If you didn't delete them the installer would't have altered them. But a drive that is dying can have files disappear. Upgrading OS's can be hard on the drive so its the prime time point people note odd issues like this. For now stop using your system as you don't want things to get worse.
OK, heres how I would do things:
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First I would connect this system in Target Mode to a second Mac system via a FireWire cable. Then I would carefully copy off the important data using small collections of files (10 or so at a time) as larger groups could over stress the drive. Then to recover the lost files you'll need a utility like this one: [https://www.prosofteng.com/datarescue-mac-data-recovery|Data Rescue].
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First I would connect this system in Target Mode to a second Mac system via a FireWire or Thunderbolt cable. Then I would carefully copy off the important data using small collections of files (10 or so at a time) as larger groups could over stress the drive. Then to recover the lost files you'll need a utility like this one: [https://www.prosofteng.com/datarescue-mac-data-recovery|Data Rescue].
Once you have gotten all of the files its time to test the drive to see if its still workable. I like this utility: [https://www.prosofteng.com/drivegenius-defrag-mac-software|Drive Genius]. Otherwise I would replace the drive. As you didn't give us your exact model I can't guide you which drive to get. Depending on your model you could have either a SATA II (3.0 Gg/s) or a SATA III (6.0 Gb/s) drive make sure your new drive is able to run at the same SATA I/O speed from what your original drive was.
That doesn't sound good ;-{
If you didn't delete them the installer would't have altered them. But a drive that is dying can have files disappear. Upgrading OS's can be hard on the drive so its the prime time point people note odd issues like this. For now stop using your system as you don't want things to get worse.
OK, heres how I would do things:
First I would connect this system in Target Mode to a second Mac system via a FireWire cable. Then I would carefully copy off the important data using small collections of files (10 or so at a time) as larger groups could over stress the drive. Then to recover the lost files you'll need a utility like this one: [https://www.prosofteng.com/datarescue-mac-data-recovery|Data Rescue].
Once you have gotten all of the files its time to test the drive to see if its still workable. I like this utility: [https://www.prosofteng.com/drivegenius-defrag-mac-software|Drive Genius]. Otherwise I would replace the drive. As you didn't give us your exact model I can't guide you which drive to get. Depending on your model you could have either a SATA II (3.0 Gg/s) or a SATA III (6.0 Gb/s) drive make sure your new drive is able to run at the same SATA I/O speed from what your original drive was.
I hope you can recover things - Good Luck.