Windows 7: I Lost Some Data

mediasmith · 10 May 2010

I was cleaning up some FileMaker files. The wrong ones went away. So I did some finds and looked everywhere for these files. They are gone!

I selected 2 files to move to the trash. When I moved them, the wrong ones disapeared. I didn't empty the trash or delete anything. However, I have searched everything and looked at every potential link. They just disappeared!

First, how can that happen? It didn't ask if I wanted to delete, etc., etc., or anything. Second, is there another possibility for me to look at? Could they have been hidden? Surely, there is no way to delete files without being asked if I really wnat to delete them!

This is very upsetting.

not so gray matter · 10 May 2010

If you think the files could be hidden, you can enable the ability to view hidden files in the Folder & Search Options.

Code:

Organize > Folder & Search Options > View Tab > Show Hidden Files, Folders and Drives

If you believe the files were deleted accidently, you can use a program like Recuva to recover them.

If you'd like a different explorer shell, there are quite a few options, here are a few:

xplorer²
XYPlorer
FreeCommander
DirectoryOpus

mediasmith · 10 May 2010

I tried Recuva. There were lots pf files but none were the files I'm looking for. I'm assuming that means they have not been deleted.

I've searched the file name and looked at all of the possibilities - no joy. There were no other programs running on the desktop and there are very few open folders on the desktop. I've looked trought all of them and all of the directories on the C drive. These files originally were on another dreive - drive D. I have looked through all of the directories there as well. I just don't understand how they could just disappear!

A global search of the computer doesn't produce the files either. Very strange!!!

harpua · 10 May 2010

Maybe system restore would bring them back? Worth a try.

whs · 10 May 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by harpua

Maybe system restore would bring them back? Worth a try.

System restore will only restore system files, but not user files. What you can do though is sift thru the restore points with Shadow Explorer. If you find a file, right click on it and Export back into your system.

Quote:

I tried Recuva. There were lots pf files but none were the files I'm looking for. I'm assuming that means they have not been deleted.

That conclusion is not logical. If you did not find the files you were looking for could mean different things - e.g. that they are not on the disk, or they have been overwritten and cannot be identified any more, etc.

harpua · 10 May 2010

That's interesting about system restore. Thanks for pointing that out.

This unexpected loss of files points up the importance of keeping one's system backed up on an appropriate regular schedule. (I don't know whether the OP has backed up or not. Just mentioning this for anyone who might be reading this thread.)

whs · 10 May 2010

Quote:

That's interesting about system restore. Thanks for pointing that out.

No problem. In fact when you start a system restore it will tell you that user files will not be modified.

Thorsen · 10 May 2010

I am not familiar with this, but I searched for this on FileMaker Forums and found something similar. can you check the following thread and see if it helps? It might or might not be what you are experiencing. Maybe the file was linked? to the other one you deleted?

Records mysteriously being deleted (NOT the usual ... - FileMaker Forum

Solution to this users problem is the next post right below thread starters post in that forum thread

mediasmith · 11 May 2010

Thanks for all of the great suggestions. Unfortunately, I have not found the files. Very strange since I never hit delete at any time.

The FileMaker reference was about loss of records within a FileMaker solution. Interestingly, I was aware of that post.

Unfortunately, I have to move on. I've started rebuilding my work. I only lost 4 days. I wish I could develop on my Mac. Time Machine is great! Windows has always been a marginal system to me. Just another example of strange Windows behavior.

Thanks again to all of ou for pitching in.

kelmeldel · 11 May 2010

See this article, hope will help you
How Do I Find and Delete Files of a Certain Type? - files - Lifehacker

Windows 7: I Lost Some Data

I Lost Some Data problems?