Why did my computer delete files when I rebooted?

Last night I shut down my computer. This morning when the computer was turned on, as windows started booting up, a screen came up that looked like a dos window, and file names were scrolling in the window. When I noticed this, I closed the window, but when we tried to open folders on the desktop, the folders were empty. I restarted the computer once more, but Windows would not start. I reinstalled windows to a new directory, (this is Windows 2000), and managed to get into it ok, but most of the folders on my c drive are now empty. Most of the program files seem to be there, but my music files, and digital photos are gone. It looks like the hard drive is about 3 gigs empty. I am using a file recovery program to try and restore some of the files. Can anyone tell me why this happened? Could it be a virus?


If it helps, our modem wasn't working and the last thing we did before shutting down the computer was call Verizon and they walked us through setting the modem back up.

Why did my computer delete files when I rebooted?
Sounds like the behavior of a virus to me. Windows just doesn't automatically go to a DOS screen and begin randomly deleting files and folders.





So if you didn't use a good virus program then it could still be there on your hard drive.
Reply:Yeah it is definitely not normal for your computer to just randomly start deleting your C drive when it starts up. Most definitely had to be some type of virus for this to happen. I can't really tell you which virus specifically or anything but I recommend scanning your system and trying to get rid of whatever you have.
Reply:Look in the recycle bin, see if the files went there.


If nothing there, then check see if maybe the folders were hidden.


Change folder view to show hidden files and look for them.


i'd suspect a virus myself too.
Reply:If you down loaded the music files from something like Lime Wire you most likely downloaded a virus
Reply:forget that ther guy. that will do no good. use this:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhiihSBsq...
Reply:Your computer may be infected. Run a full Scan for viruses.
Reply:probably cause all your files were on the old version of windows
Reply:if you don't create a back up disc, you usually lose some files.