Baczzz

Q: Folders wont open?

so after my startup chime wasn't sounding i reset the PRAM. after that it worked. so i logged on and went to open one of my folders on my desktop but when i clicked on it a question mark appeared on top of it. it did the same to the others after i clicked it. before the PRAM reset they were fine and i could get into them. these files are important to me and i need them back. i've tried spotlight search, EasyFind, terminal, finder and more but none worked. i also cant find any of the contents inside of those folders. one folder has at least 42GB worth of files in it and i can't find them any where. none of these folders are anywhere else only my computer

My mac specs are

Mid 2012 Macbook Pro 15 inch

2.6 GHz Intel Core i7

8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

Intel HD Graphics 4000 1536 MB

please help me with this i need to get those folders back.

Thanks!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Jul 5, 2016 7:58 PM

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Q: Folders wont open?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Carolyn Samit,Apple recommended

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Jul 5, 2016 8:01 PM in response to Baczzz
    Level 10 (120,854 points)
    Apple Music
    Jul 5, 2016 8:01 PM in response to Baczzz

    Shut down your Mac then wait ten seconds and restart while holding down the Option key. That should launch the Startup Manager window where you can select the startup disk (MacintoshHD) then click Restart.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jul 5, 2016 9:32 PM in response to Baczzz
    Level 10 (207,931 points)
    Applications
    Jul 5, 2016 9:32 PM in response to Baczzz

    First, please restart the computer if you haven't already done so since you noticed the problem. That might be all you need to do.

    Otherwise, select one of the items in question in the Finder and open the Info window. If the Modified date is January 24, 1984, see below.

    Back up all data before proceeding.

    Select the text on the line below by dragging across it. Don't include the blank space at the end of the line. Only the text should be highlighted.

    touch -t 198001010000

    Copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C.

    Launch the Terminal application in any one of the following ways:

    ☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

    ☞ In the Finder, select Go Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

    ☞ Open LaunchPad and start typing the name.

    Paste into the Terminal window by pressing command-V, then press the space bar.

    Now switch to the Finder and and select all the item(s) in question. If there are thousands of items, only select a hundred or so. Drag into the Terminal window. More text will be added to what you entered.

    Click in the Terminal window to activate it, then press return.

    Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign ($) to appear. You can then quit Terminal.

    Relaunch the Finder. You should now be able to manage the files as usual.

  • by Baczzz,

    Baczzz Baczzz Jul 9, 2016 12:48 AM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Notebooks
    Jul 9, 2016 12:48 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

    ok thanks ill try this

  • by Baczzz,

    Baczzz Baczzz Jul 9, 2016 12:50 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Notebooks
    Jul 9, 2016 12:50 AM in response to Linc Davis

    ill try this thanks

  • by Baczzz,

    Baczzz Baczzz Jul 9, 2016 1:06 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Notebooks
    Jul 9, 2016 1:06 AM in response to Linc Davis

    well, theres a problem. i dragged the folders onto the desktop but i completely forget it removes them from the desktop and now i can't find them at all...

  • by Luis Sequeira1,

    Luis Sequeira1 Luis Sequeira1 Jul 9, 2016 2:05 AM in response to Baczzz
    Level 6 (11,948 points)
    Jul 9, 2016 2:05 AM in response to Baczzz

    Sorry, but you're not making sense:

    Baczzz wrote:

     

    well, theres a problem. i dragged the folders onto the desktop but i completely forget it removes them from the desktop and now i can't find them at all...

     

    How can dragging things TO the desktop remove them?

  • by Baczzz,

    Baczzz Baczzz Jul 9, 2016 2:12 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Notebooks
    Jul 9, 2016 2:12 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

    no I meant they were on the desktop BAR at the bottom of the screen, i dragged them off and it removed from he desktop so now i can't find it

  • by dialabrain,

    dialabrain dialabrain Jul 9, 2016 2:19 AM in response to Baczzz
    Level 5 (5,920 points)
    Mac App Store
    Jul 9, 2016 2:19 AM in response to Baczzz

    FWIW, the "desktop BAR" at the bottom of the screen is called the Dock. It's hard to help with bad info.

  • by Luis Sequeira1,

    Luis Sequeira1 Luis Sequeira1 Jul 9, 2016 2:21 AM in response to Baczzz
    Level 6 (11,948 points)
    Jul 9, 2016 2:21 AM in response to Baczzz

    That is called the Dock.

    You can drag things off the Dock but the good news for you is that doing it only removes them from the Dock, it does not delete the actual folders and files. They remain wherever they were.

    You can type command-space to start a search and type part of the name of ond such folder. If it appears then select and press entrr to open it or command-R to reveal in the Finder.

  • by Baczzz,

    Baczzz Baczzz Jul 9, 2016 2:21 AM in response to dialabrain
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Notebooks
    Jul 9, 2016 2:21 AM in response to dialabrain

    well I'm sorry but i forgot the name...

  • by Baczzz,

    Baczzz Baczzz Jul 9, 2016 2:23 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Notebooks
    Jul 9, 2016 2:23 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

    I've already searched for it and i know it only removes from the dock