wormholewizards: Did you already try Windows Check Disk for bad sector or error?
xyem: If the drive is readable (as in, it doesn't make any odd noises), the first thing I would do is make an image of it (with ddrescue) then do any research/recovery on the image.
hedwards: I'd do the disk imaging just because there's definitely a possibility that something has gone awry with the MFT in which case you could indeed very quickly lose all of the files instead of just a few.
AlKim: ~snip~ Better make backups of your files in case it turns out you've got the same problem she had.
DukeNukemForever: Don't save or do anything with that disc, get a bootable linux (like Knoppix, Ubuntu, etc) and start them from disc. Then check if everything is still there. If so, copy the important files to an external hd. Next step would be to make an image of your hd, after that check the hd with special tools for errors.
GameRager: Sometimes malware can mess with Malwarebytes......i'd run in safe mode, delete malwarebytes and reinstall, then update it and run it(all in safe mode). In safe mode many viruses/etc can't run well or at all, and this will hopefully allow you to update and run MWB without issue if malware is causing it to not work right.
HereForTheBeer: You may want to let the ESET online scanner have a go at it. Last time I fixed some malware / trojan / keylogger / backdoor crap for someone, that scanner turned up things that everything else missed, including our beloved Malwarebytes.
JMich: I recall a certain malware that would make all folders hidden and then create a copy of itself with the folder's name, which when clicked would open the folder. Did you try checking if this is the case with the folders? Since it is quite possible that this (or another) malware will prevent you from toggling the "Show Hidden Files and Folders", open a command prompt, go to the directory your folders should be in (for example, c:\users\leroux\documents) and do a "dir /ah" which should show you all hidden files and folders.
lugum: why throw away money to let someone do stuff what you can do yourself?
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Well, all problems seem to have been fixed, even though I'll still consider a Windows re-install. In any case, I couldn't have done it all on my own and certainly not without panicking or despairing, so thanks a lot for all of your help.
Sadly, I can only mark one post as solution, but I'm grateful to everyone who made a constructive suggestion, whether I replied to you or not. And therefor, in addition to repping up every participant in this thread, I'd like to throw a round for you guys.
If you're one of the posters quoted above, I'd be happy to present you with a little token of my appreciation. Ideally that would be a copy of the
<span class="bold">Adventure bundle</span> (including Gemini Rue, Ben There Dan That, Time Gentlemen Please!, 1893: A World's Fair Mystery and The Sea Will Claim Everything), as I feel this bundle doesn't get the attention it deserves and I'd like to support it and its charity.
But since there's a possibility that you already own all of these games or you don't like point-and-click and text adventures, you can also choose a different game or bundle of
$3 worth, provided I can buy it and gift it to you (e.g. the recommendable Wizorb from Indievania, or Bean's Quest from Desura, or three games of choice from
Build Your Own Bundle, or the most basic option of
Indie Gala, or a $2.99 GOG from the current promo, if you're quick enough - sorry, if it's too late already; I can't buy directly from Steam, but some of the bundles have Steam keys, if you'd like them).
I know it's not much, but I'd like everyone of the above to get a piece of the pie and if you make the right choice, I think you can still have a lot of fun with this little gift (provided you like indie games ;) ).
So if you're interested just let me know about your choice! :)
