Need Computer Help
Jul 9, 2017 14:54:05 #
I store all of my photos on a 3TB external hard drive. I just noticed today that at least three folders containing an estimated total of about 800 photos have disappeared. I don't know where they went, how to find them or how to get them back if I ever do. I can't write code, I know nothing about programing and I even have trouble with the utilities. Help please.
Jul 9, 2017 14:56:22 #
edgorm wrote:
I store all of my photos on a 3TB external hard drive. I just noticed today that at least three folders containing an estimated total of about 800 photos have disappeared. I don't know where they went, how to find them or how to get them back if I ever do. I can't write code, I know nothing about programing and I even have trouble with the utilities. Help please.
If they were somehow deleted, they should be in the Trash on your C drive. Take a look. If you see them there, you can click on Restore. Do you have them backed up?
Jul 9, 2017 15:02:01 #
edgorm wrote:
. . . and I even have trouble with the utilities. Help please.
The safest action is to take your HD to an expert and have them recover your photos for you. If they were once on the HD and have been deleted, then they are almost certainly still there. You just can't see them without the proper utility.
Jul 9, 2017 15:35:13 #
Math78 wrote:
The safest action is to take your HD to an expert and have them recover your photos for you. If they were once on the HD and have been deleted, then they are almost certainly still there. You just can't see them without the proper utility.
Until you do, I wouldn't save anything else on that drive, it could over-write the deleted files.
Jul 9, 2017 19:20:51 #
You might try looking for some of the individual files. I've lost folders on an external drive but the files were still accessible. Good luck!
Jul 10, 2017 05:51:52 #
Too bad it's not a Mac. you could take it to the Apple Store and get it fixed.....FOR FREEEEEEEE
Jul 10, 2017 06:19:53 #
Nine chances out of ten you have done something wrong. You need someone local you can trust who can look at your computer and help you with your problem. It can not be done with someone on UH.
Jul 10, 2017 06:22:11 #
Did you try a search in the search box- You don't say what version of windows you are using. Of course you would need the name of at least one of the folders to try it! AND.. as mentioned- Don't you have a backup drive with all your photos? You can purchase a external drive for way under 100 bucks- Money well spent if your photos are important to you!!
Jul 10, 2017 06:28:13 #
steinr98 wrote:
Did you try a search in the search box- You don't say what version of windows you are using. Of course you would need the name of at least one of the folders to try it! AND.. as mentioned- Don't you have a backup drive with all your photos? You can purchase a external drive for way under 100 bucks- Money well spent if your photos are important to you!!
This is the backup drive and I run a Mac.
Jul 10, 2017 07:04:45 #
Best practice would be to immediately clone/copy this disk. Then doctor it. If you know any titles of folders/files that you have lost, use EasyFind, which will ferret out your files if they are not yet deleted, but perhaps buried. Data Rescue 3 has been super successful for me in severe situations. Disk Warrior is also awesome for straightening things out.
Jul 10, 2017 07:30:02 #
Jul 10, 2017 08:03:54 #
pilot64
Loc: Atlanta, GA
Search for a missing file or folder. You may have inadvertently moved the folders to another location (nested inside an existing visible folder). If you can't find them, look in the deleted files folder. Deleted files are not really deleted until they are overwritten or the hard disk is reformatted. A computer wizard can help recover your files.
Jul 10, 2017 08:20:44 #
If the external drive is being used as a "backup" drive, then the photos should exist on your Mac main drive too. Have you looked?
Perhaps it is not being used as a backup but an extra photo storage drive?
Mark
Perhaps it is not being used as a backup but an extra photo storage drive?
Mark
edgorm wrote:
This is the backup drive and I run a Mac.
Jul 10, 2017 08:36:46 #
Try hitting the toggle switch to unhide hidden files. Sometimes files become hidden by accident or by some action we don't know we're doing. I've found "lost" files that way. This was a tip from my computer guru.
Jul 10, 2017 09:03:26 #
You did not mention what operating system you are using. In Windows if you remember at least one file name of the files disappeared you can use Windows Explorer, and type that name in the search box at the upper right corner of the screen. If your file is found then the other files probably are there too. As Pilot64 mentioned you might have accidentally drag the top folder under some other folder, which happens very quickly if they are on the same drive.
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