Question Help With a Specific Command Line for Windows File Recovery

[Mr Kingsbury]

While trying to backup a folder from a dying external HDD, to a good backup drive, an emergency (my Wife having a severe allergic reaction) distracted me in the middle of the process. By the time I got back to it, several hours later, I wasn't thinking straight, had though all was copied over, and proceeded to shut things down (and as luck would have it, the "dying" drive died). The switching of the folder was first done by copying everything to my laptop first (much faster than copying directly to the second external drive), and the plan was to copy from the laptop to the new drive at my leisure. It made sense in my head at the time.

Well, turns out I never got around to copying from the laptop to the second drive, and to make space on my outdated laptop, with very limited storage, I deleted the folder from said laptop.

DERN!!!! Too late...

Now that I have Windows File Recovery installed and running, I have another problem. I cannot figure the correct syntax to maybe recover what I lost. I'm doing my best to not use the laptop so as to not overwrite any sectors(?) containing the delete data.

This is where I had the folder on my laptop before screwing up: "C:\Users\John\Desktop\Convert\(NOT RESIZED)", the folder in there was named: "Animated", and the files within that were .mp4.

As time is of the essence, could someone please type out the correct command to use after "winfr C: E: ", for me to copy and hopefully use?

And later when I have time, I'll try and learn how to do it on my own.

 

[Ralston18]

Update your post to include more information and detail about what you have tried with respect to "the correct command to use".

I believe you are referring to the switches...

FYI:

https://www.howtogeek.com/680458/how-to-use-microsofts-windows-file-recovery-on-windows-10/

Helpful to know what you have tried and seeing that may reveal some error of omission or commission.

 

[Mr Kingsbury]

"Switches" is what I meant. This is the first time I've used this program. And from what I gather, the longer I go without recovering the folder, the less likely it'll be recovered. This laptop is the only one I have, and the only way for me to connect with the world, so for me to pay bills, buy supplies, email my niece, I have to use it every day. We don't have cell service, no land line, don't even have electric service. So I'm sure that I do not have time to take a programing class, before I lose my folder forever.

Also, I didn't want to randomly keep trying different commands, or "switches", for fear of breaking something else.

What I tried so far is, using CDM as admin: "winfr C: E: /n \Users\John\Desktop\Convert\(NOT RESIZED)\Animated\", "winfr C: E: /n \Users\\John\Desktop\Convert\(NOT RESIZED)\Animated\", "winfr C: E: /n \Users\\John\Desktop\Convert\(NOT RESIZED)\Animated\*.mp4", "winfr C: E: /n \Users\\Convert\(NOT RESIZED)\Animated\", and a few other variations.

This was the best I could understand from the directions from the site you provided (already found the site).

Only result I get is "There was an error parsing your command. Please check /? for more information and try again."

 

[Ralston18]

This: "We don't have cell service, no land line, don't even have electric service"

???

= = = =

Extracting what you have attempted via Post #3, I get:

winfr C: E: /n \Users\John\Desktop\Convert\(NOT RESIZED)\Animated\

winfr C: E: /n \Users\\John\Desktop\Convert\(NOT RESIZED)\Animated\

winfr C: E: /n \Users\\John\Desktop\Convert\(NOT RESIZED)\Animated\*.mp4

winfr C: E: /n \Users\\Convert\(NOT RESIZED)\Animated\

= = = =

Take a close look at the command lines that you are using. Spacing, syntax, and punctuation matter.

No typos allowed.

You must also have valid/correct path and file names.

Run as admin so you have all of the necessary rights.

Refer to the grey boxes in the provided link. The contained commands can be copied and pasted. However, you must carefully edit the commands to change drive letters, file types, file names, etc. as applicable to your environment.

Also look for other winfr links and tutorials. Sometimes a different explanation or example will make things clearer.

Microsoft:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...recovery-61f5b28a-f5b8-3cc2-0f8e-a63cb4e1d4c4

Should help you learn more about the commands and correct syntax.

Focus first on just searching for and finding the files.

Full disclosure: there is risk in that, especially if the drive is indeed dying and becoming more corrupted with use of any sort.

FYI: Not sure about your file and folder naming - as a rule using punction is not permitted but there are some exceptions. Even then, using punction in folder and file names best avoided. Hyphens and underscores at best.

E.g. (NOT RESIZED) - likely too late now and may be moot.