Just did a wedding video a week a go and big nightmare happened. Started out like this,
I have uploaded a MOV files from my CF card to my macbook pro, went home then transfered my files to my external hard drive. Everything went well and transfer complete. Deleted the files from my macbook and emptied trash bin. Open the files from the external hard drive then a big loud scream from my mouth OMG!!!! &@@€€&&!! NO MOV files only THM files was transfered what the heck happen!!! PLEASE PLEASE HELP..

a lesson learned, never delete anything until you know exactly where everything is....

advice:

Don't touch the computer what so ever. download on another system a data recovery program and try to recover the lost data from the macbook pro while in target disk mode.

I repeat DO NOT USE THE MACBOOK PRO, THE MORE ITS USED THE LESS LIKELY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO RETRIEVE THE FILES.

You may want to have it done professionally if you are not confidant..

Was this a one camera shoot or do you have other coverage of the event?

a lesson learned, never delete anything until you know exactly where everything is....

I'll add to that by adding "and it's backed up." Backing up comes right after transferring in my workflow -- you never know when you might somehow corrupt the only copy you have.

I actually back up before it goes to my editor. My workflow is as follows:

Shoot on site > back up to rugged drive on site > continue shooting > backup again before end of shoot > when I get back I put all the cards on my main drive, leaving the back up drive untouched > format the cards. > back up to another hard drive again.

Thanks for the advice guys. I have downloaded the RESCUE DATA RESCUE 3 and only 20% recovered. I did used 3 cameras sony ex-1, canon xh-a1 and 5D MK2. Good thing they only want highlights.

Always get in the habit of checking your source and destination folder sizes (press apple-I for this window) when you've copied something.

And also, never, ever do backup copies onto a laptop hard disk; as they're internal they are highly susceptible to damage from overheating/dropping/electronic problems.

Always copy to an external drive or an internal drive of a desktop computer.