problems with missing appdata folder

[sexymama420]

i am running windows vista home edition and i talked to acer and they told me to do a factory delfault and i wanted to format my pc but when we did that i am now missing appdata folder and documents and settings too. i am pretty sure i am missing more. please help i have no clue i ahve seen the appdata in my c/users but no longer there

[fireballs]

Vista doesn't have a documents and settings folder.

appdata should be located like this:

c:\users\[user]\appdata\

To make windows locate it, click the start menu, type cmd into the box at the bottom and press enter. type

Code: [Select]

cd %appdata%
FB

[sexymama420]

i tried that and it says the system cannot find the path specified.
when i go to c :users/ john public that all i get and the only files i have in my c drive are

acer
acersw
book
drv
prtlogs
program files
users
windows

also i have a proshow slide show and when i go in the program and look at files i can see the c/users/john/appdata/temp
but no where on my pc just inside the program I can view but not delete and i have to proshow program saved on my d drive which didnt get wiped out when we did the factory default

[patio]

Acer should have explained that whenever you a restore to factory default it takes your system back to Day One status and any programs or Data that was on the machine after you got it are wiped out.
What Proshow program did you have and what are the contents of the D: drive ? ?

[sexymama420]

proshow gold i am using and i know my computer go back to orignal but i have appdata before when i first got it my d drive files are
downloads
english
movies
music
pictures
program files
sound driver
users


and when i got to users in my d drive it only john appdat roaming moziall or netscape but both files are empty which they always were just missing folder on the c drive did something go wrong with the factory default

[Broni]

What is drive D?

[sexymama420]

on my acer pc i have a c and d drive d is for data only

[sexymama420]

i would like to know why after a factory default i cant find appdata and documents and settings since the factory reset .. i also have the back up disk should i ahve used them to

[patio]

The appdata folder will slowly be rebuilt as you add new programs etc.
I'm afraid as i stated your old data is gone.

This is an excellent opportunity to start devising a regular backup strategy...

[sexymama420]

thanks for all ur help but one thing i dont understand is so my appdata will reappear cuz im not missing files in the app data im missing the app data folder its self under c/users i though the folder should be there and many more folders it like when i did the default and uder my users in the c drive says public onlu before i had tons that i didnt add to the computer they we they when i bought it...could it be they set the pc up and when i did the factory default it wiped out wat they did
i made back up cds when i bough the pc and acer told me not to use them so why did i need to do them if all i need was factory default? do i use the disks after factory default pls help very confused ... i really just wanted to formatt my pc ..not screw it up lol

[Broni]

Application Data is a hidden folder. To see it, in Windows Explorer, go Tools>Folder Options>View tab, and enable hidden files viewing.

[sexymama420]

Thank you so much it worked i just wanted to see if the files still exsisted or if my hubby wiped them out thanks a bunch

[Broni]

You're very welcome