Recover files deleted from the temp folder

So, to start my explanation of what happened. I was cleaning my computer, and was uninstalling some old Logitech web cam driver, and at the end of the uninstallation it froze for an hour, so I ended it in task manager, this for some reason caused ALL user files to be deleted, including desktop and documents, so I restarted the computer, and it wouldn't let me log in due to user files being missing. So I did a system restore to before the uninstallation, and everything looked fine again...

Now is where Ccleaner comes in. I opened Ccleaner to delete unneeded files, but when it had finished it said 50gb had been removed! I thought this was an unusually large amount, so I looked at the deleted files, and most of my saved games and game data files had for some reason been moved into the computers temporary folder, I have no idea why, then Ccleaner deleted them all. I was just wondering whether Recuva would be able to get most of this stuff back, or am I very unlikely? Since it's such a large amount, I'd assume it's impossible. I also have a new hate for Windows and system restore :P

Thanks,

Cork

It's not the overall size that might cause problems. As long as you're doing nothing on your pc, and that includes auto defrags, auto updates, anything, then your chances are possibly not as bad as you feared. Don't use your pc, disconnect from the internet, and turn it off when you're not using it.

If you haven't downloaded Recuva, download the portable version to a flash drive or other partition. Run a normal scan and start recovering - to another drive/partition. Just plug away at the 50 gb's. I think you will lose a few files, but as the deletes were recent the chances are good (depending on what you've done since running CC). I'm also assuming that CC is not set to secure deletion, if it has then forget all this and just go to the pub.

Thanks. You're right, I just tried it and I got some of the save files I needed, I'll have to re-install the game data cause some files are non-recoverable (Steam had auto updated some games and caused some to be non-recoverable), but most save files are in good condition. I still have no idea why Windows restored my files into the temp folder rather than where they actually were though :P

Yes, windows moves in mysterious ways.