Why are files and folders on my hard drive disappearing from my computer? Can files disappear from a hard drive in Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7? Sometimes we find that some information on the computer is incorrect. Losing important unsaved data, photos, or videos can be very dangerous. Fortunately, this information is not lost and can be recovered in several ways. This article discusses some solutions that will help you recover lost and damaged files in Windows 11, 10.8, 7, etc.
Why Do Files Suddenly Disappear from Hard Drives?
Want to know what causes data loss? Find out how and why data is lost below.
- Accidental Deletion of a File: Accidentally deleting a file is one of the most common file loss problems, and most computer users face similar problems.
- Files have been moved to other folders or partitions. When you restore or organize files on your hard drive, some files may be moved to other folders or partitions without your knowledge.
- Hidden Files: Files and folders in a “hidden” state do not appear in the File Manager. Hidden files still take up disk space. The files suddenly disappeared, but I can access them after setting Explorer to show hidden files. With an automatic solution, you can view hidden files without updating your operating system.
- Virus Infection: Even if you are sure that you have not deleted data from your hard drive, the virus may have been removed automatically. Additionally, viruses can gain access to data, such as in a ransomware attack.
- Incorrect or Missing Section: A partition is a collection of data stored on a hard drive. If the partition is damaged or lost, the data will not be able to continue. Data corruption, message propagation corruption, bad designs, human errors, etc. can cause this problem.
How Can Files Disappear from a Hard Drive in Windows 10?
In this section, you can find various solutions to solve the problem of data loss from hard drive in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, etc. When recovering your lost data, keep the following three things in mind:
- Do Not Use the Device: Do not use or modify the hard drive partition on which the lost data is stored. After using or modifying the disk, the data will be overwritten.
- Start Recovery as Soon as Possible: Deferring data recovery gives you and the operating system a chance to record lost data. So now try to recover your data.
- Don’t try Solutions Other Than Data Recovery: Don’t try solutions like formatting, defragmentation, CHDKS, system restore, etc. before recovering your lost data, as this recovery will cause further damage to your lost data.
Method 2: Show Hidden Files in File Manager
- Find and double-click the “This PC” icon to open the file manager window.
- Double-click the drive where you lost data.
- Go to the View tab and check the Hide Elements checkbox. The hidden information should then appear.
Method 3: Search for Files in Explorer
In some cases, files may be moved to other folders without your knowledge. So when you search for a file in the file manager, you can quickly find it.
- Open the volume from which you want to recover data in Windows Explorer.
- Click, enter your search term in the search field, and press Enter. Wait a few seconds, and you will see the master password result.
Tip: You can search for files by specific names or by specific files. For example, you can search for Word documents by typing *.docx.
Method 4: Check your Trash or Recycling Bin
If you accidentally deleted a file, check your trash. As you know, files deleted from your hard drive end up in the recycle bin. This way, deleted files can be restored before emptying the recycle bin.
Can files disappear from a hard drive? Using an Automated Solution
If the above tips don’t help you recover lost files on your hard drive, you can simply use the FreeViewer Windows Data Recovery Tool. The software scans the user’s disk and downloads all deleted or hidden files onto it. Here, users can clearly see all the files on the software panel. Moreover, you can save the recovered files at any location convenient for you.
It also supports the recovery of deleted, formatted, or damaged (RAW) partitions. It includes an optimized data recovery algorithm that helps you find lost files on drives with unknown or severely damaged file systems. Follow these steps to recover files from your hard drive.
Important Tips: Are you looking for a solution to recover data from corrupted pen drive? Read this blog.
Quick Steps to Find All Missing Data Files on Hard Drive
- To perform this task, first download and run the hard drive recovery tool on your Windows system.
- Second, select the partition and click “Scan” or “Format Scan” if necessary.
- Review the fully recovered data items in the wizard.
- Fourth, select “Keep All Data“ or “Save Deleted Data” to save the data recovered from the hard disk on the main computer.
Why choose this software?
- Recover deleted and lost data from solid-state drives or hard drives.
- It can be connected to internal or external hard drives.
- This program supports data recovery from MAC OS HFS+ file systems.
- You can use this tool to manage the structure or hierarchy of folders on your drive.
- Preview all the great documents, including images, documents, videos, and more.
- Compatible with many devices, such as IDE, EIDE, and SATA.
- It supports various formats, such as NTFS, FAT 16 or 32, and ExFat.
- It works on all Windows operating systems, including the 11, 10, 8, and 7.
- This tool supports multiple languages in its configuration.
Final Word
We discuss how files can disappear from a hard drive and provide solutions to recover lost files in a variety of ways. Windows has many ways to find lost files, such as searching for files, viewing recent files, recovering files from a recovery device, browsing files, etc. If the lost data is not on your computer’s hard drive, it is recommended to use an automatic data recovery tool. At the end of this article, we recommend that you back up your data regularly. Backups keep your data safe and prepare you for any data loss.