Request for computer advice. Odd problem

Factual Questions
1

OK.
I was moving a computer, & backed up my image files to a thumb drive.
Stupidly, I deleted by image.
I don’t know why I chose to do that–idiot move on my part. Yes.

When I checked the thumb drive later, I only found empty folders, from my image files.
But I loaded them anyway, & it took several hours, and listed my file names as it was loading.

All my folders that were load say they are empty, but when I do a search, they come up with contents.

They seem to be in there, but I can’t see them.

I am using Win 8.1.

Yes, everybody & his brother has no patience with my limited computer skills.

I will check again this evening, but I will not be able to check this Thread from work, as the SDMB is blocked there, & I would be able to do anything with my machine anyway.

2

One thing you can do is right-click on one of those folders and select Properties, which will show the folder size, which will be large if there is actually anything in there.

If the files are hidden, try opening the control panel; under More Settings > Appearance and Personalization > Folder Options you can click on Show hidden files and make sure that option is enabled. Then Apply, Ok, and see if your files become visible.

3

There IS something in the folders.
They are large, & Search shows contents, but no thumbnails in those files.
Could that be a clue?

4

Tried your suggestion–no good.
:frowning:
I will check this Thread more tonight, and then tomorrow.

5

Can you see anything listed or does it look like an empty folder?

Please try the procedure I sketched to make sure “hidden” files are visible. (ETA I see you tried that already.)

6

They look like empty folder, until I search, & yes, there is content.

7

I must get up for work tomorrow at 4AM.

I will check this Thread after work.

8

Are you sure you are only searching within that folder? Perhaps the files are elsewhere on your computer. Try a search again, but this time right-click on one of the results and choose “open file location.”

You should also try right-clicking on one of these seemingly empty folders and select Properties - it should show how many files & data is in that folder.

9

When you delete the files you deleted the markers not the files. The files are still there as long as you don’t overwrite them.

Get an undelete software and you can recover your files.

10

When you back-up files from your computer to a thumb drive, the original files and their back-ups become inextricably entangled. Whatever happens to one of them instantly happens to the other as well.

11

That is false

12

First. Don’t kick yourself. And slow and sure is the way to go.

A question to help clarify. Did you perform a windows backup? Or just copy the files to the thumb drive.

It’s OK if you don’t know for sure.

13

Hmm. the file names may be the file names of thumbnails ??
What size files do you find ??

14

Just to the Thumb.

15

Sizes of what?

There are NO thumbnails, but I can call up the images using Search.

16

I second this advice- make a note of the location that opens and whether or not it is the same as the original folder.

17

  1. Do you see the file names of the files in that directory?

  2. Can you open any of the files and view the picture?

18

1–no.

2–only when I search a file name, then they come up.

19

No, not found elsewhere.
Oddly, I checked a file at random–it says 64K, 1 file, no folders.

Could I have a database issue?

20

Wow, this is not making sense at all.