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All the files on my desktop disappeared

C

chefwong

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 17, 2008
477
32
Just short of using TM - I've looked in the trash and it's not there. There are files there but not the folders/files I had on my desktop.

Hmm...where do you think these files went ?
 
the file fairy took them.

kidding, are the files there when you look in the finder or just on the desktop you see?
 
Not on the desktop nor in finder/users/user/desktop

Tech Support just had me force quit and relaunch finder....no dice.
It was literally 10 minutes I was looking at my desktop and when I went back to it, poof, clean blank desktop. Apple support 2nd level seems to be stumped.

Spotlight, etc is not pulling anything up.

Docs, pics, -- all other folders in the users folder appear untouched. Still there ?
 
chefwong said:
Just short of using TM - I've looked in the trash and it's not there. There are files there but not the folders/files I had on my desktop.

Hmm...where do you think these files went ?
Click to expand...

Just wondering, why do you not want to just use TM? You realize, of course, that you don't have to use it for full system restore, you can also just restore files.
 
TM drive is sitting in the office.....

Got of the line with Apple already. They don't have a clue how it could have occured. Running Super Duper on my MBP as we speak.
 
Maybe too obvious of a question, but are you using Spaces? Are you sure you didn't just pop over to a new Space?
 
Zerozal said:
Maybe too obvious of a question, but are you using Spaces? Are you sure you didn't just pop over to a new Space?
Click to expand...

The desktop stays the same, doesn't it?

I'd be worried about drive failure if files are randomly disappearing - what does the SMART status in Disk Utility say?
 
Ran all tests in Disk Utility.....ran permission check, etc. All tests passed clean.

Headed out to the office this morning to grab my TM hard drive and I'm back in business.

Still weary as I have looked on the *net* and I don't have a logical answer on who, what or where these files went. Files should just not disappear off into thin air...
 
chefwong said:
Ran all tests in Disk Utility.....ran permission check, etc. All tests passed clean.
Click to expand...

And you also checked the S.M.A.R.T. status of the drive? What did it say?

DiskUtilitySMART.png
 
Same thing happened to me. OSX 10.4.11, Powerbook on its second HD. All of a sudden they weren't there any more. Desktop folder for me (the only user) is gone, too, along with about 95% of the files in my Documents folder. Nothing in spotlight. Ran terminal - ls command reveals nothing. Disk util comes up OK. Tried running it in target disk mode with another mac - nada. Take it to the genius bar - no clue, never seen anything like this before. Google like crazy - nothing.

Thank God for backups(even if they're a little stale)!
 
Time Machine Saved the day...on that one for me....

I used Time Machine for that purpose and every 3-5 weeks, I just run Super Duper as well...
 
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