I did not change any default settings (no custom folders, etc.)
I would like help understanding why this happened and how I can get files back. I'm running a recovery program, but don't want to pay $70 (if it even finds things).
I'm running Windows XP. CrappyCleaner version 1.26.218.
Thanks in advance...
(edit)
also, I scanned the report and did not see mydocuments as a target
Your sure that you did not use any other cleaning programs? You didnt add any folders to ccleaner?
I'm not an expert on file recovery by any means and never had to really do it because I always make back ups of my data. I suggest you try this program to get you files back:
i am hoping that too. I'll try the explorer thing... and i did select backups when prompted (although i only remember it for the registry fix...)
where are the backup files put? probably mydocuments... which would make for a nice laugh
Is there chance that you may have accidently made the contents of My Documents hidden? Try clicking Start > Control Panel > Folder Options and then click the View tab. Scroll down the list to the category labeled 'Hidden files and folders'. Click the 'Show hidden files and folders' button, click the Apply button, and click OK. Now open up My Documents and see if your files are there or not.
i am hoping that too. I'll try the explorer thing... and i did select backups when prompted (although i only remember it for the registry fix...)
where are the backup files put? probably mydocuments... which would make for a nice laugh
haha... Although it isn't really funny.
The backup prompts you to save the backup to place of your choice. It it is saved wherever you told it to save it.
The "System Tray Cache" option in CCleaner can stop the explorer.exe process, which would make your desktop and quick launch items disappear (but not deleted). I'm just not sure if it would make "My Documents" disappear as well. (I'll look and see)
The "Window Size/Location Cache" option in CCleaner will reset any saved Widows Explorer location and view settings.
if my "mydocuments" folder is just set to the wrong path or something, how do i fix that? in other words, if theh files are still present but just not appearing (or coming up in searches)?
If your %TEMP% environment variable is set to your documents folder, then CCleaner will delete it without haste. Dial-a-fix tries to check for this kind of error and warn you about it, but as of v0.57.7 it is currently not 100% foolproof at figuring that out. Dial-a-fix v0.58 is going to be very good at detecting this kind of problem. CCleaner needs to start checking %TEMP% to make sure it does not match other environment variables and system folders.
There's a bug in DAF's display of your %TEMP% variable - it's not blank, it most likely matches %USERPROFILE%. This is fixed in v0.58 which will be out in a week or two.
Try this:
Start > Run > cmd.exe
echo %TEMP%
echo %USERPROFILE%
See if they match. If they do, that's why CCleaner deleted your files.
Right-click My Computer > Properties > Advanced tab > Environment Variables > and change the TEMP and/or TMP paths listed there to: %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temp <- change them to exactly what is written here.
%USERPROFILE% echoed back as "C:\documents and settings\dan" which is the folder that had my internet favorites, start menu contents, mydocuments, etc. - everything that was deleted. I am confident that CCleaner targeted that folder (It's one hierarchy level above the actual mydocuments folder).
I looked in the mycomputer settings to change the variable values... and didn't see either TEMP or TMP anywhere in the list. I had no variables in the personal variables (upper list) and about 12 in the system variables (lower list). I added %TEMP% and %TMP% as variables with the language you suggested for the values.
Any suggestions on the best file recovery software?
There's a bug in DAF's display of your %TEMP% variable - it's not blank, it most likely matches %USERPROFILE%. This is fixed in v0.58 which will be out in a week or two.
Try this:
Start > Run > cmd.exe
echo %TEMP%
echo %USERPROFILE%
See if they match. If they do, that's why CCleaner deleted your files.
Right-click My Computer > Properties > Advanced tab > Environment Variables > and change the TEMP and/or TMP paths listed there to: %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temp <- change them to exactly what is written here.
The problem is, if you continue to use your computer (especially to install recovery software) you will overwrite bits of your data. You essentially have to stop using your computer and perform the recovery on the drive from another machine. At my shop, I usually use Ontrack EasyRecovery Pro. None of my recovery software is free, though, and it always requires hooking up the drive to another machine as a slave. Any data you change on this drive will make it that much harder to recover your documents.
DjLizard's suggestion is best but if you don't have the wherewithal, try Restoration 2.5.14
It's free and it doesn't have to be installed (runs from floppy or USB stick). It works well if used immediately but if a file has been overwritten, it may recover gibberish.