MISSING DOCUMENTS, PICTURES AND DESKTOP ICONS

[billwilliams]

Hi,

Would appreciate some help with this problem.

Windows 7 machine. Anti virus and Malwarebytes installed and scanned frequently.

Last week I noticed some desktop icons and folders were missing. Did a virus and MWbytes scan - no virus or malware.

Then I tried to do a system restore but didn't work so undid the restore. Now I notice that most of the folders in My Documents are missing and all of the folders in My Pictures. I rechecked for viruses and malware and found nothing. Checked my recycle bin and searched for the missing files/folders and found nothing except I do see some shortcuts to the missing folders in my Recent Place folder though the targets are missing. Made sure to unhide all files and folders and still cannot find the missing documents or pictures.

Questions:

1. Could this be a virus/malware despite the fact that my antivirus and Malwarebytes programs not showing any evidence of infection? If so, what should I use to scan and get rid of it?

2. What can I do to find my missing folders and documents?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Bill

[exile360]

Greetings

Please follow the instructions in this tutorial to use unhide.exe and hopefully it will correct the issue. If it does not or you have any additional symptoms of infection then please do the following:

Please read and follow the directions here, skipping any steps you are unable to complete. Then create a NEW topic here.

One of the expert helpers there will give you one on one assistance when one becomes available.

Please note that it may take 48 hours or more for you to receive a response in the malware removal forum, as it is often busy at times. Please do not reply to your own post asking for help unless its been more than 48 hours since you originally posted, as this can make it appear as though you are being helped and take longer for you to get help.

If you are unable to do all or any of the steps in the link to the directions above, just post your problem into the forum I gave you a link to anyway and someone will be able to assist you.

If you prefer to be assisted via email you may contact support@malwarebytes.org and one of our support staff members will assist you directly.

If you are a reseller, affiliate, technician, corporate, business, educational, government or non-profit customer then please contact corporate-support@malwarebytes.org and include full contact details along with your Reference # when you do to ensure that you receive prompt assistance.

Thank you

[billwilliams]

Thanks for your reply but I already tried Unhide as one of my steps and it didn't help.

[AdvancedSetup]

If any type of temporary file cleaner was run either manually or by automation then those files would have been deleted and they cannot easily be recovered.

Please seek further assistance as requested in the HJT forum.

Thanks