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Main Forum => General Computer Support => Topic started by: ultranothing on September 26, 2018, 07:16:11 pm

Title: Files have all disappeared from external drive, but folders are intact...?
Post by: ultranothing on September 26, 2018, 07:16:11 pm
Hi! First of all, thank you for allowing me to register without having to do the tedious extra step of email verification. It's not even a big deal, but it's just nice to be able to register and be done.

I'm here because I have a problem I've been trying to figure out. In my search for answers, I came across a forum discussion here at tweaking.com (https://www.tweaking.com/forums/index.php?topic=2028.0 (https://www.tweaking.com/forums/index.php?topic=2028.0)) where a user named Shane was helping someone with a similar-ish problem, and I thought maybe this would be a good place to try to get some answers.

I just finished (like, yesterday) re-acquiring almost 7 TB of classic gaming files after my old 8tb Seagate Backup+ drive decided to become RAW.

These files were all organized into dozens of folders and sub-folders and everything was categorized and labeled and good to go.

Somehow, suddenly and inexplicably, all of the data is gone. The folders are all there! But navigating to any of the folders brings me to nothing but empty space where the files once resided.

I've never seen anything like it before in my life! I've been reading about cases where people *thought* their files were gone but managed to figure out some setting or workaround where their files found their way home.

Mine, however, are just gone. I've tried quite a few things:

1. Navigating the folders with an elevated CMD prompt.

2. Fiddling with hidden files/folders settings

3. Re-assigning drive letters

4. Attempting data recovery with a legit copy of EaseUS Data Recovery (no files were found to have been deleted)

5.  Scanning the PC/drive with various anti-malware programs.

About the only really out-of-the-norm thing that I did very recently was to change the drive's icon with a PNG file and an autorun.inf at the root.

So yeah, I am at a loss.

I've attached a short video of me navigating through the folders to all of the spots where files should be. Not that you couldn't have used your imaginations, I suppose :)

I'd appreciate any advice or insight!
Title: Re: Files have all disappeared from external drive, but folders are intact...?
Post by: Boggin on September 27, 2018, 12:53:06 am
No attached video but I'm not sure what I can add if Shane was unable to help that other guy, albeit in 2014.

Shane is the author of the Tweaking.com Windows Repair program and I'm well below his expertise.

Did you unplug the ext. drive and did you use the safe to eject option prior to finding the files gone ?
Title: Re: Files have all disappeared from external drive, but folders are intact...?
Post by: ultranothing on October 01, 2018, 02:51:00 pm
Hi! Yes, I always "eject" the drives before unplugging, and I just tried resetting them twice. No luck, still.

I've been away for a few days here but I was hoping some miracle would have happened over time...
Title: Re: Files have all disappeared from external drive, but folders are intact...?
Post by: Boggin on October 01, 2018, 03:00:41 pm
I'll ask my Support to see if he can help.
Title: Re: Files have all disappeared from external drive, but folders are intact...?
Post by: jpm on October 01, 2018, 06:46:36 pm
I'd like to see a copy of that autorun.

I cant think of anything that would do that off hand. I mean I am assuming there were different file types and that you didn't type del *.exe /s someplace. ;)

So if the program said there was nothing deleted and you didn't delete them., they are there. Somehow.

If you right click on the folder that holds everything - are you sure that idf you look at the security tab that the permissions are correct for read and write?

Title: Re: Files have all disappeared from external drive, but folders are intact...?
Post by: jpm on October 01, 2018, 06:48:32 pm
Also can you run this file https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/hidden_file_finder.html

see if that shows them.