC's as well. I always chose the latter because one 4 - 6 GB download would cover all 4 of my devices. Once Microsoft had completed the download you'd be prompted to insert the USB Stick (minimum capacity 8 GB) and warned that any data on this thumbdrive would be erased. Once you've accepted that the tool will proceed to create the bootable stick. Once that is finished you're for the time being. No last 10 minutes until reboot, no such hassle.

Once you decide to initiate update you will be given the choice between completely fresh installation or the upgrade installation keeping files, settings and software installations. 

The end product is the same, just a different way of getting it done.

Btw, unless this data loss issue does not turn out to be the final wake-up call heard and acted upon at Microsoft headquarters my PC will have another OS,  even though things have gone well at my end  this time (leaving aside maintenance times on a level not known in over 25 yrs with Microsoft OS).

Regards,

John

If you've not seen it, more info in this blog.

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2018/10/09/updated-version-of-windows-10-october-2018-update-released-to-windows-insiders/#2Jze8bBqM8E4Oues.97

So why are there people that have upgraded to 1809 had no problems its not just me that hasn't had issues I simply followed the instructions during the upgrade.

Well, I talked with a tech in the Microsoft Store today, and he admitted that Microsoft will "slipstream" changes to an update - that is, change something while it's rolling out mid stream, as it were. I'm guessing that it depends on when you downloaded your update, and whether you had your Documents folder syncing with OneDrive.

I was early, and I didn't have the syncing, and I got hosed.

And I'm happy that you were OK - this stuff isn't easy of fun...

I had the same issue after the October release.  MyDocuments was empty, thousands of files gone including sensitive data.  I caught it because Google Backup & Sync alerted me to missing files that I'd setup to backup.  Thank God I did that.  It took me days to recover.

Seriously Microsoft?  This wasn't 1 / 100th of a percent who were affected.

I'd have thought this would be obvious to anyone posting on Microsoft forums.

It will probably be to do with a difference between computers: there will be some common factor which causes problms on some computers. I don't know what it is in this specific case, but probably something to do with either configuration, installed software or specific hardware/drivers. It won't be anything obvious - to have got to the point of public release without being identified as a problem is likely to mean it's something obscure.

Updates which only cause problems in certain circumstances are far from uncommon - not just with Windows, but with any software. Those working in IT will come across them from time-to-time but they don't usually get reported other than on specific IT forums. The only difference here is that this particular problem has affected quite a lot of people, and has a particularly annoying impact - meaning that it's received a lot more coverage than this sort of thijng usually does.