Files on hard drive disappeared? This guide lists five ways for you to recover files missing from hard drives and other ways to recover deleted files from hard drives.
For some reason, my files have gone from my computer. Although when I looked in my recently opened, the files are there, I couldn’t open them. After that, I thought it might be something to do with hidden files. So I went to the directory where those files were and under attributes checked Hidden files. Then I went refreshed my file explorer and even reopened it, but they were gone. So how can I recover the files missing from hard drives? Thanks.
- A user from Microsoft
Have your files on hard drive disappeared like the above user? Are you eager to recover missing files from hard drives? If you’re among those users who have suffered data loss, please continue reading to get feasible solutions.
To locate a targeted solution, you need to get an overview of these possible reasons first.
▶Windows update or reinstallation: Your installed apps, and desktop files will miss after Windows 10 update. Likewise, if you’re going to reinstall Windows, you may also need to recover data after reinstalling Windows 10 and above.
▶Hidden properties setting: Most PCs have been set up to make some files invisible to users by default.
▶Log into a temporary or new account: After switching to a new account in Windows, your old account will not be designated as the default account. Then the data on the old account will disappear naturally.
▶Accidental deletion or hardware failure.
So how to recover files missing from hard drives? Please refer to the following methods to recover hidden, deleted, lost, or missing files from hard drives.
If you’re not sure whether your disappeared files have gone or not, you can try to search them in Windows. Let’s show how it works.
Step 1. Press “Win + E” to open Windows File Explorer.
Step 2. Follow the following two paths to find your disappeared files.
This PC > Local Disk C > Users > Username > Documents.
This PC > Local Disk C > Users > Public.
If files are hidden, try to change the hidden file attribute of these disappeared files using the attrib command or Windows File Explorer. Then you can find hidden files in folders.
Step 1. Open Windows File Explorer by pressing the “Win + E” keys, then select your local disk C > View > Options to open Folder Options.
Step 2. After clicking the “View” tab, select the “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” option. Then click “Apply” and “OK” on these two buttons.
Sometimes, after Windows 10 updates, the Windows OS creates a new account and sets it as the default account. At the moment, the old administrator account may be disabled. If it is the reason why your files missing from hard drives, you can refer to the following steps.
Step 1. Enter “compmgmt.msc” in the search bar to open Computer Management.
Step 2. Under the System Tools options, click Local Users and Groups > Users > Administrator. Then select the “Properties” option.
Step 3. After clicking the “General” tab, uncheck the “Account is disabled” option. Then “Apply” it. Please remember to click the “OK” button.
Then restart your PC and log into this account to locate your disappeared files.
If you’re in this part, which implies these disappeared files were deleted. Without your desired files in the Recycle Bin, it’s inevitable for you to restore files from backups or seek help from data recovery software.
Microsoft has released many features for files and folders backup. In this case, let’s take File History as an example. Please ensure you’ve opened Control Panel > System and Security to turn on File History, otherwise, you cannot enjoy the following features.
Step 1. Open Control Panel by typing it in the search bar, then click the “System and Security” button.
Step 2. Go to File History and select the “Restore your files from File History” option.
Step 3. Click the “Restore personal files” button.
Step 4. If you want to save them in the original location, click the “Restore” button.
If you need to save them in another saved path, right-click on “Restore” and select the “Restore to” option.
However, what can you do to recover deleted files from hard drives if there’s no backup for you? At the moment, why not consider using a data recovery tool to recover files?
Supported by rich industry experience and pioneering tech, MyRecover has established its good reputation among users.
Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your PC.
Step 2. After loading the disk, hover the mouse over the partition that includes your needed files. Then click Scan.
Step 3. The combined scanning method of Quick Scan and Deep Scan will detect all the deleted files and other missing files. During scanning, you can search or wait.
Step 4. Go to the Deleted files/Other missing files folder, and select the files you want. Then click the “Recover x files” and save them in a new location.
If you need to fix the issue of files on hard drive disappeared, you can refer to the above content. Please follow a targeted method after figuring out its potential reasons.
Files/folders disappeared from external hard drive ! If you’re familiar with the Registry, you can attempt to change the Registry value to recover files/folders. Press Win + R and type regedit in the Run command window. Then hit Enter to open the window. Go to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL. Confirm whether the CheckedValue is 1. If not, right-click on it and hit Delete. Then right-click on the blank space, and click New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. After that, set the value data as 1.
If you’re not allowed to use CHKDSK to fix corrupted files on the RAW partition, try to use AOMEI Partition Assistant to check and repair errors on your partitions/disks. A few clicks can help you out. Moreover, you’d better develop a habit of making regular backups via free backup software for Windows, AOMEI Backupper.