MyDocuments/ MyPictures folders contents missing

I got home tonight and my wife told me my computer was acting strange.

She said her My Documents folder was suddenly missing files.
She has a limited user account.

Restarted PC. Had no choice. Says PC recovered from serious error.
Log into my account (admin) I am missing all files from My Documents folder
except for folder items and missing contents of my pictures folder....

All sercurity patched applied and up-to-date.
Same with Norton Anti-V, Pc sits behind Hardware firewall and router

Any hELP please

"Egleitch" <Egleitch@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2016C086-9894-47B7-9B3F-5B6D11339FE2@microsoft.com...
>I got home tonight and my wife told me my computer was acting strange.
>
> She said her My Documents folder was suddenly missing files.
> She has a limited user account.
>
> Restarted PC. Had no choice. Says PC recovered from serious error.
> Log into my account (admin) I am missing all files from My Documents
> folder
> except for folder items and missing contents of my pictures folder....
>
> All sercurity patched applied and up-to-date.
> Same with Norton Anti-V, Pc sits behind Hardware firewall and router
>
> Any hELP please

When was the last time you ran a Check Disk and Defrag? Your hard drive
could be going bad...developing bad sectors.

Bobby

Hi,

It was a pretty recent install of XP home. HDD about 1 year old. Ran Maxtor
utilities certified drive errror free. Although I have not ran CHKDSK or
DEFRAG on this installation yet.

Gunny

"NoNoBadDog!" wrote:

>
> "Egleitch" <Egleitch@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:2016C086-9894-47B7-9B3F-5B6D11339FE2@microsoft.com...
> >I got home tonight and my wife told me my computer was acting strange.
> >
> > She said her My Documents folder was suddenly missing files.
> > She has a limited user account.
> >
> > Restarted PC. Had no choice. Says PC recovered from serious error.
> > Log into my account (admin) I am missing all files from My Documents
> > folder
> > except for folder items and missing contents of my pictures folder....
> >
> > All sercurity patched applied and up-to-date.
> > Same with Norton Anti-V, Pc sits behind Hardware firewall and router
> >
> > Any hELP please
>
> When was the last time you ran a Check Disk and Defrag? Your hard drive
> could be going bad...developing bad sectors.
>
> Bobby
>
>
>

Only three things could have happened :

1. User wrong/s/

You ,or your wife , have deleted the files somehow and manually.
Have cleaned them via some utility (but I doubt !!!)

2. Malware infection
You have a virus that has deleted your files

3. Hacker has entered into your PC

So...the sollutions :

>>To check for malware infections ,goto that page :
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...nfectedpc.mspx
Microsoft MVP Charlie Russel's article about Dealing with malware
Really good and detailed


>>Goto :
http://www.pandasoftware.com/product..._principal.htm
Panda Software free Active Scan,where you can check your
PC for ALL TYPES of security threats and clean viruses and worms

In this Panda web-site you'll be able to check for hacking tools.
If a hacking tool/s/ is found,you need to get a trial version of Panda
version that would clean it.


To prevent hackers and hackers activities you certainly need a firewall .

!!! It is very important to know that you REALLY SHOULD
use only one firewall (to prevent software conflict ) !!!

Firewall is a protective barrier between your PC and the outside world.
It protects you from hackers and other intruders from gaining
remote access to your PC and also from viruses and network worms (like
Sasser).
It also makes your PC invisiable for hacker softwares and
even if hackers find your PC it will block the attack.
Firewalls scans all your incoming (or outgoing) traffic and
immediately block it if it is unsolicated.

** Windows XP **

has integrated firewall -
Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) for SP1 and
Windows Firewall (WF) for SP2

>> Windows Firewall (for SP 2)
is full firewall ,suitable for all kind of users and connections.
Windows Firewall is designed especially for home users with
not very big computer literacy and that's why it works almost
automatically,asks rarely !

When using it,check the Exception list .
If you are home user and do not want to play network games,exchange files
over chat
or you are connected to internet via none/less secure server, you can check
" Don't allow exception "
This guarantees you maximum protection!


Start - Settings - Contol Panel - Windows Firewall .See its settings.

>>>Users with no Service Pack or with SP 1 you should upgrade to SP 2
because ICF is partial firewall made for direct internet connection only


** Windows versions different from XP **

They do not have integrated firewall and they are not protected
from hackers and intruders,network viruses and etc.
They MUST use software firewall.So choose one firewall

You may get Zone Alarm personal (free) from :
http://www.zonelabs.com


Microsoft
suggests 3 + 1 general steps how to protect
your PC and the infomation stored on it,
your privacy and your family
1.Use an internet firewall
2.Enable Automatic Updates for your PC
3.Use an antivirus software
4.Use antispyware software

Goto http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security and learn more
Check the Security Essentials for your OS and also have a look at all
sections!




Panda_man
" Let's beat malware black and blue"
" No new epidemic of all kind of malware -> Panda TruPrevent"




"Egleitch" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> It was a pretty recent install of XP home. HDD about 1 year old. Ran Maxtor
> utilities certified drive errror free. Although I have not ran CHKDSK or
> DEFRAG on this installation yet.
>
> Gunny
>
> "NoNoBadDog!" wrote:
>
> >
> > "Egleitch" <Egleitch@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:2016C086-9894-47B7-9B3F-5B6D11339FE2@microsoft.com...
> > >I got home tonight and my wife told me my computer was acting strange.
> > >
> > > She said her My Documents folder was suddenly missing files.
> > > She has a limited user account.
> > >
> > > Restarted PC. Had no choice. Says PC recovered from serious error.
> > > Log into my account (admin) I am missing all files from My Documents
> > > folder
> > > except for folder items and missing contents of my pictures folder....
> > >
> > > All sercurity patched applied and up-to-date.
> > > Same with Norton Anti-V, Pc sits behind Hardware firewall and router
> > >
> > > Any hELP please
> >
> > When was the last time you ran a Check Disk and Defrag? Your hard drive
> > could be going bad...developing bad sectors.
> >
> > Bobby
> >
> >
> >