Forum Discussion
Original File Location
Hi Everyone,
I have a user within the organisation that has moved a file from a folder to a newly created folder.
They seem to have lost track of where they had originally transferred the file from (original folder location).
Is there a way I could find out where the original file location?
Thanks
5 Replies
I can find the original location of a file I have moved very easily using program called TeraCopy Pro. TeraCopy Pro, which is a my preferred file manager. When I open TeraCopy Pro, I see a list on the left side of the screen showing my file history for the past three days. I was just trying to recall the original location of a file I moved a few hours ago, so I opened TeraCopy Pro and could immediately see that I moved the file t from M:\01\01\Software - Laptop\5kPlayer (a subdirectory on an external drive) to C:\01\Software.
To copy or move folders or files using TeraCopy Pro, I open Windows Explorer and choose one or more folders or files to copy or move. When I click on copy or move, I get the option to use the native Windows file manager or TeraCopy Pro. I use TeraCopy because it does not change the dates and times of folders or files I copy or move.
I hope that is helpful.Hi Dwayne05
Windows Server can provide auditing on files and folders to track who has create/moved/deleted a file or folder, but this needs to be set up beforehand and can't be done after the fact.
If you have auditing enabled on your shares, then you need to check the event log for 4660 and 4663 IIRC.
If you don't, then I'm afraid I don't have any advice. There is a document at https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/How-to-enable-File-and-af674be4 that has information on setting this up in future.
- This is great, I am reading through the PDF. I'm going to take have a look at whether this has been set up.
Thanks Hello HidMov,
Auditing is one option, but you'll need to have Active Directory audit logging enabled
(Step-By-Step: Enabling Advanced Security Audit Policy via DS Access)Other methods are:
- Shadow Copies (Previous Versions), but this also needs to be configured and enabled.
- Backups, browse older backups and search for the moved folder and you should see where it was originally located.
Best regards,
Leon- Thanks for your response.
So would this give me some sort of a log of all objects modified and display it in event viewer?
Thanks
