Cant find my project file: premier elements 13

first time posting and hope you may be able to help!

I have been using elements 13 to create a video on my windows machine (11 pro).

I have been using an external HDD which has the original photo and video files and, as far as I understood, I was saving the premier elements project file to my local drive.

While working on the video, the external HDD crashed and I was able to recover all files which have now been saved to a new external HDD.

I am now wanting to continue making the video and expected id need to 'point' the project to the new file location. But when I go in to my elements software I cannot find the file I was working on at all. 

The only place that I can find any reference to the file is in the "open project>preview files" folder where there is an empty folder with the same file name. (but no actual file in the folder). There is no file in the "auto-save" folder which is strange.

I would understand if the file was still there but not able to 'find' the original files becasue they are on a new HDD... but this is not the case.

I would be extremely grateful for any thoughts on how to recover the project.

many thanks,