How do I fix shapefiles after deleting and recovering them?

Question

I've got all my data on a memory stick and accidentally deleted several weeks worth of work. I used an online service to recover the deleted files but when I add them back into ArcMap (10.4), they don't look how they're supposed to (most polygons are missing and there's a popup window saying "there was a problem drawing the shapefile. Drawing aborted."

I'm looking through the files and appear to be missing the .sbx and LOCK files for each polygon, compared to my files that weren't deleted. Is this what's corrupting the whole thing? How can I fix this?

Please, in the simplest of words help me.

bennymathew4 · Answer

Found the following link:-

How to salvage a corrupt shapefile—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

DanPatterson_Retired · Answer

and the link from a few months ago with the shapechecker in the zip file in this question

ALICEANSTEE_0-1720175804608.png

JoeBorgione · Answer

Shapefiles are made up of at least three files: .shp, .dbf and .shx: The .shp is the geometry, the .dbf contains the attributes, and the .shx is an index file that connects the two, making sure that the correct geometry is connected to the correct dbf record. .sbn and are spatial index files, and in the words of wiki "...are used by spatial databases (databases which store information related to objects in space) to optimize spatial queires Conventional index types do not efficiently handle spatial queries such as how far two points differ, or whether points fall within a spatial area of interest.... (see Shapefile - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ) Two tools that might help: Check Geometry—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop and Repair Geometry—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop . Hope fully they can help you restore what you've lost.