undo rm

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Level 1

60 points

undo rm

An external USB drive has three partitions, one with a name of two words. For some reason, the OS created a new partition on an internal drive with the same name. Several programs, looking for the external drive, began pointing instead to the new internal partition. While the OS X finder generally sees the external drive by its original name, during some operations it adds the number 1 after the drive name.

IAC, thinking I was clever, I used the terminal to remove all the files on the new internal partition. It was late and I was tired and instead I deleted all the files on the external drive. I have not touched anything on the drive since this happened.

I am currently using Data Rescue II to try to recover the files, but a first scan seems to indicate that it scanned the wrong drive.

Is there a way to recover these files in the terminal?

PowerMac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Mar 21, 2008 12:24 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 21, 2008 4:09 AM in response to bob browne

bob browne wrote:
...............
I am currently using Data Rescue II to try to recover the files, but a first scan seems to indicate that it scanned the wrong drive.

Is there a way to recover these files in the terminal?

Using a third-party recovery utility is the way to go here. Trying to recover these files using terminal would be near impossible as you would have to recreate directory structures and what all to such a degree that recovering files deleted with rm is impossible from the command line. My understanding is that Disk Warrior is the standout utility for file recovery.

Command line jockeys all know the sinking feeling of dumping an entire volume of data due to a mistaken or careless slip of the RETURN key.

I empathize with you and wish you luck recovering your files.

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Answer 2

bob browne Author

Level 1

60 points

Mar 21, 2008 5:03 AM in response to mistersquid

Many thanks for your helpful (and sympathetic) reply. Fortunately, I have both utilities, so I will try both. Fortunately, nothing was on the disk that can't be (with a lot of blood and sweat) replaced. I'd rather keep the blood and sweat for other things, though.

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