Help With Mystery of Copied Files

J

JD

My wife enjoys sending photos as e-mail attachments to friends and family.
Sometimes she opens the e-mail in Outlook Express and chooses "Attach," then
selects the pics she wants to send. Lately she has been selecting the pics
from Windows Explorer and clicking "Send in E-Mail." Both methods work fine.
But here's the rub. Every now and then she is shocked to find multiple
copies (as many as 110) of many of her photos in Windows Explorer. Copy (2),
Copy (3), etc.
We are baffled by this behavior and would greatly appreciate understanding
why it happens. She must be clicking something accidentally. But what?
And why so many copies? Some over a hundred times. Others 35 times, etc.
Tonight we deleted several thousand from five different folders.
Any insight or advice will be greatly appreciated.
 
J

John Inzer

JD said:
My wife enjoys sending photos as e-mail attachments to
friends and family. Sometimes she opens the e-mail in
Outlook Express and chooses "Attach," then selects the
pics she wants to send. Lately she has been selecting the
pics from Windows Explorer and clicking "Send in E-Mail."
Both methods work fine. But here's the rub. Every now and
then she is shocked to find multiple copies (as many as
110) of many of her photos in Windows Explorer. Copy (2),
Copy (3), etc.
We are baffled by this behavior and would greatly
appreciate understanding why it happens. She must be
clicking something accidentally. But what?
And why so many copies? Some over a hundred times. Others
35 times, etc. Tonight we deleted several thousand from
five different folders.
Any insight or advice will be greatly appreciated.

=================================
Maybe the following info will help:

It happens occasionally to most anyone who
is trying to multiple select by holding the Ctrl
or Shift key while left clicking to select the
image files.

The copies are created when you fail to
completely release the mouse button before
you move the pointer to another file. If a group
of selected files is dragged...even the slightest
bit...releasing the mouse button will produce
copies of all the previously highlighted files.

It's somewhat easier if you have your Folder
Options set to Single Click...this way you can
select/deselect a file with just a mouse over
and you don't have to click. For multiples you
still have to hold...Ctrl or Shift.

No click...no drag...no copy...maybe that's
your solution. To adjust for single click...
Open a folder and go to...Tools / Folder
Options / General tab...tick..."Single Click
To Open An Item" / Apply / OK.

If you wish to delete all the files in a folder
you could try the following:

Go to...Edit / Select All...or type...Ctrl / A...

With all files selected...go to...File / Delete...
or press your Delete key...or...right click the
group and choose "Delete".

How to search for and delete unwanted "copies"
of your image files.

Open the folder that the images are saved in and
left click the "Search" button on your toolbar.

(If you are viewing the files from within an editing
program and do not know where the folder is...right
click one of the image files and from the menu...
choose...Properties. The path to the folder will be
on the "General" tab at "Location".)

In the search pane...select..."All files and folders"

In the "All or part of the file name" field...enter...

copy of

Now...left click the "Search" button.

When the search is complete...go to...Edit / Select All...

Then go to...File / Delete.

You will see a dialog box asking you if you are sure
you wish to delete the files...click Yes.

Now...left click the "Back" button on your toolbar.

Now the remaining files should be your originals.

If you deleted the wrong files...recover them from
your recycle bin now.

--

******John Inzer********
**MS Picture It! MVP**

*****Digital Image******
Highlights and FAQs
http://tinyurl.com/aczzp

*********Notice***********
This is not tech support
........I am a volunteer.......

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you.

Proceed at your own risk.

Need a Web Host?
*******Consider********
Annex Technologies
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**************************
 
J

JD

I see how "dragging" within a folder creates copies of the selected files.
We must be sure to release the mouse button before moving.
However, I'm still at a loss as to why so many copies were created. Some had
over 100. Others had 78 copies, 45 copies, etc.
 

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