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Question

Cancelled move operation. Files now missing?

Apr 3, 2014 3:20PM PDT

Greetings,

I am desperately looking for help regarding missing files due to cancelled prompt in windows XP.

I was trying to copy "my documents" folder into a new folder on an external hard drive. I tried to drag and drop the folder, but it only pasted a shortcut. I then attempted to copy and paste, but it gave no option to paste.

The size of the folder I was attempting to copy was about 7 gigs of data.
After not being able to do either drag/drop and copy and paste, I then tried to use the "Move" operation. When I clicked 'move', it opened a dialogue window notifying me that original files in the original location would go to the new location.
No longer wanting to do such method, I clicked cancel.

I was going to attempt and copy and paste yet again.

When I visited the original folder to view its contents, it only contained the 3 folders that usual comes with windows, "My Music", "My Photos", and "My Videos". My own folders and files have gone missing.
I went back to the folders and performed the "Undo" action but nothing has come back. I visited the recycle bin, but the only files that are there, are the ones that I deleted before attempting to move the original folder. Inside the recycle bin, I right-clicked to see if it would give me the option of "Undo move" (I also did this in the original folder and new folder I had made) but there was no option.

As usual, these files are seriously important and I need them back.

Thank you in advance to anyone who can help.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Remember to stop using the HDDs.
Apr 3, 2014 3:24PM PDT

Now on another machine install your recovery titles (check the CNET Storage Forum sticky) and recover the files to the other PC. Continued use of these drives can remove any hope of recovery.
Bob

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Shut it Down?
Apr 3, 2014 3:44PM PDT

Is it okay then to just shut down the computer? I don't understand why this happened when I decided to not go through with the operation. The hard part about this is that its a netbook and so I have to go digging and ripping the computer apart to get to the HDD.

There is one thing though that I notice looking at it again -- after looking at the folders and contents, When I was "undoing" previous things, it even did the undo operation for renaming the folder on the external drive.
When I go to the "My Documents" folder, which contained the original files and click on the properties, it now say "Target E:\ New Folder"....but nothing is in there except the 3 folders My Music, My Photos, My Videos, and a shortcut to "My Documents"....which contains nothing.

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What about the external drive?
Apr 3, 2014 3:52PM PDT

What about the external drive involved? Are the files not on that drive or are the original files still on the computer.

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On another PC. Try the titles in the CNET Storage Forum.
Apr 3, 2014 4:05PM PDT

Remember I take it that everyone is serious about recovery. That's why we stop using the drives until we get the files out.

Some install recovery software and that could overwrite something.
Bob

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Thank for the help
Apr 3, 2014 4:14PM PDT

Thank you for the help so far, but what about the external drive?
At the moment, the original folder is empty, and shows when I click on it "Target E:/ New Folder".....which is the folder on the other drive?

Will unplugging the external drive effect the contents on that internal drive on the netbook?

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1. It's recovered on another PC. Not the one with the loss
Apr 3, 2014 7:35PM PDT

2. I can't use that E: detail. I unplug it and move to another PC I have the recovery software (from the CNET Storage Forum) installed to see what I can recover.

3. Maybe. But at this point we have to do that.
Bob