I am using a Windows 2k server with SQL 2k Server. This
machine is used to process data collected from clients. In
the data processing I use some exectable files. some
format files, some header files. These are used to create
reports that are created for the clients. The files are
in groups based on the data element that is being
processed. Several times the files for only one data
element have disappeared from the directory. (Or they seem
to disappear.) The files can be seen from any other
machine, but cannot be seen on the local machine or run in
the data process. I have copied the files from another
machine to the local machine, but am told tha the file
already exists and do I wnat to replace it. I have also
tried renaming the file and then copying it to the
directory. And the new file also cannot be seen. It is
something that occurs suddenly, I suspect a virus, but I
cannot determine why it would only affect one set of files
and not my other data processing files located in the same
directory??

I have reformatted my machine three times and this clears
up the problem for awhile. But it seems to come back after
awhile. (Which is why I suspect A virus.) BTW this machine
gets its data from outside sources, so it is susceptable
to viruses..

>-----Original Message-----
>I am using a Windows 2k server with SQL 2k Server. This
>machine is used to process data collected from clients.
In
>the data processing I use some exectable files. some
>format files, some header files. These are used to create
>reports that are created for the clients. The files are
>in groups based on the data element that is being
>processed. Several times the files for only one data
>element have disappeared from the directory. (Or they
seem
>to disappear.) The files can be seen from any other
>machine, but cannot be seen on the local machine or run
in
>the data process. I have copied the files from another
>machine to the local machine, but am told tha the file
>already exists and do I wnat to replace it. I have also
>tried renaming the file and then copying it to the
>directory. And the new file also cannot be seen. It is
>something that occurs suddenly, I suspect a virus, but I
>cannot determine why it would only affect one set of
files
>and not my other data processing files located in the
same
>directory??
>
>I have reformatted my machine three times and this clears
>up the problem for awhile. But it seems to come back
after
>awhile. (Which is why I suspect A virus.) BTW this
machine
>gets its data from outside sources, so it is susceptable
>to viruses..
>.
>

Try this to see if it helps. From the Window Help Menu

To display hidden files and folders

Open Folder Options in Control Panel.
Click the View tab.
Click Show hidden files and folders.
Notes

To open a Control Panel item, click Start, point to
Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click the
appropriate icon. Or, in Windows Explorer, click Tools,
and then click Folder Options.
Hidden files and folders are dimmed in order to indicate
that they are not typical items.
You can use Search to locate hidden files and folders
without first displaying them if you know the name of the
hidden file or folder. For information about using Search,
see Related Topics.
If you want to see all file name extensions, clear the
Hide file extensions for known file types check box.
Related Topics