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Shortcut Deletion ???



 
 
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  #1  
Old July 27th 19, 12:34 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
No_Name
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 88
Default Shortcut Deletion ???

I don't know if I believe this. Really.
I had two folders in which I had a shortcut to the same file.

I deleted one of those folders.
Guess what? The shortcut in the second folder seems no longer valid
because the file to which it is a shortcut was deleted by the deletion
which seemed to have deleted the file also.

That means if I have folders containing shortcuts to the same
file(s), and I delete one of the folders then I lose all the files
shortcut'ed to. Wow!

I lost some data files I think. Tell me I am wrong.

Love
xxxx
Ads
  #3  
Old July 27th 19, 03:35 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
Paul[_32_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 11,873
Default Shortcut Deletion ???

wrote:
I don't know if I believe this. Really.
I had two folders in which I had a shortcut to the same file.

I deleted one of those folders.
Guess what? The shortcut in the second folder seems no longer valid
because the file to which it is a shortcut was deleted by the deletion
which seemed to have deleted the file also.

That means if I have folders containing shortcuts to the same
file(s), and I delete one of the folders then I lose all the files
shortcut'ed to. Wow!

I lost some data files I think. Tell me I am wrong.

Love
xxxx


There are "undelete" programs.

The secret to usage is

*Stop* writing to the disk

right away.

Now, boot some other OS long enough to run
the undelete program. Deleting a file just
flips a single byte in the $MFT, and flipping
it back, brings the file back.

Undelete programs rate files as "Excellent",
"Good", or "Poor". What "Poor" means, is the logical
blocks that form the data of the file, the undelete program
can already figure out that the deleted file, the
logical blocks holding the file have already been
overwritten by some other file operation. And thus,
it is too late to get the files back.

And this is why it is important to stop writing
to the disk, right away.

On Windows 10, the Search Indexer continues to index
stuff, for as long as Windows 10 is running. And that
means a "writer" is ready to harm your deleted files
right away. If you expect your deleted files back, then
doing "Shutdown" right away is important. The allocator
has a tendency to use the recently freed blocks, so it's
not like it goes out of its way to avoid stomping on them.

*******

https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PhotoRec

data carving (probably not a conventional undelete program)

Amongst the $39.95 recovery programs, there probably aren't
a lot of them that give the files back for free. Many of the
programs tease you, by showing the filename and the
status of "Excellent", but then not offering to flip the
byte in the $MFT entry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...overy_software

As for Recuva, at one time it was probably pretty unencumbered,
but in modern times, the installer may try to install other
programs as well. Keep an eye peeled for shenanigans. Usually
the Wikipedia articles list the details of scumware when
scumware is delivered. There are some free programs, where
the section on scumware is longer than the description of
what the program does. If you need warnings, usually there's
a hint in the Wikipedia.

If I need a file back, I usually reach for a crusty backup
and get it from there. That's why I don't have a ready
collection of byte flippers.

*******

If you had File History turned on, you might be able to
get it back that way. Modern File History stores backed up
files on a second disk drive, and you would likely remember
configuring that if you have set it up.

Paul
  #4  
Old July 27th 19, 04:33 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
VanguardLH[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 10,881
Default Shortcut Deletion ???

xxxxx wrote:

I don't know if I believe this. Really.
I had two folders in which I had a shortcut to the same file.

I deleted one of those folders.
Guess what? The shortcut in the second folder seems no longer valid
because the file to which it is a shortcut was deleted by the deletion
which seemed to have deleted the file also.

That means if I have folders containing shortcuts to the same
file(s), and I delete one of the folders then I lose all the files
shortcut'ed to. Wow!

I lost some data files I think. Tell me I am wrong.


Was it a shortcut you delete (a .lnk file)?

Or might it have been a hard link to the file? When you delete a hard
link, you also delete the file (so all other hard/soft links are no
longer valid because you deleted the file.

