I mistyped. I was typing rmdir /s /q "F: and accidentally hit enter before I could finish the path.

This used to be a system drive so it had two old windows folders I was trying to get rid of because I was sick of looking at them.

I've wiped out a big veracrypt container that was full of stuff. Stuff dating back years. Very important files...legal stuff, my albums, my photography.

I did have a backup but I had deleted that too. I was getting ready to upload this to the cloud overnight.

Anyway I couldn't get rid of those stupid windows folders so I booted into safe mode to try and get rid of them, and here I am. A grown man who's just trying my best not to break down. There was so much stuff. Family photos, photos of friends who are now dead, all my recordings dating back to 2000.

Please tell me there's a way to get this stuff back and if there is, what is the best way. I am desperate. I'm on a laptop right now. My main computer is just sitting there All I did was open the recyling bin, but of course it's not in there

I don't know the file system. I can barely think right now. It's Windows 11. I know the veracrypt containers were FAT internally.

It's a Seagate platter drive, some years old. ST2000DX001-1CM1E

Edit- This didn't go well at all. There was some stuff on the drive that was recoverable, but the veracrypt container was the only thing important and it's gone.