iMac 27" late 2013 "Someone to work with me to find my original files."

Thank you so much Mr. Rkaufmann87!

(I'm going to keep you and everyone posted about my progress. This was HUGE!)

• I found the opening scene of my documentary. And, so many other files I knew were there. I found them by date once I found what folder they were in. My system created folders of what I had moved and labeled them; A, B, C, and D, and it was in E! ...there are more folders, F, and so on. I kept looking for the date I imported this file into my computer and it was there!

• I ran other searches with FAF (FindAnyFile) and they proved to be insightful as to what to type in to get the results I was looking for. Maybe I'll have to post them for others to learn in the future...but they have you, Mr. Rkaufmann87.

• I am amazed at FAF (FindAnyFile). What an AWESOME app!

• Partitions created automatically on my external hard drives made a significant difference. I was only told to run FirstAid on one drive, so I was thinking if one needed repairing, there must be repairs necessary on the rest I can see.

Thank you.

1. I will try the steps you've outlined, those which I haven't yet.
2. TimeMachine was my go-to...until I couldn't find them on TmieMachine or on my LaCie 3TB Fusion Drive. This has been my backup but recently both TimeMachine. My hard drive seems corrupted. I haven't had success finding those files.
3. I've been diligent in going through each file at one time, every folder, and methods I learned about from reading forums and here and online chats. I understand the professionals (like myself) are having the most difficulty and fret not locating them.
4. I hate the duplicated files, but am hoping this was the only method when programming APPLE implemented to not lose files and/or have them disappear...?

Let you know how I do. Thank you so much.

I always keep trash clean and emptied. What I throw/threw away whatever or whenever I could. I felt it freed up space when my file sizes are larger than most people use or need. Then, I discovered the duplicating of files and folders...UGH!

Will I be able to see them due to the photo issues and/or iphoto issues and/or if I had these saved in documents and then moved them to pictures? All went south when I moved them. Do I look in the folder I moved them from or to? I thought if I use the original file name I'd see them. Nothing yet. I'll keep looking! Any other helpful hints?

THANK YOU!