Folder disappeared after downloading images from card

Question

I have downloaded images from my camera card to a pre-prepared folder on a external hard drive as I normally do, watching the process of bringing images over from the card through Lightroom where I always choose 'Import' and point to. the ready folder 'originals' where the resulting images are copied to. This time, as I sometimes do, I added and uploaded from the same card again, a few recent images to add to. what was already downloaded, I unchecked the images on the Lightroom 'Import' that were already downloaded as I did not want to see them brought over twice. I've done this before and never a problem, but this time Lightroom then showed the entire folder as missing and even in finder view, the folder is gone. I may have lost all of my images because I have now formatted the card for more shooting sessions to come. The strange part is: All of the image previews are still there, I just cannot open in Photoshop or any other app as Lightroom says the images cannot be found.

I could just do a screen shot of the images I want to keep because the screen image is still there for all of the shots. That would be better than completely losing the day's shoot. Are those screen images in Lightroom a hopeful sign that the original files still exist somewhere? I doubt it but I need to ask.

Anyone with knowledge of how this might have happened or why and if images might still be on the hard drive somewhere, I have searched and they do not show up in the finder. It looks hopeless but I come here for any insight that might save the day on this.

TIA,

Ken

Rob_Cullen · Accepted Answer

Some comments for @Ken Nielsen

If the image previews show as Missing [!]- or Folders are Missing [?]

1) You cannot Export derivative files - Requires original files.

2) You cannot Export as a Catalog - Useless if original files are not linked.

If the Originals exist somewhere on the External drive, then you might re-link them in the catalog library by following this article- MISSING FILES AND FOLDERS-(Computer Darkroom)

IF you have not yet used the camera SD card to take more photos (ie. it has only been formatted), then you might be able to Un-format with an App to recover the files. RECUVA

This was successful for me in the past. ( 🙂 Asked in a class "How to format"- demonstrated how - then card owner said "now where are all my files!" )

IF you only have the Catalog Previews, then you only recourse (after checking the above) is to EXTRACT JPGs from the previews.

@George_F gave the link for this a 'Script' method.

https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/kb/extract-previews-for-lost-images-lightroom.html

I prefer the 'Plugin' method by Jeffrey Friedl- As in this Lightroom Queen article-

EXTRACT JPGs FROM PREVIEWS

George_F · Answer

Have you tried exporting the images from Lightroom? Try exporting as .tiffs or .pngs of you haven't already. I suspect this won't work, but it will at least tell us if Lightroom knows the potential secret location of the files or if they are leftover previews.

You can also use Right Click > Show in Explorer to have a folder pop up from the OS with hopefully the photos inside.

If you've simply formatted the sd cards, a data recovery program like Recuva may still be able to retrieve those files.

How long have you been using the external hard drive?

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