I Lost Some Data

[mediasmith]

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]

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

Organize > Folder & Search Options > View Tab > [I]Show Hidden Files, Folders and Drives[/I]

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]

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]

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

 

[whs]

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.

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[not so gray matter]

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.

If you're really worried about how explorer is behaving, try using one of those alternative explorer shells. Many of them have extended controls which will allow you to force confirmation whenever you delete a file. You may even be able to customize that to only require confirmation on certain file types. I'm not entirely certain what you can and can't do, but I know some of them have advanced features.

Also, if you're looking for a better backup program you could look into entire system image backups options like Macrium Reflect. If you have the extra space on an external hard drive you can literally mirror your hard drive at regular intervals. Otherwise, there are many other backup programs that can simply create backups of specific locations such as your user folder on a regular basis. I'm sure if you asked you'd get some good suggestions.