Accidentally deleted files from iTunes, now can't restore

[akweeks]

I purchased a new iMac that arrived today (High Sierra 10.13.2). I started uploading my music from an external hard drive onto iTunes. Several of my audiobooks were duplicated when they were added. Instead of going through each line that was duplicated and deleting it, I decided I would delete them all and add them again. In error I clicked delete files instead of keep file. I thought, no big deal, I'll just put them back from the trash can. I clicked on the trash can and they aren't in there... They aren't on the external hard drive. They're no where. Is there a way to restore them? Why would they not be in the trash?! I've done everything I can think of to try to retrieve them but can't find them anywhere!

P.S. first time posting on a forum anywhere!

 

[honestone]

Aren't they still on your external drive? Your post seems to indicate that you did the deleting on your iMac, not the external drive where you got the files from.

 

[akweeks]

No they're gone from there also!

 

[Spawn_Dooley]

Questions .... did you check your Mac's Trash while the ext HD was still connected or after it was ejected? Only If it was after the ext HD was ejected would it explain why they didn't show up.

If applicable, try checking the Trash again once you mount the ext HD again.

 

[akweeks]

I checked while it was still attached... But, I checked the trash this morning and there was still nothing. I checked again this afternoon, and everything was there! I don't know what happened but I'm thankful they showed up! Thank you everyone for your help!

 

[honestone]

Glad they came back! Pure magic (or another quirk with High Sierra).

By the way, V10.3.3 of High Sierra was released about a month or so ago. You can get the OS 10.13.3 Combo Updater from here:

https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1953?locale=en_US

And earlier this week, Apple released an OS 10.13.3 Supplemental Update, which you can download from here:

https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1958?locale=en_US

This link explains the reason for the supplemental update:

https://www.macrumors.com/2018/02/19/apple-releases-macos-10-13-3-supplemental-update/

Download and install the OS 10.13.3 Combo update first, then the OS 10.13.3 Supplemental Update.