Several shortcuts and folders with shortcuts dissapeared from Windows 7
This is not a "my desktop shortcuts are gone" question.
Actually, my desktop shorcuts are there.
The programs are there, all the programs, just the shortcuts are gone.
However, at some point in the last days, dissapared:
Administrative Tools shortcuts
Microsoft Office shortcuts
Delphi shortcuts
Visual Studio shortcuts
SQL Server 2008
and so on.
Some are still there, Google Chrome, Google Talk, Dropbox, Symantec Endpoint Protection, and some few others.
I have an AV installed and running. The shortcuts may have dissapeared in the last few days, but i didn't notice, because I have all my important work shortcuts pinned to the Start Menu, they are there and are fine, working.
Where do I still looking for?
Actually, my desktop shorcuts are there.
The programs are there, all the programs, just the shortcuts are gone.
However, at some point in the last days, dissapared:
Administrative Tools shortcuts
Microsoft Office shortcuts
Delphi shortcuts
Visual Studio shortcuts
SQL Server 2008
and so on.
Some are still there, Google Chrome, Google Talk, Dropbox, Symantec Endpoint Protection, and some few others.
I have an AV installed and running. The shortcuts may have dissapeared in the last few days, but i didn't notice, because I have all my important work shortcuts pinned to the Start Menu, they are there and are fine, working.
Where do I still looking for?
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duh....sorry.....I should try reading the first line.
Thanks Run5k!
Thanks Run5k!
Not at all, Ivanoviola. I always appreciate your level-headed input!
ASKER
Thanks for your help.
My files are not hidden, I already have visible all system and hidden files and I don't see them, they're gone.
The "restore previous version option" only shows me from one week to now, and all are the same, so I guess I had a couple of weeks with this problem already.
Malwarebytes did not found problems in the first quick run. Now, I'm running the full scan, it has like 2 hours now, and still show nothing.
Same for the antivirus (symantec) full scan showed no problems and full scan is running.
Now, my question is, it could be really a virus/malware that performs this operation like erasing shortcuts randomly?
My files are not hidden, I already have visible all system and hidden files and I don't see them, they're gone.
The "restore previous version option" only shows me from one week to now, and all are the same, so I guess I had a couple of weeks with this problem already.
Malwarebytes did not found problems in the first quick run. Now, I'm running the full scan, it has like 2 hours now, and still show nothing.
Same for the antivirus (symantec) full scan showed no problems and full scan is running.
Now, my question is, it could be really a virus/malware that performs this operation like erasing shortcuts randomly?
It's a shame that your Restore Previous Versions history doesn't reach back a bit further than that.
It is certainly possible that some type of malware can delete shortcuts, but it is starting to sound like that system is clean. That being said, is it possible that this was done manually and/or accidentally? In the old Windows XP days, it wasn't that uncommon to see a well-intentioned member of the IT login with full admin privileges and drag shortcuts from the Start menu hierarchy to the desktop. Unfortunately, their admin rights caused those shortcuts to be pulled off the Start menu so that nobody else saw them! Just some food for thought.
It is certainly possible that some type of malware can delete shortcuts, but it is starting to sound like that system is clean. That being said, is it possible that this was done manually and/or accidentally? In the old Windows XP days, it wasn't that uncommon to see a well-intentioned member of the IT login with full admin privileges and drag shortcuts from the Start menu hierarchy to the desktop. Unfortunately, their admin rights caused those shortcuts to be pulled off the Start menu so that nobody else saw them! Just some food for thought.
ASKER
This same disk once had another instalation of Windows,
I moved from Win XP to Win 7 64bits and use it several weeks, but I had few memory and it ran slow, so I then installed Windows 7 32 Bits.
To do that migration from 64bit to 32bit, I moved everything.... but EVERYTHING in a directory on the root which I called "c:\oldwindows", including "program files", "program files (x86)", "program data" and "windows" directory.
Some weeks ago, I was looking for space and I delete a lot of stuff from the "oldwindows" directory.
I don't know exactly how "junctions" work, but I'm guessing, if I deleted junctions which may coincide with my current installation, could I have deleted my shortcuts that way?
I moved from Win XP to Win 7 64bits and use it several weeks, but I had few memory and it ran slow, so I then installed Windows 7 32 Bits.
To do that migration from 64bit to 32bit, I moved everything.... but EVERYTHING in a directory on the root which I called "c:\oldwindows", including "program files", "program files (x86)", "program data" and "windows" directory.
Some weeks ago, I was looking for space and I delete a lot of stuff from the "oldwindows" directory.
I don't know exactly how "junctions" work, but I'm guessing, if I deleted junctions which may coincide with my current installation, could I have deleted my shortcuts that way?
My goodness, that machine has gone through a very elaborate evolution! That is definitely good to know... I just assumed that this was a standard Windows 7 installation, versus a machine that has recently hosted three different operating systems.
Junction points exist for compatibility with legacy applications, but they can't "reach back" to an older operating system folder that was created manually.
