# My computer is missing files..Please Help!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-is-missing-files-please-help/242316>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 27, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-is-missing-files-please-help/242316 "2004-04-27T18:15:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Starguard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Starguard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starguard)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-is-missing-files-please-help/242316/1 "2004-04-27T18:15:53Z")

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Earlier I posted a statement that my computer was acting very strangely and would not boot up correctly. With the wonderful help from **Fear Itself** , My computer was back up and running in no time (Thanks again Fear Itself) 🆒

Now I seem to have another problem…

When I go into my Control Panel, all I get is a blank box (no files inside)  
The same thing happens when I look into the C Drive . It states that there are 43 files inside and 7 hidden, but there is nothing visible, just a white blank box.

Has anyone out there had this problem before? If so, what can I do to correct it?

My OS is Windows ME

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**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-is-missing-files-please-help/242316/2 "2004-04-27T18:23:43Z")

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Does it still look like this after a reboot? Mine computer sometimes will be missing bits and pieces of windows if I’ve left it on for weeks on end…the system just gradually gets corrupted. Try a reboot. If that doesn’t work…then I don’t know.

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**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-is-missing-files-please-help/242316/3 "2004-04-27T19:40:51Z")

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Someone here had a similar problem yesterday on a WinXP system. I went to Display Settings and changed the screen fonts from large (125%) to normal, rebooted and everything worked properly. I then went back to large, on the assumption that it was what she wanted.

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-is-missing-files-please-help/242316/4 "2004-04-27T19:50:02Z")

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Not sure if this is your problem, but it sounds like it:

[Control Panel, Help, and System Restore Are Empty or Partially Empty](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309663&Product=winme)

If that isn’t it, it might be this:

[Control Panel View Options Do Not Function As Expected](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;288592&Product=winme)