its worth trying a search.
On XP -- Start menu - search -- all files and folders - ( insert whatever part of the filename you can remember, using * as a wildcard) - look in local hard drives C: D: etc - click on advanced options and tick system, hidden and subfolders
Set it going and be prepared to leave it going for a while, then look at the results -- this should check every file on your hard drive(s) and should find it even if it has accidentally been shifted to a system folder such as "windows" or "program files"
good luck
Well said HJ exactly what i would do first have a good look round......Every day I lecture people about backing up their pictures.....they can never be replaced....
Gary ....
have you checked the recycle bin? if its disapeard recently it may be sitting in there.
if not do a search like HJ said..
aslo.. if its just pictures your looking for. copy the following line into the Search bar.. *.JPG, *.BMP, *.GIF, *.TIF this will then just search your hard drive for any files with this extension.
if ya still struggling grab me in M** and i will try and help you from there.
All the search suggestions seem sensible, its unlikely you have deleted that many pictures accidentally, although moving them by mistake can happen or renaming - especially if you have recently added new software that uses 'my pictures' as a default folder.
Look on the bright side its a great excuse to take lots of new pistures :-) We never have much worry about losing pictures as we can always retrieve most of ours from the groups where people have stolen them and posted them there .
Found them now although why they disappeared is a mystery all i tried to do was open the file :doh:
Stand by your keyboard ......... Coffee being emailed as I type!
splosh!!! :giggle:
Sam xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
silly i know 
