Windows Vista File folder in Vista disappeared cannot be found, not deleted

Around the 1st of this year, I had a folder located at "C:/Amrit/arball Productions" that had a few sub folders that didn't contain more than about 100 files totaling no more than 100MB. It suddenly disappeared. The contents were primarily word files, pictures, some psd (Photoshop) files and HTML files. What was weird is that the remaining folders and files inside "C:/Amrit" were untouched, unscathed and perfectly fine. The folder that disappeared was not in my Recycle bin, nor was it searchable anywhere else on the computer.

I tried to use a recover program (freeware I had googled but can no longer remember which it was) which found some of the files after a deep scan, but when trying to recover them, they were corrupt. I gave up, said my folder was lost, took my computer as fine in every other way, and moved on.

Last night, I noticed when going to another folder I created, "C:/Amrit/arball Prod" that it had once again disappeared. It was named something different than the first time, but again, noticed no other problems. This folder had only 2 sub folders, and a max of 10 files of same file type. This time, I really need those files.

Using vista, I tried to locate some of the filenames since I know their names. They were found as pictured in missingfile1.jpg . However, as you can see to the right of it, the folder contains no such path. The first subfolder in the folder "C:/Amrit" is "disney ". "arball Prod" was atop that list, as was "arball Productions" a few weeks earlier. Now, they are gone. Clicking 'equestrianbuzz.eps' in the search panel brings up missingfile3.jpg. Even for the folder itself, I can search it, Windows recognize it, but then tell me that it is a missing shortcut because clearly the folder no longer exists. missingfile2.jpg

I am baffled as to what it could be that mysteriously ate my folder. The folder permissions in Vista say Show Hidden files and folders, so I know that is it. I do not beleive it to be a virus since McAfee has not found anythign after running a deep scan, along with Spybot S&D and AdAware that I run weekly. I want to know what I can do to get my file folder back, where it is since I know I didn't delete it, and how to prevent the top folder in the "C:/Amrit" from disappearing in the near future.

I am happy to provide more information if needed. Thanks for the help in advance.

What I'm running:
Dell Inspiron 1525 (laptop purchased April 2008)
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1
3GB RAM
320GB HD
Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 @ 2.40GHz

 

Strange Indeed!!!!!
Few Questions:-
1.Did the folder dissapear as well i.e. c:\amrit\arball prod ?
2.Did you change the folder permissions at any time ?

I would think that this has to be a virus. Which version of AVG do you use ?
I would suggest you do a system restore. See if it helps?

 

1. The folder did disappear as well, which is how I knew it was gone in the first place.
2. The folder permissions did not change at any time, and I am on the Administrator account

I am using McAfee AntiVirus 8.5

I do not think it is a virus, because nothing was found, it is not impacting anything at else, and why would simply the first folder (alphabetically) and all of its contents in the one folder I created on the C drive be the target?

I feel like if it was a virus, it would have had to have been a file in that folder, which then is run, then upon termination deletes the entire folder as well. But then, this would not account for why the 2nd folder has now disappeared...

Thanks for your help

 

Is it the free version of AVG ?
I would suggest you try http://www.pcinspector.de/Sites/file_recovery/info.htm?language=1
See if it helps !!

 

It is not the free version of McAfee.

I tried to run PC Recovery, but I only have one C drive, and it doesnt seem able to create any 'logical' drives for me.

I ran Recuva last night, and it didn't find the files I am missing unfortunately.