LOST: Cut and patse, please help to retrieve folder Options

[ontpol]

Im running Linux Mint 13. I gathered a bunch of important files into a folder on the desktop. I plugged a USB stick and "cut and patse" the said folder from the desktop to the USB memory stick. Now, the important folder is NOT on the USB memory stick. I check with different computers (both linux and windows). The important folder is also gone from my desktop. Is there any where I could check (folders on my laptop) or anyway I could retreive part or the entire important folder?

[michaelk]

Maybe. Did you check the recycle bin? Did you verify the files were actually copied to the folder? Did you properly eject or unmount the flash drive prior to removing it from the computer?

There are forensic programs like testdisk and photorec that will search your disk for deleted files. No guarantees... Do not write or update your laptop etc or the delete data might be overwritten.

Hindsight is 20-20 but with important data I usually copy and verify the data before I delete it from the source...