Windows deleted my folders?

I have this habit of writing down quick notes on my desktop on an empty folder kind of to use as a sticky note. I noticed all my folders got deleted somehow this morning...
Does anyone know how I can recover the folders and why they disappeared all of a sudden?

You might try System Restore or recovery software like recuva , easeus.

If you know the name of one or more of the folders, install Everything Search Engine.
Let it start after install to build it's index, usually takes 20-30 seconds.
Enter type name or as much of it as you remember in the Everything Search input area, see if it finds the file.

Also, look under C:Users, see what accounts are there and if yours is still there, look under it to see if the files are there under Desktop. I'm wondering if you got logged in with a temporary account somehow?

I can't do a system restore as I haven't set it up and I can't find the folders through Recuva either. The folders don't show up in search as well. I'm guessing it's impossible to recover them... anyone know what might've caused them to disappear?

Thanks for the help though!

I can't do a system restore as I haven't set it up and I can't find the folders through Recuva either. The folders don't show up in search as well. I'm guessing it's impossible to recover them... anyone know what might've caused them to disappear?

Thanks for the help though!

hmmm....Windows wouldn't just delete files/folders. Something else has happened. Have you checked your recycle bin? (I know, silly question) Did their properties get changed somehow to hidden? They won't show up in a search if they did, unless you show hidden files. Agent Ransack is a great search tool.

Did you try Everything Search?

Double yes to trying 'Everything'.

I tried everything. I did a test to see if Windows was deleting or "getting rid of" empty folders by itself. I made a few new random folders and had them on my desktop. They also somehow disappeared.

I tried everything. I did a test to see if Windows was deleting or "getting rid of" empty folders by itself. I made a few new random folders and had them on my desktop. They also somehow disappeared.

Something's not right. Here's what I would do:

- turn system restore on, and make a restore point or two.
- make a new user account, and see if it happens on that one as well.
- run a Malwarebytes AntiMalware Free scan to make sure there's no infections.
- run SFC /SCANNOW to see if there are any problems with the system files