I have completely destroyed my Daz content file folders.

[vanteal]

So Daz studio has always given me trouble in organizing and maintaining it's content. I don't know about you guys, but for me, it's just a clusterf*ck pain in the butt...

So long story short. I attempted to search out and find content folders in different parts of the drive where my content is located. As I began to find the files, I began to move them into my main content library. Once I thought everything was found and moved, I attempted to do some cleaning up to try and make finding the files more streamline. Next thing I know barely any of my original working content files no longer worked.  In a huff, I tried to locate the missing files. Except those missing files were all in my content library...Strange right? I tried to figure out why they suddenly weren't working, even though they appeared to be in the right place...

So off to the content manager I went. I did all the typical content database organization options within Daz itself, searched hard drives and tried to manually move a few files around once again...

Finally, I gave up. But didn't want to lose all my content I had built up, and the only thing I could think of trying was a good ole "System restore" on my computer hoping it would restore the files to their previous locations..Except it didn't..When it was finished restoring it stated the files hadn't been touched. So I was still stuck with all my content files in the wrong locations or were simply missing...

So my question is. Does anyone know a way to use system restore, or some kind of a program that will revert everything, including files to their prior locations?

Also, I've tried reading about organizing content, but when I try to do so. Things start getting all fucky and won't work...Every different content creator has their items in seemingly odd ball locations or are stamped full of useless tidbits with their names and logos everywhere...Nothing is just ever "Ok, this is hair for a G3 figure, so lets put it in the "G3 Hair folder"...Nope, no way..my hair ends up way out in china and takes me a year to find it using a treasure map. And I just can't find a simple straightforward explanation or method in keeping content clean, organized, tidy and functional.

[CCCC]

Best thing to do is go to the Daz3d technical forum and ask this question. Obviously, I'd leave out anything regarding pirating content and keep it very general. But you get the best answers there. When I screw stuff up, since I keep all the original files on a separate drive, I just reinstall the content, which will put it where DAZ thinks it should be. That will at least allow DAZ to use the content. I've found that trying to override what the developers want regarding installing content doesn't end up well. Always missing dsf files.

[RipSHA1]

When you want to install new content.
Make sure you study the original DAZ3D content file structure. Look where files go normally.
Almost all content you download will use this structure.
Don't just paste a folder you downloaded into for example the hair directory.

Open the downloaded hair and look how the files are organized and in what folders. Copy the whole thing into your content library where you see folders with the same names.

This is because there is not only files that need to go into the hair folder under Content library\People\Genesis 3 Female\Hair\
There might also be other files that should go other places. For example morphs for the hair that should go into the \Data\ folder.

When you download you might get a file named something IM0xxxxxx Use DAZ3D DIM to install that one to your content library, it's easier.
If you get a rar or zip file that unpacks to a folder named "content". Open that "content" folder and look at the names of the folders in it.
Paste all those folders in to the content library root where you see folders named the same already there. And stuff ends up where it should be to work.

If your folder structure is fucked up. I suggest you start over from the beginning. Reinstall everything.
Because it will be easier if you have a lot of content.

[vanteal]

When you want to install new content.
Make sure you study the original DAZ3D content file structure. Look where files go normally.
Almost all content you download will use this structure.
Don't just paste a folder you downloaded into for example the hair directory.

Open the downloaded hair and look how the files are organized and in what folders.  Copy the whole thing into your content library where you see folders with the same names.

This is because there is not only files that need to go into the hair folder under Content library\People\Genesis 3 Female\Hair\
There might also be other files that should go other places. For example morphs for the hair that should go into the \Data\ folder.

When you download you might get a file named something IM0xxxxxx  Use DAZ3D DIM to install that one to your content library, it's easier.
If you get a rar or zip file that unpacks to a folder named  "content".  Open that "content" folder and look at the names of the folders in it.
Paste all those folders in to the content library root where you see folders named the same already there. And stuff ends up where it should be to work.

If your folder structure is fucked up.  I suggest you start over from the beginning. Reinstall everything.
Because it will be easier if you have a lot of content.

What I've usually done is use the ContentPA program to create zip files compatable with the Install manager, so when it's installed a copy of the file locations are easy to search for if I'm having trouble locating it within the Daz porgram itself. All in all, it's my fault for being careless and installing dozens of items and content at one time. But the ultimate downfall was when I tried to consolidate everything from various parts of my hard drive which probably shouldn't have been moved. I had over 1300 items installed, which is why it's been so heart breaking to see almost all of it be broken. So I'm starting from scratch and trying to be a bit more patient and careful. 

[dwebbb]

The DAZ files that aren't images are usually text files, you can open them in a programming text editor for instance. They contain relative file paths based on your base directory, which you may set to something non-standard in the configs for both DAZ and the install manager, which works just fine off-line btw. If you move files you're in for a ton of path revising.

[Ditcher1]

When you want to install new content.
Make sure you study the original DAZ3D content file structure. Look where files go normally.
Almost all content you download will use this structure.
Don't just paste a folder you downloaded into for example the hair directory.

Open the downloaded hair and look how the files are organized and in what folders.  Copy the whole thing into your content library where you see folders with the same names.

This is because there is not only files that need to go into the hair folder under Content library\People\Genesis 3 Female\Hair\
There might also be other files that should go other places. For example morphs for the hair that should go into the \Data\ folder.

When you download you might get a file named something IM0xxxxxx  Use DAZ3D DIM to install that one to your content library, it's easier.
If you get a rar or zip file that unpacks to a folder named  "content".  Open that "content" folder and look at the names of the folders in it.
Paste all those folders in to the content library root where you see folders named the same already there. And stuff ends up where it should be to work.

If your folder structure is fucked up.  I suggest you start over from the beginning. Reinstall everything.
Because it will be easier if you have a lot of content.

^^What this guy said. Just look at one of your files that hasn't been installed. It should be a "Content" folder and inside you should have something like 3 folders and they'll be listed as "Data", "People" and "Runtime".....just and example if you were installing a character.

Also, I save all my downloaded files, even if they have been installed, just in case I do something I shouldn't, like accidently delete one of my files. I think I've got it down pretty good. I've sorted out all my files so they are easier to find and deleted files I don't use. My favourite way of finding what I don't want or whatever I want moved is open the program and going through my folders. I find it easier to remember which files I want moved.

[mrposter]

I think we all have had a runtime that was in a mess at one stage. We all learn the same way by starting all over again but The daz forums are a good source to learn from.
Took me a while to get my head around how the daz file system works. I learnt by having a test runtime for installing content which then helped me see where stuff goes.
Its confusing for a newbie i know, but its also hard to explain to a newb as well. Best way I can say is to only install content manually.
Daz had had some different layout changes where its actual program system files go but the actual layout of runtime or content has been pretty much always been the same.
That being said even after years of manual installing content i still get problems arising now and then.