SOLVED Re: I lost some movie folders, need help to find them. SOLVED

[Steven Vollom]

Michael Hirsch wrote:
> On Mon, Nov 17, 2008 at 5:33 PM, Steven Vollom
> <stevenvollom at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>   
>> I changed the configuration on my Ktorrent program.  I created an
>> instruction so that when downloads completed they be transferred to
>> /media/sdb5/Completed Downloads.  The problem is, I meant to put them in
>> /media/sda5/CompletedDownloads.
>>
>> I have a problem with my sdb5 partition, in fact I have lots of problems
>> with the partitions on that HDD.  In any event, my computer doesn't
>> think it does exist.  I intended to place the folders in sda5 not sdb5.
>> The problem is that several movies were downloaded and Ktorrent was
>> instructed to put them in a folder that my computer doesn't think
>> exists.  They went some place, but I don't know where.  I ran a find on
>> one of the titles, but nothing came up.
>>
>> When a user screws up, do his errors just vaporize, or does the computer
>> put them some place?  And, can a person find that place?  TIA.
>>     
>
> The two tools I use for this are "locate" and "find".
>   

> Locate is a database of files on your system.  If you know the name of
> the file (say it is "myfile.mp4") try running
>    locate myfile.mp4
> or, if all you remember is the .mp4 extension run
>    locate .mp4
>
> If the file is quite new it might not be in the locate database yet,
> so try using find:
>   find / -name *.mp4
> This will take a long time, and will spit out every file you have that
> ends in .mp4.
>
> Both these commands have manual pages.  Run
>    <ALT>-F2 man:find
> or
>    <ALT>-F2 man:locate
> for all the gory detail.
>
> Michael
>
>   
Dear Michael,

That was just terrific.  My first response for this post simply said it 
can't be done.  So rather than have it a burden on the group, I posted 
it as solved.  I am sure glad you answered my post.  I have little 
experience with the Shell; this opened a big door for me.  Many times my 
HDD fills with more data than I think should be there.  There is a lot 
of data in the locate area that is redundant, it appears.  Do you know 
if you can delete unwanted data to open up more drive space?  This 
information was hidden from me.  There must be a lot like that.  When I 
try to locate data that is redundant, will it show in locate, and can I 
eliminate the back-up or redundancy when I want?  Thanks so much.  This 
a keeper email for me, in case I forget before it becomes natural 
memory.  Steven