A symbolic link (which is not the same as a shortcut) can be a soft link
or a hard link. Deleting a soft link has no effect on a file. Deleting
a hard link also deletes the file.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_link

Hard links are just another name (record in the file system) to the same
file. You can have multiple hard links with different names and in
different folders all referencing the same file. When you deleted the
folder, you know you are deleting all the files inside of it, too.
Well, the hard link is pointing at the file (whether it is in the
deleted folder or elsewhere), and deleting the folder deleted the hard
link which results in deleting the file no matter where it is.

A shortcut is a .lnk file that merely notes where is a target (file,
folder, URI). It is not actually linked to or equivalent to the target,
so deleting the shortcut results in merely deleting the .lnk file for
that shortcut.

My recollection is that the target (file) is not deleted unless you
directly delete the target (but the hard links survive yet are invalid
because their target is gone) or you delete all hard links. That is,
when deleting hard links, the target file gets deleted when you delete
the last hard link. You might have had a hard link in one folder and a
shortcut (.lnk file) in the other folder. Deleting the folder with the
last remaining hard link means deleting the file while the shortcut is
unaffected but now points to a file that no longer exists.

Hard links do not show in a 'dir' command. Windows Explorer will not
show a shortcut icon for them, but instead show them as a regular file.
Hard links are indistinguishable from the target file.

Don't know what you have as a "shortcut" in one folder and as the
"shortcut" in the other folder that you deleted. Just how were these
"shortcuts" created? By you by right-clicking in the folder, selecting
New, and picking Shortcut? Or did you use the "mklink /h" command or
some program created the hard link(s)?

To know if there are any hard links on a file, run (in a command shell
perhaps with elevated priviliges):

fsutil hardlink list [path\]filename

You had folderA and folderB. In each folder was a shortcut (.lnk file)
pointing to the same sourceFile. Was sourceFile in the folderA you
deleted? If so, deleting folderA would delete both the shortcut to
sourceFile in that folder along with the sourceFile in that same folder.
Afterward, all other shortcuts, like in folderB, would no longer be
valid because they're still pointing to sourcefile in folderA that you
deleted.

Say you started with:

FolderA FolderB
_______________________ _______________________
| | | |
| sourceFile | | otherFiles |
| | | |
| shortcut_sourceFile | | shortcut_sourceFile |
|_______________________| |_______________________|

Then you delete FolderA and are left with:

FolderB
_______________________
| |
| otherFiles |
| |
| shortcut_sourceFile |
|_______________________|

Since sourceFile was back in FolderA that you deleted,
shortcut_sourceFile is no longer valid since its target no longer exists
(that was back in FolderA).

However, if sourceFile was not in the folder, as in:

FolderA FolderB
_______________________ _______________________
| | | |
| someFiles | | otherFiles |
| | | |
| shortcut_sourceFile | | shortcut_sourceFile |
|_______________________| |_______________________|

FolderC
_______________________
| |
| sourceFile |
| |
| moreFiles |
|_______________________|

Then deleting FolderA would leave you:

FolderB FolderC
_______________________ _______________________
| | | |
| otherFiles | | sourceFile |
| | | |
| shortcut_sourceFile | | moreFiles |
|_______________________| |_______________________|

Since sourceFile still exists (in FolderC), the shortcut_sourceFile in
FolderB is still valid.

Just where was sourceFile before you deleted any folders?

Deleting shortcuts (.lnk files) does not affect the target file; that
is, deleting a shortcut doesn't touch the target file. Conversely, you
can delete the target file which will have no effect on the shortcut
UNTIL you decide to use the shortcut which will then be unable to find
its target (as you deleted it).

Windows/File Explorer likes to hide special files. Even if you
configure it to NOT "hide extensions for known filetypes", it will still
not show a shortcut as a .lnk file. Your only clue that the file is a
shortcut is the overlay arrow on the file's icon.

