missing shortcuts--can't find files

[audreylarson]

After the computer was turned off last night (not sure if properly as anohter family member did it), I tried to pull up files I was working on last night and everything I had in my folder, includiung the folder, is missing. I can click the name of the file, but the error message says "the file...that this shrotcut refers to has been moved or changed..." and I cannot retrieve it. I'm very computer illiterate and would appreciate any help--these were really important files with lots of work put into them! Thanks so much. (We have Windows Vista Home Premium)