I ran the command 'del /s /q *' on my PC while trying to fix an app installation, but I think I entered it wrong and just executed 'del /s /q *' by itself. Now, my computer won't boot back into Windows, and I'm not sure what my next steps should be. I realize I made a huge mistake, and I just want some helpful advice on how to handle this situation without getting flamed.
2 Answers
Good news is you’ve learned a valuable lesson about using commands you’re not sure about! Usually, you don’t need to rely on command line stuff to fix apps. Going into the folders and deleting files manually is often a safer bet.
That command is pretty brutal because it deletes everything without asking for confirmation. Unfortunately, it sounds like the files are gone. To get your system running again, you might have to format your hard drive and reinstall Windows.
Does this command only wipe the C drive where Windows is installed, or could it affect files on the D drive too? I really need to recover those files!