Just accidentally deleted some files from a folder - no "undo delete" option in the right-click menu, Ctrl+Z does nothing, and Recycle Bin is empty

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • SecurityQuestion
    PCHF Member
    • Jun 2023
    • 7

    #1

    Just accidentally deleted some files from a folder - no "undo delete" option in the right-click menu, Ctrl+Z does nothing, and Recycle Bin is empty

    (Asus laptop)

    So when it comes to the Recycle Bin I’d already noticed this before, but stupidly hadn’t bothered to find out what was going on since I could always “undo delete” (“just like undo/redo rename”) if I accidentally deleted a file - it’s always empty, and no deleted files ever end up there.

    What is it on some kinda auto-delete-to-save-storage-space setting? I didn’t activate any such option?
    Just checked the “Storage” settings and the “Storage Sense” option was apparently activated, which by its description does include “automatically freeing up space by deleting files you don’t need, incl. temporary files and the Recycle Bin contents” - but wth, I didn’t turn that on?!
    So now I deactivated it of course.

    So yeah now somehow, apparently by falling half asleep or something, I notice there’s a “permanently delete file ?” message on my screen - then after a few seconds (apparently due to accidentally pushing the “ok” button at the lower-right corner of the keyboard?) it just goes “yes” and deletes it, and then I think this is followed by another message that also asks whether to delete some other file, and it automatically also goes “yes”;

    no way I ended up selecting several files in the folder while “half asleep” and then chose the “delete” option on the drop-down menu? Very confusing situation.

    And so now that file and apparently at least one other is gone, there’s no way to “undo delete” them this time, and there’s nothing in the Recycle Bin.
    No “previous versions” of the folder available either.
    (The “Backup using File History” option in the Settings is not activated, and upon clicking “+” on “add drive” it says “no available drives found”.)

    So anything I could do to undo these deletions?
    Could those files be there but “hidden” in some way? Either in Recycle Bin, or the original folder, or some other place?

    For what it’s worth, it was a .pro file, i.e. a DirectMusic Producer project - which was in fact open via DirectMusic Producer when those deletions took place, and still is.
    After I just clicked on “save the project”, another [project].pro file appeared in the folder, as expected - however I’m still a bit confused by this situation and not sure if some data may have been lost with the deletion of the previous [project].pro file;
    or how a file opened by an app even could’ve been deleted at all? Usually it prevents you from doing anything to files that are open somewhere?
    This software is old, and by all reports kinda buggy, but I’m not sure that accounts for what occurred here?

    Also I’m not exactly sure which / how many other files got deleted during that incident, since it all flew by so fast.

    So even though I seem to have a sufficient backup of this folder somewhere else, it’d be cool to find a way to see which files were deleted, and kinda understand what happened here at all lol
  • Rustys
    PCHF Member
    • Jul 2016
    • 7862

    #2
    You can try using a recovery program called Recuva that I have used several times.

    Recover and un-delete files with Recuva, the award-winning file recovery tool by the makers of CCleaner. Download the latest version today.


    No have you checked to make sure that the Recycle Bin is properly configured?
    Right click on the Recycle Bin and select properties.

    Some Apps can delete files that are the same name in the same folder directory. Normally will ask to overwrite the file with the new one.

    If you use some third-party cleaning program (including the OS’s internal cleaners) depending on how and if they can just delete the files with or without confirmation and do not put the deleted file into the Recycle Bin.

    External drives unless configured do not put files into the Recycle Bin.

    Lack of space on a drive can cause files to be deleted for new files to be created.

    Use the drive as little as possible to prevent the space that they files was in form being overwritten and lost.

    Comment

    • Bruce
      PCHF Member
      • Oct 2017
      • 10697

      #3
      also, make sure in File Explorer, Options, you have show hidden files and folders turned on.

      as stated, use of the same drive you intend on running Recuva on, greatly reduces your chances of it finding the file still intact. another nail in the coffin is the size of the file, the larger it was, the lower your chances, and being a Producer project, I’m thinking it wasn’t small.

      even though the horse has bolted on this occasion, moving forward, you may want to consider a backup regime that covers you better. for example, keeping the file in OneDrive or Dropbox would allow file versioning.

      hope Recuva has success. fingers crossed. (y)

      Comment

      • PeterOz
        PCHF Technical Response Team
        • Mar 2021
        • 4181

        #4
        Originally posted by SecurityQuestion
        I notice there’s a “permanently delete file ?” message on my screen
        This is normally because the file is to large for the recycle bin.

        Comment

        • Bruce
          PCHF Member
          • Oct 2017
          • 10697

          #5
          @SecurityQuestion - you logged in today but haven’t updated - still need help?

