# Request for computer advice. Odd problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 13, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591 "2017-08-13T23:25:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/1 "2017-08-13T23:25:07Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2017, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/2 "2017-08-13T23:49:09Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2017, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/3 "2017-08-13T23:57:06Z")
There IS something in the folders. They are large, & Search shows contents, but no thumbnails in those files. Could that be a clue? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/4 "2017-08-14T00:01:08Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > 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. Tried your suggestion–no good. ☹ I will check this Thread more tonight, and then tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/5 "2017-08-14T00:02:12Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/6 "2017-08-14T00:13:41Z")
They look like empty folder, until I search, & yes, there is content. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/7 "2017-08-14T00:53:03Z")
I must get up for work tomorrow at 4AM. I will check this Thread after work. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/8 "2017-08-14T02:18:24Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![SigMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SigMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SigMan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/9 "2017-08-14T02:33:26Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/10 "2017-08-14T02:44:22Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/11 "2017-08-14T02:56:33Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > 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. That is false ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/12 "2017-08-14T04:46:26Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/13 "2017-08-14T05:29:58Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > But I loaded them anyway, & it took several hours, and listed my file names as it was loading.[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=20410875](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=20410875) Hmm. the file names may be the file names of thumbnails ?? What size files do you find ?? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/14 "2017-08-14T20:40:43Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > 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. Just to the Thumb. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/15 "2017-08-14T20:42:25Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > Hmm. the file names may be the file names of thumbnails ?? > What size files do you find ?? Sizes of what? There are NO thumbnails, but I can call up the images using Search. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/16 "2017-08-14T20:55:18Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > 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.” I second this advice- make a note of the location that opens and whether or not it is the same as the original folder. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/17 "2017-08-14T20:57:52Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Sizes of what? > > There are NO thumbnails, but I can call up the images using Search. 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? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/18 "2017-08-14T21:04:14Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > 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? 1–no. 2–only when I search a file name, then they come up. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/19 "2017-08-14T21:10:00Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > 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. > [@DPRK](#): > > I second this advice- make a note of the location that opens and whether or not it is the same as the original folder. No, not found elsewhere. Oddly, I checked a file at random–it says 64K, 1 file, no folders. Could I have a database issue? ---
**Author:** ![SigMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SigMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SigMan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591/20 "2017-08-14T21:13:34Z")
Wow, this is not making sense at all. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-for-computer-advice-odd-problem/793591.md?page=2)