Retrieval of files from emptied trash

Question

I sent all files in Documents to trash and emptied it because I never used "Documents". I had all my needed files in "My Documents". After emptying all "Documents" from trash, I found my "My Documents" folder was gone. The "Documents"folder was still there, but of course, empty. Is there any to retrieve the "My Documents" folder? I thought the "Document" and "My Documents" folders to be separate folders. Looks like I made a big mistake. Any chance of retrieving the files in " My Documents?
Most of my photos are backed up, and not lost. I had no back up for the text files. Thank you for any help I may receive on this problem.
Darrell Byrd

Answer 1

Try using an application such as [Data Rescue II|http://www.prosofteng.com/products/data_rescue.php] or [FileSalvage|http://subrosasoft.com/OSXSoftware/index.php?mainpage=product_info&productsid=1]. Both have free trial versions that let you see if the software will help before you decide to buy. You will also need a second hard drive equal to or larger in size than your first drive.
It is critical that you do not use the computer or even turn it on until you have rescued your files. Files only have the directory reference to them removed when you empty the trash and are still present on the computer. However, their space is marked as available to any other file creation done on the computer (even done by you booting the computer) and there is risk that your files will be overwritten by the computer.