documents, pdf, music files dissappeared

MSG · 06-18-2007, 07:07 PM

After installing free zone alarm, all my office documents, pdf files, jpg files and music files dissappeared! I upgraded zone alarm. It did not work. I tried restore going back 3 weeks still no good. System search does not find the files. Where did they go? I uninstalled zone alarm and deleted the exe file.

**carsey** · 06-18-2007, 07:14 PM

Have you checked the recycle bin for the files??

**Go The Power** · 06-19-2007, 01:59 AM

I doubt this was caused by ZA. Did you download it of the official web page?

**koala** · 06-19-2007, 09:50 AM

There's nothing in the ZA install process that deletes files. Which version did you use? Was it a legit or cracked copy?

The only possible thing I can think of is that you might have done an initial scan and it quarantined all your files, thinking they were all infected, but that's very unlikely.

Were the files all stored in the same folder?

**Kalim** · 06-19-2007, 05:03 PM

You should check your HDD condition to see if it's OK, failing or failed.

Files can't "disappear" just like that, quite impossible, as if they did, you wouldn't be able to start your system either.

MSG · 06-19-2007, 06:39 PM

Yes, I downloaded the free ZA from the official site, version 6.?. No, the files were in seperate folders. In fact the folders are still there, just no files. Except for a missing desktop icon in the toolbar, everything else is fine. Games still there, computer boots up and runs fine, AVG works fine,adaware & spybot still there and working, just no docs, pdf, jpg, exl, ppt, wma, mp3. Everything works and saves fine. Search does not locate any of the old file names.

**koala** · 06-19-2007, 08:20 PM

Have you looked in the ZA quarantine?

See if the file attributes have been changed to hidden.

Control Panel > Folder Options > View tab > 'Show hidden files and folders'

Which icon was removed? This might help in finding the cause.

MSG · 06-20-2007, 06:48 PM

Thanks for the thought. I tried that, but the only things that came up were previously deleted files. The icon that disappeared was the quick link to 'show desktop' on the quick link icons next to the start button. I could not get that to come back on the task bar. I can right click and get that choice. I deleted ZA, so I can't look there. I know files don't just disappear. That's what has me flustered. No, they are not in the recycle bin.

**Kalim** · 06-20-2007, 07:50 PM

Without a HDD corruption, I find what is being described very difficult to explain.

Did you run any HDD tests as I suggested? Downloadable by your HDD brand/model from here: http://www.techsupportforum.com/827480-post44.html

The "show desktop" can be brought back. If you want the icon to come back onto the Quick Launch icon section, download the ZIP file I'm attaching, unzip it and place the file within it into this directory: C:\Documents and Settings\<user login name>\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\

It will then reappear into the appropriate place.

MSG · 06-21-2007, 07:12 PM

Kalim, Thanks, I'll try both this weekend, when I have more time.

MSG · 06-25-2007, 05:09 PM

Thanks for the quick launch, that works great! I did a HDD check/test as recommended and it checked out fine. Any other ideas? Although not as important now as I've redone most of the docs. It's just the pictures and music. Classic case of not following the first rule: back-up, back-up, back-up!

06-18-2007, 07:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
MSG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 5 OS: xp	documents, pdf, music files dissappeared After installing free zone alarm, all my office documents, pdf files, jpg files and music files dissappeared! I upgraded zone alarm. It did not work. I tried restore going back 3 weeks still no good. System search does not find the files. Where did they go? I uninstalled zone alarm and deleted the exe file.

06-18-2007, 07:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
carsey Moderator, TSF Articles Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hunwick, Co. Durham England Posts: 10,678 OS: XP Pro SP3 My System	Re: documents, pdf, music files dissappeared Have you checked the recycle bin for the files?? __________________ Submit New Articles Here

06-19-2007, 01:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
Go The Power Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Australia Posts: 10,972 OS: Windows XP Home SP2 Blog Entries: 1	Re: documents, pdf, music files dissappeared I doubt this was caused by ZA. Did you download it of the official web page? __________________

06-19-2007, 09:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,336 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: documents, pdf, music files dissappeared There's nothing in the ZA install process that deletes files. Which version did you use? Was it a legit or cracked copy? The only possible thing I can think of is that you might have done an initial scan and it quarantined all your files, thinking they were all infected, but that's very unlikely. Were the files all stored in the same folder? __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

06-19-2007, 05:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kalim Roaming To Help Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,642 OS: Many	Re: documents, pdf, music files dissappeared You should check your HDD condition to see if it's OK, failing or failed. Files can't "disappear" just like that, quite impossible, as if they did, you wouldn't be able to start your system either.

06-19-2007, 06:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
MSG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: documents, pdf, music files dissappeared Yes, I downloaded the free ZA from the official site, version 6.?. No, the files were in seperate folders. In fact the folders are still there, just no files. Except for a missing desktop icon in the toolbar, everything else is fine. Games still there, computer boots up and runs fine, AVG works fine,adaware & spybot still there and working, just no docs, pdf, jpg, exl, ppt, wma, mp3. Everything works and saves fine. Search does not locate any of the old file names.

06-19-2007, 08:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,336 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: documents, pdf, music files dissappeared Have you looked in the ZA quarantine? See if the file attributes have been changed to hidden. Control Panel > Folder Options > View tab > 'Show hidden files and folders' Which icon was removed? This might help in finding the cause. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

06-20-2007, 06:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
MSG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: documents, pdf, music files dissappeared Thanks for the thought. I tried that, but the only things that came up were previously deleted files. The icon that disappeared was the quick link to 'show desktop' on the quick link icons next to the start button. I could not get that to come back on the task bar. I can right click and get that choice. I deleted ZA, so I can't look there. I know files don't just disappear. That's what has me flustered. No, they are not in the recycle bin. Last edited by MSG; 06-20-2007 at 06:52 PM. Reason: add comments

06-21-2007, 07:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
MSG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: documents, pdf, music files dissappeared Kalim, Thanks, I'll try both this weekend, when I have more time.

06-25-2007, 05:09 PM	#11 (permalink)
MSG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: documents, pdf, music files dissappeared Thanks for the quick launch, that works great! I did a HDD check/test as recommended and it checked out fine. Any other ideas? Although not as important now as I've redone most of the docs. It's just the pictures and music. Classic case of not following the first rule: back-up, back-up, back-up!