Deleted Favorites folder

[Noreen]

My nephew's little daughter has somehow managed to delete her "Favorites" folder, other family member's "Favorites" are OK. They are running Windows XP. Apparently it wasn't in the Recycle Bin and my nephew has searched but cannot find it. Any ideas? Would a System Restore bring it back?

[Rik]

The folder's location is at C:\Documents and settings\<user>\Favorites, Noreen. It shouldn't be possible to delete the folder easily. If it's not in the recycle bin, I'd suggest doing a virus/malware scan first, then trying system restore, but I'm not sure I would hold my breath on it being recovered.

[Noreen]

He knows where the file should be, Rik, but it isn't there. I'm not sure what happened but as far as I can understand it, she was in a hurry, was away from the screen then came back and clicked on a box. Then she discovered her Favorites were gone. I've no idea what this box was and she probably doesn't either (she's 12). Do you think that it could be a virus?

[Rik]

I think it's important to rule out malware, Noreen, particularly if she's in the habit of clicking on things without reading them...

[Gary]

I have seen a few of the kids Justina looked after do that, when asked why they replied "i dunno" really she should have a restricted account if its xp so she can't do to much damage, or delete system folders, stops malware speading like vistas uac really....well its meant to make it harder for malware to run, Noreen.

[Noreen]

I have seen a few of the kids Justina looked after do that, when asked why they replied "i dunno" really she should have a restricted account if its xp so she can't do to much damage, or delete system folders, stops malware speading like vistas uac really....well its meant to make it harder for malware to run Noreen.

I'll suggest that to him, Gary.

BTW why should malware run Noreen? 

[Gary]

I'll suggest that to him, Gary.

BTW why should malware run Noreen? 

  I have fixed my grammatical error now Noreen, but the idea of a "malware run Noreen" does make the mind boggle