Windows Explorer will override that view setting for those filetypes
that have a NeverShowExt data item defined for the filetype. For
example, the .lnk file (lnkfile) is defined at:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile

Doesn't matter what is the value of the NeverShowExt data item. If it
exists or not decides whether Windows/File Explorer will show that
filetype's extension. Say you have a mydoc.txt file and create a
shortcut to it. You'll normally see mydoc.txt and another mydoc.txt but
the latter will have the arrow overlay on the file's icon. If you want
to actually see the .lnk extension, delete the NeverShowExt data item
under the lnkfile registry entry (you'll probably want to backup that
registry key before editing it). To effect the registry edit, you'll
need to logout and back in (or kill explorer.exe and reload it using
Task Manager, or use a command shell to use taskkill and then run
explorer.exe). Voila, all those shortcut files will now have an
extension of .lnk shown for them. If you want them hidden again, either
import the .reg file you created before as a backup or create the
NeverShowExt data item (REG_SZ type) and kill and reload explorer.exe.

  #5  
Old July 27th 19, 07:44 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
pjp[_11_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 100
Default Shortcut Deletion ???

In article , says...

xxxxx wrote:

I don't know if I believe this. Really.
I had two folders in which I had a shortcut to the same file.

I deleted one of those folders.
Guess what? The shortcut in the second folder seems no longer valid
because the file to which it is a shortcut was deleted by the deletion
which seemed to have deleted the file also.

That means if I have folders containing shortcuts to the same
file(s), and I delete one of the folders then I lose all the files
shortcut'ed to. Wow!

I lost some data files I think. Tell me I am wrong.


Was it a shortcut you delete (a .lnk file)?

Or might it have been a hard link to the file? When you delete a hard
link, you also delete the file (so all other hard/soft links are no
longer valid because you deleted the file.

A symbolic link (which is not the same as a shortcut) can be a soft link
or a hard link. Deleting a soft link has no effect on a file. Deleting
a hard link also deletes the file.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_link

Hard links are just another name (record in the file system) to the same
file. You can have multiple hard links with different names and in
different folders all referencing the same file. When you deleted the
folder, you know you are deleting all the files inside of it, too.
Well, the hard link is pointing at the file (whether it is in the
deleted folder or elsewhere), and deleting the folder deleted the hard
link which results in deleting the file no matter where it is.

A shortcut is a .lnk file that merely notes where is a target (file,
folder, URI). It is not actually linked to or equivalent to the target,
so deleting the shortcut results in merely deleting the .lnk file for
that shortcut.

My recollection is that the target (file) is not deleted unless you
directly delete the target (but the hard links survive yet are invalid
because their target is gone) or you delete all hard links. That is,
when deleting hard links, the target file gets deleted when you delete
the last hard link. You might have had a hard link in one folder and a
shortcut (.lnk file) in the other folder. Deleting the folder with the
last remaining hard link means deleting the file while the shortcut is
unaffected but now points to a file that no longer exists.


Sounds to me like you deleted a shortcut to the actual file which
invalidated a shortcut to that shortcut. Note : double clicking the
shortcut to the shortcut would do same thing as double clicking deleted
shortcut used to do so you may not have even ever noticed it was a
shortcut to a shortcut unless you actually looked (e.g. Open File
Location) because of this behaviour
  #8  
Old July 29th 19, 04:10 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
Paul[_32_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 11,873
Default Shortcut Deletion ???

😉 Good Guy 😉 wrote:
On 28/07/2019 21:30, wrote:
My problems all startted when I bought a cheap $10 2TB usb stick from
China. I'll not do that again.



Yes blame the Chinese for your Shortcut Deletion problem. The Chinese
are controlling everything on your machine. I suspect they are also
controlling your brain so you'll remain completely stupid for the rest
of your life, Did you know that Donald Trump is really frightened of
them so he decided to impose tariffs on them. It's too late for idiots
like you to compete with them. They are highly educated than nutters
like you.


