How can Windows let me move files to what appears to be a HD black hole? 57 GB gone!!!

Understanding Unexpected Data Loss During File Operations on Windows: A Case Study

Introduction

Data management and transfer are fundamental tasks for Windows users, yet problems can sometimes occur that lead to the inadvertent loss of important files. In this article, we explore a real-world scenario where a seemingly straightforward file transfer resulted in significant data disappearance, delving into possible causes and best practices to prevent similar issues.

Case Overview

A user attempting to restore files from an old laptop’s SSD encountered a perplexing problem. After copying approximately 57 GB of personal data—comprising photos, documents, and other files—onto a desktop system and attempting to move these files back onto the original machine’s C-drive, the files seemingly vanished. Despite using standard movement commands, the data was irretrievably lost, leaving behind no trace and raising questions about Windows’ file handling processes.

Key Events

Data Transfer Initiation: The user copied files from a 2013 laptop’s SSD to a desktop computer with sufficient storage capacity.
System Reinstallation: Followed by installing Windows 10 on the target device’s C-drive.
File Movement: Files were moved via cut/paste from an external USB connection back to the C-drive, which was connected to the desktop.
Unexpected Disappearance: After several hours, the files were missing from the expected directories, and file recovery tools could only recover damaged or partial data.
Post-incident Analysis: Scanning the entire drive revealed no trace of the transferred files, suggesting a profound issue that prevented their proper recording.

Potential Causes and Considerations

Administrative Privileges and Permissions

Moving files to locations requiring administrative rights can sometimes interfere with the file system’s normal operation, especially if permissions are not correctly set or if UAC (User Account Control) prompts are ignored or bypassed.

File System State and Disk Health

The drive’s condition plays a crucial role. If the drive has filesystem errors or bad sectors, file operations may silently fail or result in data corruption. Running disk checks (e.g., chkdsk) can help diagnose such issues.

Windows’ Handling of Move Operations

In Windows, using cut/paste commands moves files directly, unlike copy/paste, which creates duplicates. While this reduces clutter, it also carries the risk of data loss if the operation is interrupted, or if permissions are mishandled.