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My Passport external HD showing files as shortcuts

907 Views 11 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Oddba11, Jul 29, 2017

embrown1221

Discussion Starter · Jul 28, 2017

I need help, I am in tears! I had to backup my computer to an external HD recently and erase the computer harddrive. Now that I've received a new computer, the files on the external are showing as shortcuts and will not open. It still says there is content, however. What do I do? I absolutely need these files.

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Macboatmaster

· #2 · Jul 28, 2017

What backup system did you use and what did you backup
A system image is a backup but a backup is not necessarily as system image
If you made system image backup of the old computer it will not restore to a new computer

You say you erased the hard drive but then you continue to say you have a new computer not merely a new hard drive

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embrown1221

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 28, 2017

It is a new computer. I manually drug my pictures and documents folders over to the passport bars drive

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Macboatmaster

· #4 · Jul 28, 2017 (Edited)

Were they OK when you dragged and dropped and where did you drag and drop from
the actual folders or the Libraries

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embrown1221

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 28, 2017

I believe the actual folders and I checked and double checked when I did it

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Macboatmaster

· #6 · Jul 28, 2017

Please appreciate before you proceed that the data is at risk
There is no way of avoiding this without you paying for expensive recovery

Do you wish to proceed

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embrown1221

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 28, 2017

I appreciate the help but I would rather pay for the recovery if my data is at risk. I just want to know it's recoverable

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Macboatmaster

· #8 · Jul 28, 2017

Yes but it will cost you serious money

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managed

· #9 · Jul 28, 2017

@Macboatmaster Would taking ownership of the folders & files work ?

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Macboatmaster

· #10 · Jul 29, 2017

IMHO what is needed is clear certain attributes and set others but as I said there is always a risk, as you know and in view of this in the opening post

I absolutely need these files.

I thought it best to point out that there is that risk
As you say taking ownership is also a possibility but usually data shown only as shortcuts is due to other problems I think that will not be solved by ownership

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managed

· #11 · Jul 29, 2017

Macboatmaster said:
IMHO what is needed is clear certain attributes and set others but as I said there is always a risk, as you know and in view of this in the opening post

I thought it best to point out that there is that risk
As you say taking ownership is also a possibility but usually data shown only as shortcuts is due to other problems I think that will not be solved by ownership

Just wanted to make the suggestion mate. As you say if the data is vital there is always a risk.
What about making an Image of the external drive and then working with that ?

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Oddba11

· #12 · Jul 29, 2017

What are the actual file sizes? Sounds like the files weren't "copied" to the external, but whatever process was used only created shortcuts. If that's the case, then each "file" will be small (ie: all 4KB or less and they will all be the same).

I've seen this happen before when not using backup software and by using "drag and drop" instead of copy/paste.

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