Lost Audacity Files from the Desktop

[BradKirschVO]

I am in the process of recording 2 audiobooks at the moment. I had the Audacity files (.aup3) saved to the desktop and then came into a storage issue and every Audacity file for the second book saved to the desktop disappeared after restarting the computer. It also removed my Desktop Wallpaper and replaced it with a Mac default photo. The Audacity files were not found in the Trash, Finder nor in Time Machine. I have them saved to an External Hard drive and a Memory stick. However, they will not reopen in Audacity.

I am operating on a macOS Catalina 10.15.7 and Audacity 3.2.5.

Is there a way to find the files without having to re record them?

Thank You,

Brad

[billw58]

Have to tried copying them from the external hard drive to your internal hard drive?

If they still won’t open, what error message do you get?

– Bill

[BradKirschVO]

I have just tried that. These are the screen shots of the error message. Same That I get when opening them from the external HD. Then I cannot open Audacity files through Audacity. It won’t allow for it.

[billw58]

Are you double-clicking the files in the Finder to open them?

Try starting Audacity then use File > Open to open the file.

FWIW I do not see this problem with Audacity 3.2.5 on macOS 13.2.1.

– Bill

[BradKirschVO]

I have done it both ways and get the same result.

[billw58]

Given that this all started with your Mac having “storage issue”, I suspect the files are corrupted.
Other than that I’m out of ideas. Maybe someone else can suggest a way to recover them.
– Bill

[BradKirschVO]

Somehow, they all reappeared on the desktop! Once I finished the first audiobook and began closing out windows, I saw them there like they never left. The are functioning properly as I open and play each one.

Thank you for the help. This one is a head scratcher

[billw58]

@BradKirschVO

This one is a head scratcher

No kidding!

Glad you’re back in business.

– Bill

[BradKirschVO]

I appreciate it! thanks for your help!

Brad