Over the weekend, we reported that several users on Windows 10 October 2018 Update – which is currently on pause – have experienced data loss when extracting archive files. The problem seemed to be with the built-in zip tool. Microsoft has finally acknowledged the issue, admitting that its latest Windows 10 version has yet another data problem.
“If you copy files from a .ZIP file without extracting them, they might not be copied or moved correctly, even though it looks like they have been,” a company moderator wrote on Microsoft Answers (emphasis is ours).
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“There is a known issue in the Windows 10 October Update where the consent prompt “Do you want to replace these files” is missing when copying contents from a .ZIP file.”
The issue only affects the latest version of Windows 10, the October 2018 Update, and specifically when you copy or move zip files without first extracting the contents. The company said that while it will appear that “the files were overwritten, when in fact the copy action for those files is not executed and files have not been overwritten.”
The process could remove or delete the original file if “the copy action for the duplication file names does not complete and no files are overwritten.” Microsoft explained that this failure can occur in the following scenarios.
- Copying from a compressed (.zip) folder to a regular folder.
- Moving from a compressed folder to a regular folder.
- Copying from a compressed folder to a protected folder.
How to avoid this Windows 10 data loss scenario
Microsoft has recommended users to fully extract the zip folder before copying files to a new destination folder to workaround this issue. The company has also asked users not to cut/paste as it may result in unintentional data deletion.
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If you manage to lose data, you can restore data from the Recycle Bin. Or, you can use the Temporary File Directory to recover data by following these steps:
- Use Windows logo + R keys to open the Run command box.
- Type %temp% and click OK to open the Temp folder containing temporary files.
- Locate the lost files or folder.
- On the ribbon, select Move to and choose a location to move the file into.
Managed to install Windows 10 October 2018 Update on your machines? Don’t forget to share if you experienced any of the two reported data loss issues.