Based upon everything you have told us thus far, it sounds like your best course of action would be to re-create the shortcuts manually. You may be able to copy some of them from your desktop, while others would need you to navigate to the Program Files folder. If you are missing any of the built-in generic/default Windows 7 shortcuts, this tutorial will help you restore them:
Start Menu All Programs in Windows 7 - Restore Default Shortcuts
That being said, I am rather meticulous about my Windows 7 builds. If I encountered a similar machine with such an elaborate history, I would probably manually backup the important user file/folders, wipe it clean, and then reload Windows with all of the appropriate applications. Just my 2¢ worth.
Junction points exist for compatibility with legacy applications, but they can't "reach back" to an older operating system folder that was created manually.
Based upon everything you have told us thus far, it sounds like your best course of action would be to re-create the shortcuts manually. You may be able to copy some of them from your desktop, while others would need you to navigate to the Program Files folder. If you are missing any of the built-in generic/default Windows 7 shortcuts, this tutorial will help you restore them:
Start Menu All Programs in Windows 7 - Restore Default Shortcuts
That being said, I am rather meticulous about my Windows 7 builds. If I encountered a similar machine with such an elaborate history, I would probably manually backup the important user file/folders, wipe it clean, and then reload Windows with all of the appropriate applications. Just my 2¢ worth.
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ASKER
I'm now navigating through my "oldwindows" which still have some files, some profiles, and I noticed that certain links takes me to the real directory in my current live instalation...
Interesting. If you manually created that "oldwindows" folder, I am not exactly sure how it managed to have shortcuts that linked back to your live system. Perhaps some of them default to either "C:" or the %systemdrive% Environment Variable, and as a result they would still navigate back to the live Windows operating system. That would seem to make sense.
As a result I would proceed with caution regarding your "oldwindows" folder, and I will stand by my previous advice... the method you choose is a matter of personal preference.
As a result I would proceed with caution regarding your "oldwindows" folder, and I will stand by my previous advice... the method you choose is a matter of personal preference.
ASKER
I created the "c:\oldwindows" folder during the Windows 7 32 bits instalation by opening a MSDOS windows, and then using the "move" command I moved everything, "documents and settings", "program files" and all my personal directories in "C:", I also deleted all the system directories in root "c:\" so the Windows 7 installer could see it as a clean disk.
This way I installed a clean Win 7 without having to reformat the drive.
This way I installed a clean Win 7 without having to reformat the drive.
Once again it's a matter of personal preference, but I tend to be a bit more conservative regarding how a load/reload my Windows 7 machines. Faced with similar circumstances, I probably would have saved the users' personal data files/folders to an external USB drive, done a full-fledged format/clean install of Windows 7, and then configured the appropriate applcations & settings afterwards.
As I mentioned before, your way ahead is strictly up to you. If it was me, I would want the peace of mind of knowing that I had "started clean" with a full wipe & reload that guarantees everything will work properly, but if you can manually recreate your shortcuts successfully there is certainly nothing wrong with that.
As I mentioned before, your way ahead is strictly up to you. If it was me, I would want the peace of mind of knowing that I had "started clean" with a full wipe & reload that guarantees everything will work properly, but if you can manually recreate your shortcuts successfully there is certainly nothing wrong with that.
Just posting to concur with the advice from 'Run5k'. These (EE) pages have many many examples of members trying to resolve problems that are inherent with the upgrade/modification from one OS install to another.
I've even done it as a special favor for an occasional customer, but it has NEVER produced an error-free system for them. I now simply refuse such requests.
Back up the data files & folders and do a completely new installation of the Windows 7 version you want to run.
FWIW - I haven't used the "Move" command in more years than I can remember - after getting burned once too often. I use the 'Copy' --> 'Paste' function, then go back and delete the original files after verifying that valid copies have been made.
I've even done it as a special favor for an occasional customer, but it has NEVER produced an error-free system for them. I now simply refuse such requests.
Back up the data files & folders and do a completely new installation of the Windows 7 version you want to run.
FWIW - I haven't used the "Move" command in more years than I can remember - after getting burned once too often. I use the 'Copy' --> 'Paste' function, then go back and delete the original files after verifying that valid copies have been made.
There were several good posts, but in this instance I would hesitate to assign and/or take any credit without additional feedback from the author. Definitely a rather unusual scenario.
I've requested that this question be closed as follows:
Accepted answer: 250 points for Run5k's comment http:/Q_27405080.html#36995089
Assisted answer: 250 points for LeeTutor's comment http:/Q_27405080.html#36996334
for the following reason:
This question has been classified as abandoned and is closed as part of the Cleanup Program. See the recommendation for more details.
Accepted answer: 250 points for Run5k's comment http:/Q_27405080.html#36995089
Assisted answer: 250 points for LeeTutor's comment http:/Q_27405080.html#36996334
for the following reason:
This question has been classified as abandoned and is closed as part of the Cleanup Program. See the recommendation for more details.
ASKER
Yes, please split the points as mentioned. I tried, but I got an error message that the question is in auto-close mode.
ASKER
I will close this question myself.
ASKER
Thank you!
Here is a currently opened question that may give you a few more things to try:
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/27391425/How-do-you-keep-desktop-icons-from-disappearing.html
IV