What to Do When Windows Auto-Restores Deleted Files and Throws Access Violations on Startup — Real User Steps That Recovered Data

Imagine this: you’ve deleted some files you didn’t need, cleaned up your startup processes, rebooted for a fresh start… and suddenly, Windows decides to magically resurrect the deleted files and throws confusing access violation errors all over your screen. What just happened? For many users, this isn’t just a strange quirk—it’s a recurring nightmare tied to corrupted user profiles, persistent cloud sync systems, or even system-level file restorations from Windows Defender or System Protection settings. But don’t panic. This article walks you through how real users have diagnosed and successfully resolved this baffling scenario, recovering their data and fixing glitchy behaviors without performing a full reinstallation.

TL;DR:

Some Windows users experience auto-restored deleted files and access violation errors after restarting due to corrupted profiles, cloud sync conflicts, or protective OS behaviors like System Restore. Fixing these usually involves disabling cloud services, checking for backup rollbacks, and inspecting user permissions. It’s possible to recover the original deleted files and stop the loop with careful permission management and profile repair. Learn the exact steps here from real-world success stories.

Understanding the Problem

At first glance, the issue appears chaotic: you delete files, maybe clean up some folders or configurations, and after a restart, not only do those files return—they often come back corrupted or provoke access violations. These errors often look like:

• “Access violation at address XXXXX in module kernel32.dll”
• “You don’t have permissions to open this file”
• Files or folders you’ve deleted reappearing on your desktop or system folder

To fix this, you need to understand what’s causing it. Based on real-world user reports and forum discussions, the most common culprits include:

• Corrupted user profiles that Windows attempts to auto-heal on login
• Cloud storage services like OneDrive or Dropbox resyncing deleted files
• System Restore or Windows Recovery settings automatically “protecting” folders
• Third-party security suites or antivirus programs restoring quarantined files to original locations

First Steps: Checking the Obvious

Before diving deep into system fixes, here are a few quick checks that may reveal the root cause:

1. Did Windows just install an update? Some cumulative updates can trigger a rollback of user data if installation fails midway or if Windows detects instability. Check Update History.
2. Are your files returning with padlock icons? That may point to permission inconsistencies between your user profile and system ownership.
3. Did you clear your Cloud sync folders before uninstalling the app? Some users report that uninstalling OneDrive without pausing sync can lead to data “resurrection” from the cloud.

Investigating System Settings

The next area to investigate is your system’s built-in protection tools. Windows may be trying to “help” you by recovering what it thinks were important files. Here’s what to examine:

1. System Restore & Protection

Go to Control Panel > System > System Protection. Check which drives have protection turned on. If enabled, the OS may be restoring snapshots that include your deleted files.

Try this:

• Turn System Protection off temporarily for your Boot drive
• Manually delete the system restore points using Disk Cleanup
• Restart and try deleting the files again

2. OneDrive or Cloud Services

Services like OneDrive may silently restore files that were deleted locally but not from the cloud.

Steps to mitigate this:

• Go to OneDrive Settings > Account and choose Unlink this PC temporarily
• Manually pause syncing from the OneDrive system tray icon
• Delete the files again and reboot
• Only re-link the account after confirming the files are gone

Some users reported that even uninstalling OneDrive doesn’t help unless sync was paused first. Be warned!

3. Corrupt User Profiles

If your user profile is corrupted, Windows might be loading a temporary one each time you log in. One major sign of this is if your desktop files look wiped, but inspecting C:\Users\Temp shows an active session folder.

To fix:

1. Create a new user from an administrator account
2. Log in to the new account and copy necessary data over from the old profile
3. Once confident, delete the corrupt user profile via Sysdm.cpl > Advanced > User Profiles

This step has fixed the issue permanently for several users, especially when combined with permission repair.

Dealing with Access Violations

Once you’ve deleted the files and prevented their return, those weird memory or file access violation errors may linger. Here’s how to stamp those out:

1. Run System File Checker:

sfc /scannow

This rebuilds damaged system files and fixes missing DLL calls causing access problems.

2. Reset Permissions:

Sometimes, ghost files reappear because you don’t have rights to fully remove or modify them. Reset them using:

icacls "C:\Path\To\FileOrFolder" /reset /T /C /Q

This command recursively resets permissions. Be sure to run Command Prompt as Administrator.

3. Clean Boot the System:

A clean boot helps identify if third-party services are at fault. Disable non-Microsoft services from msconfig and reboot. If issues disappear, slowly re-enable services to pinpoint the cause.

Real User Example: How Sarah Fixed Her Auto-Restoring Files

Sarah, a graphic designer, noticed Photoshop files she deleted kept coming back after each reboot. Worse, some would stop opening with confusing error messages.

Here’s what worked for her:

1. Unlinked her OneDrive account completely
2. Disabled Windows System Protection and purged old restore points
3. Used sfc /scannow to fix random access violation prompts
4. Created a brand-new administrator account and migrated her work files

After two reboots and cautious re-deletion of the problem files, the issue never returned. Sarah was also able to identify one corrupt DLL being called during startup using the Event Viewer.

Preventing Recurrence

Once things are back to normal, follow these best practices to avoid future headaches:

• Always uninstall cloud services using their in-app options before removing from Control Panel
• Don’t mix manual file deletions with automatic sync (turn sync off first)
• Back up data before major Windows updates or system setting changes
• Use tools like Process Monitor to identify auto-restoring processes

When All Else Fails

If the issue persists despite all remedies, consider performing an in-place repair of Windows using a media installation tool. This preserves files while resetting OS behavior to defaults. But for the vast majority of users, addressing user profiles, cloud sync, and permission errors has solved the problem permanently—no clean install required.

Final Thoughts

Dealing with deleted files returning like digital zombies and vague access violations can make anyone feel like they’re stuck in a tech twilight zone. But by methodically isolating causes, from cloud sync to system restoration, and using a few key command-line tools, real users have successfully recovered their data and reclaimed control of their PCs. Hopefully, these steps help you do the same.