Files have vanished from my Desktop / Document folder

Really not sure where to post this....
Something very strange and bad has just happened to my computer. I plugged in my external Lacie hard drive to start a backup and, using the app that came with it, it informed me that there was no room left on the drive, shall it delete the back up and start over which is pretty standard. However as soon as it stared, the files that were on my desktop disappeared completely so all i now have is the back drop picture.
It looks as if the app. has treated my home folder the way it would usually treat the external HD that I use for back up - it's deleted from my files alphabetically (first Apps, then Desktop then Documents and it deleted a couple of entries from my library folder before I quit). Although they aren't there anymore I don't think they've been deleted as nothing went into my trash. It almost seems like the Lacie app. has used a terminal command to 'forget' the files. Anybody got any ideas? I'm set to lose over 6 years worth of files...

Jay Robinson2 wrote:
I don't think they've been deleted as nothing went into my trash
Unfortunately, an rm command will remove without using .Trash. But that seems unlikely.
Launch Utilities/Terminal and at the prompt, type *ls ~Documents* and see what is there.
-mj

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