SYMPTOMS
There are no files on the Desktop or in the Documents folder after your computer was imaged in the summer of 2021.
SOLUTION
Your files are not gone. Open Google Drive, then "My Drive" and finally "My Computer." Files that were on your Desktop will be in the "desktop" folder and those in Documents will be in the "documents" folder.
Can those files be moved back to your Desktop or Documents folder? Yes, but we strongly recommend you work off your Google Drive instead. Why? Two main reasons:
- Google Drive is cloud-based. If something happens to your computer or if it needs to be imaged, all of your files will be safe. If you only save files to your Desktop or Documents folders on the computer, there will be no backup. If you value your files, make sure they are saved in Drive.
- Files in Drive are accessible on any device with an internet connection. If you want to access the same documents on your Surface, desktop, phone, friend's computer, stranger's computer, etc. they need to be in Drive.