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Lost some data when accidentally overwrite catalog

External SSD with ExFat filesystem

I have a problem with accidentally overwrite directory.


To make case clear a little example with allow to understand.

That looks like the structure on disk

/DirA/FolderA/F1
/DirA/FolderA/F2
/DirB/FolderA/F3
/DirC/
/DirD/


Then i select /DirB/FolderA to copy it to /DirA/FolderA. Finder popup message and I accidentally click on overwrite instead of merge.


Action cause that I don't see F1 and F2 folders and file anymore.


It is very strange, cause I used recovery programs and they not show any of the files from F1 / F2 folders. However I see and other deleted files from other location.


Whats happed? How i can restore the data?

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 12.3

Posted on Mar 26, 2022 9:38 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 26, 2022 10:15 AM

boxymat wrote:

External SSD with ExFat filesystem
I have a problem with accidentally overwrite directory.

To make case clear a little example with allow to understand.
That looks like the structure on disk
/DirA/FolderA/F1
/DirA/FolderA/F2
/DirB/FolderA/F3
/DirC/
/DirD/

Then i select /DirB/FolderA to copy it to /DirA/FolderA. Finder popup message and I accidentally click on overwrite instead of merge.

Action cause that I don't see F1 and F2 folders and file anymore.

It is very strange, cause I used recovery programs and they not show any of the files from F1 / F2 folders. However I see and other deleted files from other location.

Whats happed? How i can restore the data?


restore items backed up with Time Machine

Restore items backed up with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support





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2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 26, 2022 10:15 AM in response to boxymat

boxymat wrote:

External SSD with ExFat filesystem
I have a problem with accidentally overwrite directory.

To make case clear a little example with allow to understand.
That looks like the structure on disk
/DirA/FolderA/F1
/DirA/FolderA/F2
/DirB/FolderA/F3
/DirC/
/DirD/

Then i select /DirB/FolderA to copy it to /DirA/FolderA. Finder popup message and I accidentally click on overwrite instead of merge.

Action cause that I don't see F1 and F2 folders and file anymore.

It is very strange, cause I used recovery programs and they not show any of the files from F1 / F2 folders. However I see and other deleted files from other location.

Whats happed? How i can restore the data?


restore items backed up with Time Machine

Restore items backed up with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support





Mar 26, 2022 3:17 PM in response to leroydouglas

Unfortunately there is no Time Machine backup. Use lot of recovery tools, but not show data to recovery from that specific folder.


What is strange I see every deleted files from that disk in recovery tools. This one which was wipe out by overwrite button in Finder no.


I only delete and move data between folders on that disc, no new writes.


So in general question which i need to know the answer is - If i moved files between folders on the specific disk the data is moved to anothers "cells" on that disk or just only update the partition table with location?

Lost some data when accidentally overwrite catalog

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