Windows 10: Accidentally copied / moved some files: find out folders, files?

Well, I myself do not have more information. Something was transferred, a message popped up. That's all I can remember, very sorry.

It happened in FreeCommander. And FreeCommander used - I guess - the Win move or copy function for that transfer. I had looks for such a undo option, but cannot find any. Where is it in Win 10, in Win Explorer?

Many thaks for the link. But...actually I cannot imagine at the moment how an image could help. One would have to manually check many files, the ones which have changed, were moved, copied since the last back up / image. Or am I missing anything?

Yes, at about 2:20 PM today, about an hour ago.

Ah, yes, file time and date of the destination items are changed when transferring an item. I will try it, good idea.

 

I really know what it's like believe me.

On my laptop, when it had Windows 7, and I was using the built in backup to create my weekly system images, I once moved the folder by accident, while browsing using the Navigation Pane and the damn track pads tap function did a drag & drop of the backup folder into another folder. I didn't know which one, because the nav pane automatically expands on mouse over. Plus I only found out after repeated fails when backing up, because the backup folder cannot be backed up, and causes a loop error(a backup of a backup of a backup, et infinitum...

 

Yes, unbelievable what can happen...

But, (I guess) I made it, I found the files (created at that time), obviously there were copied, they were equal by content.

So, UltraFileSearch seems to be a good, fast program (with date / time filter, creation time, modification, etc.) for such accidents. And to make a file / folder list respectively an image (list, not of the content) of your system one can use "Cathy" the fastest / best catalog program I know.

Very many thanks for your great help!

 

Don't forget to investigate that Macrium backup. It will save you heartaches down the road.

 

You're welcome*Smile

The idea actually came to me, when I was in the shower, as the good ones(ideas) usually do, for many people)*Shock

 

Just a thought. If you are using Free Commander there is a history of folders you have visited. Folder->History. This may give you a clue

 

Yes, thank you, I have downloaded it.

Yes, I guess I should take more showers, great idea! And thank godness the Win copy / move function creates new times / dates, I assume, most or some of the synchronization programs and may be other transfer programs (e.g. FastCopy when moving) do not.

Yes, thank you, so one could find out which folder was open some time ago and narrow the items which might be transferred. But if they were moved it will be difficult as well.

 

Enter, what an image will do is allow you to put your system back the way it was before you made the mess.

IOW, Macrium will back up your system (create an image) whenever you tell it to. When you're going to make a huge change to your system, tell Macrium to back everything up, then proceed. It doesn't take long for a backup and if you make a mess, you can put the system back the way it was.

 

Images are usually not used on data disks. You need a file & folder backup. The free version of Macrium does not do this. I use FreeFileSync for this. FreeFileSync It's a good program but be careful of the installation. It will try to install unwanted software.

 

That's a decent one. Believe it or not, MS still has this offered free, and I use it all the time. Very fast and accurate.

Download SyncToy 2.1 from Official Microsoft Download Center

 

Yes that is also a good one.

 

Yes, yes, but how could one know when / if one will do such a mess? Even if I had have a complete back up, it would be much work to find those files accidentally moved / copied.

Thanks for the link, yes, one of the best or the best freeware sync program besides of the crap at installation.

Thank you for the link, I will try it.

 

You don't know; that's why you always need a fresh image/backup.

Here's how it works:

Most of us here are Insiders, so when we get a new Build, we back up everything just before we start the Build update. That way, if something goes wrong with the update, we can use the image/backup to get back to where we were (with everything intact) before we tried the update.

Want to install a new program you're unfamiliar with? Back everything up so that if something goes wrong with the program installation and you hose your system (make a mess), you can restore the system with your image/backup.

In order for "backup and restore" to work properly, you must make regular backups; some back up daily, some weekly and some monthly. However, if you want to be completely safe, create a backup before any major file work.

Differential backup is supported in the free version of Macrium; incremental backup is not. Here's a link on how to tell the difference: The benefits of differential and incremental backup (Differential, Incremental)

 

Alright, thank you very much for the explanation and the link, Wynona.

 

You're welcome. Good luck and if you have more questions, just ask. There'll always be someone willing and able to help you out.