1TB USB3 flash stick $180 (18x what the OP paid)

https://www.newegg.com/patriot-model...82E16820221063

1TB USB 3.1 CMFVYGTX3C-1TB $300 (30x what the OP paid)

https://www.newegg.com/corsair-model...82E16820236344

Those are examples of real products, not $10 counterfeits.
The $10 counterfeits have 8GB or 16GB of flash inside,
plus a controller programmed with a max_val instead of
the correct value for the size of the device. Counterfeits
claim sizes of either 1TB or 2TB, and only cost $10. The $10
is a fair price for the 8GB or 16GB of flash inside.

Here is a tech demo of a 4TB drive, using 1.33Tbit 96L QLC flash
(flaky pastry). The TypeC connector is on the end of a cable
captive to the device. It would take 24 chips of the 96L to
equal 4TB, so they'd have to be silicon dice bonded to the PCB.
They could also stack chips, but that would increase the
bulk of the device.

https://www.anandtech.com/show/13823...pe-at-ces-2019

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fvMH...DSC02208_2.jpg

That would range around $1200 and wouldn't be worth it.
(Because it's QLC.) But at that size, there's probably an
SSD controller in there instead of a conventional USB flash
controller. Just for the channel count.

So it is technically possible to build such drives, even
if that one isn't for sale quite yet. And depending on the
write rate, might be useless for any practical purpose.

And here is a picture of one of the thick ones. It
uses flex cables and folds to fit the plastic casing.
They've done something amazing with the cables, if
you believe these photos. Normally where flex cables
bond to a PCB, "it's a mess". This is unbelievably tidy.

https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qim...a1bd0e80e8e6-c

https://geeks.hu/sites/default/files...predator_5.JPG

Paul
  #9  
Old July 29th 19, 10:17 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
No_Name
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 88
Default Shortcut Deletion ???

On Sun, 28 Jul 2019 23:10:58 -0400, Paul
wrote:

? Good Guy ? wrote:
On 28/07/2019 21:30, wrote:
My problems all startted when I bought a cheap $10 2TB usb stick from
China. I'll not do that again.



Yes blame the Chinese for your Shortcut Deletion problem. The Chinese
are controlling everything on your machine. I suspect they are also
controlling your brain so you'll remain completely stupid for the rest
of your life, Did you know that Donald Trump is really frightened of
them so he decided to impose tariffs on them. It's too late for idiots
like you to compete with them. They are highly educated than nutters
like you.


1TB USB3 flash stick $180 (18x what the OP paid)

https://www.newegg.com/patriot-model...82E16820221063

1TB USB 3.1 CMFVYGTX3C-1TB $300 (30x what the OP paid)

https://www.newegg.com/corsair-model...82E16820236344

Those are examples of real products, not $10 counterfeits.
The $10 counterfeits have 8GB or 16GB of flash inside,
plus a controller programmed with a max_val instead of
the correct value for the size of the device. Counterfeits
claim sizes of either 1TB or 2TB, and only cost $10. The $10
is a fair price for the 8GB or 16GB of flash inside.

Here is a tech demo of a 4TB drive, using 1.33Tbit 96L QLC flash
(flaky pastry). The TypeC connector is on the end of a cable
captive to the device. It would take 24 chips of the 96L to
equal 4TB, so they'd have to be silicon dice bonded to the PCB.
They could also stack chips, but that would increase the
bulk of the device.

https://www.anandtech.com/show/13823...pe-at-ces-2019

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fvMH...DSC02208_2.jpg

That would range around $1200 and wouldn't be worth it.
(Because it's QLC.) But at that size, there's probably an
SSD controller in there instead of a conventional USB flash
controller. Just for the channel count.

So it is technically possible to build such drives, even
if that one isn't for sale quite yet. And depending on the
write rate, might be useless for any practical purpose.

And here is a picture of one of the thick ones. It
uses flex cables and folds to fit the plastic casing.
They've done something amazing with the cables, if
you believe these photos. Normally where flex cables
bond to a PCB, "it's a mess". This is unbelievably tidy.

https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qim...a1bd0e80e8e6-c

https://geeks.hu/sites/default/files...predator_5.JPG

Paul

Thanks Paul
At least your replies are informative and helpful.
I appreciate your time.
xxxxx
 




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