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[Zootsuit]

I've used this tool extensively and tried to be mindful of the warnings concerning its use. Despite this, I experienced a slip the other day, and after checking the box for Find What/Replace With, I inadvertently inserted a nonexistent path to receive the files (M:\Transfers from O Drive\[Post 5-28-11]\ ). I was trying to consolidate files presently scattered over two drives into a single folder.

When I clicked OK, without catching the error, the selected files disappeared from their current location and appeared.... nowhere. Needless to say, they were highly unusual files almost impossible to replicate.

Besides kicking myself for sheer stupidity, are there any steps  I can take to retrieve the missing files? I've tried rescanning the folders where they might have gone but no joy there.

I assume that a system restore isn't going to get me where I want to go and will appreciate any suggestions.

[JimH]

I don't have a solution, but some things you can try.  It's likely the files are in an unexpected place.

But check the trash folder in Windows.

Search in Explorer for one of the file names or for *.flac, etc.

Save a backup, then restore an older one.  MC makes them automatically.  Search for *.zip in Explorer.

There are tools to recover deleted files.  Try a Google search.  Don't write anything to the drive until you try recovering or it may overwrite the locations.

But I don't think MC deletes files until they have been copied to the new location.  Maybe there was a missing colon in the path name and you've put them in MTransfers from O Drive\[Post 5-28-11], for example.

[eve]

I don't have a solution, but some things you can try.  It's likely the files are in an unexpected place.

But check the trash folder in Windows.

Search in Explorer for one of the file names or for *.flac, etc.

Save a backup, then restore an older one.  MC makes them automatically.  Search for *.zip in Explorer.

There are tools to recover deleted files.  Try a Google search.  Don't write anything to the drive until you try recovering or it may overwrite the locations.

But I don't think MC deletes files until they have been copied to the new location.  Maybe there was a missing colon in the path name and you've put them in MTransfers from O Drive\[Post 5-28-11], for example.

Are these both your non boot drive? If so, this is good. Less chance anything has been overwritten (recovery is possible) but frankly, they probably aren't just 'gone'.

Do you have any memory of the specific source filenames or what the target names should have been? You definitely should try searching for them. (Windows search is only quasi useful here, it doesn't always pick up everything).

[Zootsuit]

I had retained the original, pre-move file names so was able to swap those for the dead end names that pointed to a nonexistent location. That restored the files under their original filenames/paths and in their original locations.

I'd rather be lucky than good (courtesy, Lefty Gomez).

[JimH]

Whew!  Lucky!

Now's the time to get a big external drive and copy all your files to it.

How big is your library of media files (in GB)? 

Next time you move files, do just a few first and check your work.