The problem with RapidShare is because of changes made over time.
In May 2012, if you had a free RapidShare account, like I have, any file that wasn't downloaded at least once during a one month period was deleted by RapidShare.
Then in December 2012, it was change back and they would stay permanently. BUT, if they had been deleted during the previous 8 months, they would need to be uploaded again. So chances are, many were removed and not uploaded again.
Then in September 2013, they changed the way to share again. I don't like the new style at all, but not only that, after changing a file from a stored file to a shared file, and sharing it with a friend, he couldn't download it. I don't know why he couldn't as I had provided him with the link that RapidShare given me to share it with. So I wound up emailing the file to him.
So I have given up on RapidShare and decided to use Dropbox for sharing files. It's a lot easier than RapidShare too.

Note: The dates of the RapidShare changes are base on emails they sent me since I signed up for a free account.