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User profile for user: Freymeyer1331
Freymeyer1331 Author
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deleted all 'my files' by mistake and the trash - can I restore to a previous version of the folder...?

Hi - I did something monumentally stupid a couple of days ago - I was having a good clear out and reorganisation of my drives. I use an external hard drive for all working files, but all my imagery I keep on the hard drive... and then for some dumb reason I deleted everything in 'my files'... and then deleted the trash :-(... I've tried wondershare, but its pretty hit and miss and of course i get no file names, so i just have this huge clump of mixed up stuff. Is there any way the Mac keeps everything else where...? Or a restore of some sort can be executed...? And no I didn't back this up to anything... I know, I know!!!


Thanks in advance for any help.

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Jul 27, 2015 4:28 PM

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User profile for user: Ralph Landry1
Ralph Landry1
User level: Level 8
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Posted on Jul 27, 2015 4:32 PM

Mac OS X does not hide directories and files in case a user decides they are needed after deletion. Once deleted and then the trash is emptied they are gone.


If and that is a very big IF the drive has not been written to since the deletion it may be possible for a data recovery specialist to get the material back, but that will not be cheap. And the caveat is that the cannot have been written to since the deletion.

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User profile for user: Ralph Landry1
Ralph Landry1
User level: Level 8
41,844 points

Jul 27, 2015 4:32 PM in response to Freymeyer1331

Mac OS X does not hide directories and files in case a user decides they are needed after deletion. Once deleted and then the trash is emptied they are gone.


If and that is a very big IF the drive has not been written to since the deletion it may be possible for a data recovery specialist to get the material back, but that will not be cheap. And the caveat is that the cannot have been written to since the deletion.

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User profile for user: Kappy
Kappy
User level: Level 10
361,741 points

Jul 27, 2015 4:32 PM in response to Freymeyer1331

Sorry, but it doesn't. Once you Empty the Trash files are removed permanently. Recovery software can at best recover files that remain intact until overwritten. This happens when you continue using the drive after erasing the files.


General File Recovery



If you stop using the drive it's possible to recover deleted files that have not been overwritten by using recovery software such as MAC Data Recovery, Data Rescue II, File Salvage or TechTool Pro. Each of the preceding come on bootable CDs to enable usage without risk of writing more data to the hard drive. Two free alternatives are Disk Drill and TestDisk. Look for them and demos at MacUpdate or CNET Downloads. Recovery software usually provide trial versions that enable you to determine if the software would help before actually paying for it. Beyond this or if the drive has completely failed, then you would need to send the drive to a recovery service which is very expensive.


The longer the hard drive remains in use and data are written to it, the greater the risk your deleted files will be overwritten.


Also visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on Data Recovery.

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deleted all 'my files' by mistake and the trash - can I restore to a previous version of the folder...?

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