          Comment

          • SecurityQuestion
            PCHF Member
            • Jun 2023
            • 7

            #6
            Hm well, installed Recuva and ran it (pretty much immediately that day after reading these replies) - it listed a bunch of files deleted from that folder way earlier (in various stages of recoverability), but no trace of that .pro file;
            Originally posted by Bruce
            as stated, use of the same drive you intend on running Recuva on, greatly reduces your chances of it finding the file still intact. another nail in the coffin is the size of the file, the larger it was, the lower your chances, and being a Producer project, I’m thinking it wasn’t small.
            It’s like 380 KB.
            Wouldn’t it have shown it on the list even if “unrecoverable”? Those .wvp files that showed on the list were like 1MB+.

            Hm weird, maybe it really was the App pulling some kinda thing while the project was open - still don’t know though.
            Originally posted by Rustys
            Some Apps can delete files that are the same name in the same folder directory. Normally will ask to overwrite the file with the new one.
            Originally posted by PeterOz
            This is normally because the file is to large for the recycle bin.
            Well it was less than 1MB, so don’t think that’s too large? Also sth triggered the deletion in the first place…
            Originally posted by Rustys
            If you use some third-party cleaning program (including the OS’s internal cleaners) depending on how and if they can just delete the files with or without confirmation and do not put the deleted file into the Recycle Bin.

            External drives unless configured do not put files into the Recycle Bin.

            Lack of space on a drive can cause files to be deleted for new files to be created.
            Hm, there was no lack of space, and it was all on the main C drive in this case.
            Is Windows Defender a “cleaning program” or is there a difference to an AV? Either way never experienced it doing something like this.
            Originally posted by SecurityQuestion
            What is it on some kinda auto-delete-to-save-storage-space setting? I didn’t activate any such option?
            Just checked the “Storage” settings and the “Storage Sense” option was apparently activated, which by its description does include “automatically freeing up space by deleting files you don’t need, incl. temporary files and the Recycle Bin contents” - but wth, I didn’t turn that on?!
            So now I deactivated it of course.
            Originally posted by Rustys
            No have you checked to make sure that the Recycle Bin is properly configured?
            Right click on the Recycle Bin and select properties.
            Originally posted by Bruce
            also, make sure in File Explorer, Options, you have show hidden files and folders turned on.
            Files still not showing up in Recycle Bin even after I changed that option in the Settings.. weird.

            The “Don’t move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted.” in RB’s “Properties” was and is deactivated.

            (Just remembered, a few weeks ago there was some kind message about the Recycle Bin being “corrupted”, but I think it got restored right then and there.)

            Didn’t find File Explorer’s “Options” or that particular setting anywhere - not in “Properties” either.
            Right-clicked all over the place, but can’t seem to find it lol…
            Originally posted by Bruce
            even though the horse has bolted on this occasion, moving forward, you may want to consider a backup regime that covers you better. for example, keeping the file in OneDrive or Dropbox would allow file versioning.

            hope Recuva has success. fingers crossed. (y)
            Well even though Recuva didn’t produce anything here (as said, larger and earlier deleted files did show up, but this one somehow not - could that be because it was some App-driven “deletion” that worked differently from a regular one? I’ve no idea tbh…), in this case I had backups so there was no real loss this time, whew;
            and it’s very useful in general for the future of course.

            Should check out those 2 backup methods as well.

            Comment

            • SecurityQuestion
              PCHF Member
              • Jun 2023
              • 7

              #7
              Btw to the extent that matters, this whole thing (folder, files etc.) is directly related to the downloaded stuff that my previous thread was about: https://pchelpforum.net/t/security-m...7/#post-179036

              Could be that that DMP app is buggy and was discontinued in 2007, although who knows, not sure.

              Comment

              • Rustys
                PCHF Member
                • Jul 2016
                • 7862

                #8
                You can DISM then an SFC to correct some errors.

                Two things you can do if you feel the system is infected.
                [ol]
                [li]Post in the Malware section following the instructions in the Sticky thread at the top.[/li][li]Do a complete wipe and fresh install of the OS, drives (in the proper order), programs and files.[/li][/ol]

                Comment

                • Rustys
                  PCHF Member
                  • Jul 2016
                  • 7862

                  #9
                  Do you need any further assistance with this issue.

                  Comment

                  • Bruce
                    PCHF Member
                    • Oct 2017
                    • 10697

                    #10
                    Closing - no activity.
                    To request a re-open, go to Members > Staff Members, click a Staffer then Start Conversation and quote thread name.

                    Comment

                    Working...