where to even begin

I store all my files on external storage drives.

I have been working on a Lenovo L440 repurposed (Covid) Thinkpad notebook which has Linux Lite installed.  At home I’m working on Word Home and Office 2007 on a Windows 8.1 Novatech 64 bit PC. I also have to work at the library on their Lenovo PCs which use Windows 2010.  It’s all been a bit difficult working like this but I haven’t had any choice. My specs are below.

The problem:-

while I was working on the Linux Lite Lenovo L440, I deleted a folder from my 1 TB WD external drive.The folder contained loads of sub and sub sub etc folders and files. Because of the mix of computers and software involved I don’t know where to start trying to recover the deleted stuff.

I know absolutely nothing about Linux Lite, such as how to install anything, how to update files, how to use the ‘terminal’ etc and currently don’t have the time to start learning.

I’ve got a version of Ubuntu on a disc and have used that to recover files from a ‘dead’ pc, could I use this on a ‘live’ pc?

I’ve got Macrium Reflect installed on my Windows 8.1 pc and was hoping that I could do an ‘image’ of the external storage drive so that at least I have a copy taken of the driver immediately after the deletion but it will only let me do a drive image of the PC.

Can you offer any help as to where I should start?

.

LENOVO

Model – 20ASS0CF00

Computer Type – notebook

host name -  linuxlite – ThinkPad-L440

architecture – x86_64

number of monitors - 1

Linux Lite 6.0

Kernel Release 5.15.0-33-generic

File manager for the Xfce desktop environment is Thunar 4.16.10

GUI

Desktop Environment - XFCE (4.16.3)

Windowing System- X11

Window Manager - xfwm4

Display Manager – lightdm

Packages

system 2116 (APT)

flatpak -

Python -86

Python Version 3.10.4

My home PC spec is as follows:-

Windows 8.1 64-bit

Intel Core i5 4460 @ 3.20GHz           

8.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 798MHz (11-11-11-28)

Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. H81M-DS2V (SOCKET 0)       

HP w2207 (1680x1050@59Hz)

Intel HD Graphics 4600 (Gigabyte)

465GB TOSHIBA DT01ACA050 (SATA)           

14GB hp USB FLASH DRIVE USB Device (USB)

ATAPI iHAS124 E

Can you plug the drive into a Windows machine? If so, try https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva

Edited by xrobwx71, 21 February 2024 - 07:18 AM.

When on Windows look at the root of the external drive. Is there a folder named ".Trash-1000"? If yes, then open that folder to see if you files are there. If on linux you will need to enable viewing hidden files/folders.

When on Windows look at the root of the external drive. Is there a folder named ".Trash-1000"? If yes, then open that folder to see if you files are there. If on linux you will need to enable viewing hidden files/folders.

Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't realize that.