How to Fix Error - All the files disappeared from a directory tree, leaving the directories intact. Why? And how do I get my files back??

All the files disappeared from a directory tree, leaving the directories intact. Why? And how do I get my files back?

All my old files and photos from the last couple of decades were kept in a folder in my user directory (C:\Users\Will\old files\).
I went to find a file from there today, and ALL the files from inside that directory are gone.

The old folder structure with all the various nested subdirectories is still intact, it's just that there are no files in there at all.
This has happened to a couple of the folders in my user directory.

I've tried looking in the 'older versions' backup, but all the files are missing from them as well.
I don't know how long the files have been missing for, since it's only once every few months I need to go digging around in that folder.

Edit: I also tried rebooting into Linux and looking in the folder.
Again, all the files are missing, but the directories remain.

What has happened to all my files? How do I get them back?

Anwsers to the Problem All the files disappeared from a directory tree, leaving the directories intact. Why? And how do I get my files back?

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Other than initiating a full search for a known file name, or the file suffix that was known to reside in one of the folders, or restoring from a backup they have gone, why I couldnt say.
You could I guess, from a cmd prompt, use one of the commands to see if that reports anything else for that folder
Ir might have been preferable to have stored them in a folder within the Libraries

Check memory problems

Memory management issues can also cause a BSOD in Windows 7. Thankfully, Windows 7 has a Memory Management Diagnostic tool that detects and solves problems related to system memory.

1. Click on the Start button on the Taskbar.
2. Type "Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool" or "Memory" (without quotes) in the Search box or,
3. Click on Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool (in the search results).
4. Click on "Restart now and check for problems (Recommended)".
5. The system will restart, and you need to follow the instructions given on the screen.

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