Question SSD probem? 3 programs' install directories missing!

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,875
10,222
136
Bought this *OPEN BOX* Lenovo Thinkpad P1 (1st generation) online (Provantage), received it 5 weeks ago. Runs Windows 10 64bit Professional. Has a 256GB SSD, 16GB DDR4.

Took it with me on plane over Thanksgiving weekend, back home now and notice that at least 3 of my programs' install directories are missing. If I search on the program names, many associations are there, lnk, logs, shortcuts, but obviously I can't run the programs!

Would this indicate a failure of the SSD? I can obviously reinstall the programs under C:\programs\ which is where I installed them a few weeks ago, but I figure I should try to get to the bottom of what's wrong here. The machine has a warranty until Apr. 3, 2022. Thanks for insights.

Edit: Don't know how relevant this info is, but I downloaded and installed DOOM 2016 a day or so ago, by virtue of a Slickdeals thread. After the ~70GB download/install, the 25GB SSD has 78GB free. Haven't run DOOM yet. Gotta wonder if it installed correctly, but other than my 3 program install directories I have had no other indication of problems. There may be other missing directories, I haven't checked.

Edit2: Just ran error checking from Properties/Tools for the SSD drive. Took about 30 seconds and reported no errors.
- - - -
Specs:

Lenovo Thinkpad P1
Model 20MD001WUS
Product ThinkPad P1
Region NA
Country/Region USA
Machine Type 20MD
Processor Intel Core i5-8400H (4C / 8T, 2.5 / 4.2GHz, 8MB)
https://ark.intel.com/content/www/u...-8400h-processor-8m-cache-up-to-4-20-ghz.html
Graphics NVIDIA Quadro P1000 4GB GDDR5
Chipset Intel CM246
Memory 1x 16GB DIMM DDR4-2666 non-ECC
Display 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) IPS 300nits Anti-glare
Multi-touch None
Storage 256GB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe Opal2
RAID No
Optical None
WLAN + Bluetooth Intel 9560 11ac, 2x2 + BT5.0
WWAN None
SIM Card None
Smart Card Reader None
Monitor Cable None
Bundled Accessories ThinkPad Ethernet Extension Cable
Color Black
Camera 720p
Keyboard Backlit, English
Pen None
Fingerprint Reader Fingerprint Reader
NFC None
TPM Discrete TPM 2.0
Battery Integrated 80Wh
Power Adapter 135W Slim Tip
System Management Intel vPro
Operating System Windows 10 Pro 64
Bundled Software None
Base Warranty 3-year, Depot = I called Lenovo with the phone number in my phone.dbf [Calling Lenovo Support Center], eventually got Rikki in Georgia at Lenovo Support who helped me. She looked up the machine with the SN and found it and says my warranty is active and until: Apr. 3, 2022 <-------
Bundled Service None
End of Support 2024-09-28
Announce Date 2018-08-28
 
Last edited:

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,875
10,222
136
Windows defender?
How so? These programs were installed and working a couple weeks ago. Defender is hiding them? Deleted them? Please explain. I reinstalled 2 of the 3 missing programs last night.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,587
10,225
126
I've had Windows Defender delete some of my programs so far too. Deleted the .exe file out of the original downloaded .zip file too!
 
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sheh

Senior member
Jul 25, 2005
247
8
81
Selective disappearance of files doesn't sound like a hardware problem.
 
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Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,875
10,222
136
Yup, gotta think it's a Windows Defender incursion issue. Gonna have to have it out in a joust with said "defender." Anyway, glad to hear my great new computer isn't screwed up. This makes my old Lenovo Thinkpad T61 seem awful in comparision. It's not the reduced weight (over 6lb versus 3.7lb, and I use both on my lap only), it's how fast it is and the infinitely superior trackpad.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,875
10,222
136
Windows defender?
I just went into Windows Security and created 4 exclusions. 3 for the 3 programs whose install directories disappeared, and that I reinstalled, and one for a program that always asks me if I want to let it alter Windows every time I open it. My exclusions were for the installation folders, don't know if that will accomplish my aim. I could have added other types of exclusions, maybe for the executable and some other things, can't remember. Hopefully this will prevent it from happening again. The message from Windows was that the folders would be skipped when virus scanning occurred.
 
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sheh

Senior member
Jul 25, 2005
247
8
81
Normal software shouldn't trigger the antivirus, not commonly anyway.
And if it removes files, it would be specific files and not whole directories.
 
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Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,875
10,222
136
Good luck, I just had a very poor customer experience with them.
Can you elaborate?

So far I'm doing OK with this machine. Best purchase in many years, and I guess the most expensive. But it makes all my other laptops seem pathetic.

Anyway, this P1 is warranted by Lenovo until April 2022. So I don't have a 3 month warranty or anything, Lenovo evidently is standing behind it. I just hope the trackpad stays as silky and perfect as it is right now. I don't even know the Windows 10 trackpad shortcuts, I should do my homework on those.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,875
10,222
136
Normal software shouldn't trigger the antivirus, not commonly anyway.
And if it removes files, it would be specific files and not whole directories.
Entire directories went AWOL. Never seen or heard of such a thing before. But when I went to reinstall the programs the offered install directories were the very ones that went AWOL. I allowed the installation routines to put the programs in the same places. Made my exclusions and have fingers crossed.