Windows 10 1809 update deleted all files from Documents!

Anonymous
2018-10-04T19:09:32+00:00

Last night I updated to 1809, and it all went smoothly, but then I find that all my files in Documents are DELETED. Gone. Poof. This included many crucial documents and financial info. Yes, I have a backup (I think - using Windows Backup to a NAS). But this is pretty bad. Did no one in the first two rings run into this yet?

I understand (from the news) that this happens to all files in Documents that aren't synced to OneDrive. Further, the Documents folder is really an agglomeration of "Documents" from several different paths - not sure how that works, and it may or may not relate.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows update

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-04-23T17:01:04+00:00

    Hello AP. First let me say that "I do Not work with Microsoft" and, I to also lost my items a year ago after 1803 to 1809 update and boot also. you could Try this because sometimes it isn't even in Windows.Old Folder...

    It may have lost control of File History and Backup!  Use PowerShell to find out what is going on with your Backup and Run this command:

    Get-ControlPanelItem Back* | Show-ControlPanelItem          ...see if it finds it?

    Also, read theses articles @:  https://www.backup-utility.com/windows-10/recover-lost-files-windows-10-8523.html

    Lord Bless and help you, Michael.

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  2. Neil D 34,280 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2019-04-24T16:15:44+00:00

    If you were signed-in with a temporary profile when you moved files out of windows.old and then you started again you were signed-in with you correct profile then your files were deleted from the temporary profile. (that's what happens with a temporary profile)

    A mistake you may have made was to move the files and not copy them. You should never move files to a temporary profile as it will be deleted on the next start.

    If you suffered from the initial problems with version 1809 (on its first release, beginning Oct 2018) then one thing the advice gave was to stop using the device and call the MS number. If you have updated to version 1809 recently then you were not affected by the initially issue that the MS phone number was for. A system restore will not recover personal files, a roll back to the previous version of windows might if you haven't moved them from windows.old.

    PS I don't work for MS either and I don't believe any user here does.

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-05-02T17:28:44+00:00

    Tested and Tried Solution: i was shown this by a Microsoft technician. 

    Do this. I got all my documents. What happened was that during update 1809, the documents got saved elsewhere. Dont panic! 

    You don’t need internet for this. 

    Open, My Computer/File Explorer (it is a yellow folder in the taskbar or PC desktop screen) > This PC (on left hand side) > C: Disk > User > look for username you used for Microsoft eg your name > Document > your Ms Word docs are here. If not, open others eg Temp. 

    Then, copy and paste Document file from ‘User’ to ‘This PC’ > Documents (on left hand side.)  I repeat copy and paste and not transfer as you may end up removing document file and saving it in the wrong place and then lose it completely!

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-05-02T17:38:42+00:00

    Sorry mate im sure you mean well but were not stupid, i would know if they had just been moved, im talking about 500gb of files not 5

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  5. Anonymous
    2019-05-03T16:02:58+00:00

    I am update  1803 to 1809 delete all data . 

    I am surprised and disappointed that Microsoft is not accepting these failures and inform about what actions they take to mend the failures.

    Are they afraidf for that the customers might sue them?

    This is poor customer relations and customer care!

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