Files & Folders
Recover files after an interrupted rsync or move
rsync writes to temporary files and only renames on completion, so an interruption usually leaves the source intact plus partials at the destination. A mv across filesystems is riskier: it copies then deletes.
Stop doing this first
- Do not re-run the move with --remove-source-files or --delete.
- Do not clear the destination 'to start clean'.
The safe order of operations
- 1
Stop and check whether the source still exists before touching the destination.
- 2
List hidden partial files (.filename.XXXXXX or .~tmp~) at the destination.
- 3
Compare source and destination by checksum, not by size or count.
- 4
Resume with --partial --append-verify so partial transfers are reused instead of discarded.
- 5
Only delete from the source after a verified compare passes.
Commands that do the work
Find partial transfers
find /dest -name '.*.??????' -o -name '.~tmp~*'Compare without copying
rsync -avnc --itemize-changes /src/ /dest/Resume safely
rsync -av --partial --append-verify --progress /src/ /dest/Realistic odds
Likely recoverable when the source survives; partial otherwise.
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