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

Reply
11 replies

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.

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.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Folders wont open?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.