Lost video files - any way to get them back?

[Micka88]

I put about 200 files on SanDisk SSD from the camera, imported them to Davinci etc. All perfect. The next day, I looked there and found, that about 30 .MP4 video files completely disappeared, simply not there (I never made any erasing etc.) Unfortunately just before that, I also formatted SD cards on the Sony camera. Quite desperate. I downloaded DiskDrill software and suddenly saw those lost files there. But it was written that I can recover them only after purchasing this app. I did that, but even after long process of scanning with this software, I've never seen them again.

It is a bit sad, because those were quite rare video files (I backuped them on another hard drive as well, but already without the lost files, as I found now. I absolutely don't understand, how such thing could happen at all - a part of video files simply disappears. Would there be any way, how to get them back, or it is hopeless? How such a thing could happen at all?

 

[Mike Boreham]

No it is not hopeless. I haven't done it for a very long time now but as you found, there are recovery apps which will detect the deleted files, and only recover them if you pay. If DiskDrill (which I haven't heard of but may be fine) found them and you paid for the ability to recover, and it hasn't worked, my first move would be to contact DiskDrill for help...it might be something quite simple.

If that doesn't work there are other similar or you could seek professional help which will obviously cost more but may be worth it to you.

For next time, might be worth reviewing your work flow....never format the SD cards until full backup process completed!

 

[Micka88]

Well, a full backup process was completed while even DaVinci played the mentioned files from the disc without any problem. They just disappeared later.

 

[Mike Boreham]

Well, a full backup process was completed while even DaVinci played the mentioned files from the disc without any problem. They just disappeared later.

You mean the primary files disappeared at the same time as your backups? Very odd!

Sounds as though your backups are perhaps sync locations, like Dropbox or iCloud, not proper backups. (If they were on Dropbox or iCloud, they should be recoverable from there for a limited period)

 

[Fishrrman]

In the future, I would have an external drive to which I'd copy the files (as well as to davinci on your "working drive").

If the files don't "exist" in at least TWO places, they are "at risk" of loss.

 

[Micka88]

I mean - if all disappear, it would make more logic but if 30 clips out of 200 disappear from one folder while all of them were normally working (and seen in Davinci) this is beyond odd. Even if in theory accidentally erased they would have been in a trash.

 

[kentzh]

Formatting the SD card with a Sony camera will delete the video files very cleanly, and nothing can be recovered from it. How important is multiple backups.

 

[Micka88]

Formatting the SD card with a Sony camera will delete the video files very cleanly, and nothing can be recovered from it. How important is multiple backups.

But these files were clearly present on SSD disc (and then the next day also copied to another SSD disc and then only SD card was formatted - but I did not know it was already copied with the lost files)