Not all files in folder are showing

[Guest]

First of all, this is not a system file. It's a folder that I created and
all files are user files that I created - specifically, most are jpg files.
As of this morning, when I click on the folder, only about 1/8 of the files
that were there yesterday were showing - I tried different folder views and
the results were the same.

Baffled, I checked in recycle to see if somehow I had accidentally deleted
the files. I had not. I then searched my whole system to see if I had
accidentally dragged and dropped them somewhere else. I had not.

I have a slightly old backup on another computer. So, I selected a file
from the backup that was not showing in the problem folder. I copied from
the backup, then did paste in the problem folder. It then said the file is
already there and did I want to replace it - even though the file does not
show in any view in Windows Explorer. It also does not show in the image
browser view in Paint Shop Pro.

A lot of the files contain a common element in the name - so I did a search
of my entire system for this common element. For some files, but not all, a
shortcut for the file appeared, but not the missing file itself. When I
double-clicked the shortcut, I was able to open the "missing" file in Paint
Shop Pro. Once open, I then attempted to save it into the problem folder.
Again, it said the file was there and did I want to replaceit. In this case,
I selected "yes" and now the file shows in Paint Shop Pro image browser.
However, individually doing this with all missing files is not a good
solution because (1) there are hundeds of files not showing and (2) not all
"missing" files have a shortcut.

Any ideas?

 

[Larry Samuels]

This may sound odd, but have you tried rebooting the PC?

I have one older system that needs a video card replaced where folders will
suddenly show a partial file list if the card overheats. Rebooting the pc
gives the card a chance to cool and all files appear.

I have learned to recognize the symptom before it happens. It is preceded on
my system by minor visual anomalies like dropdown arrows appearing as
numbers etc. Once the anomalies appear it is usually only a matter of
minutes before the files disappear.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-

 

[NewScience]

Have you tried checking the hard drive (chkdsk - automatic fix)?
When you right-click on the folder name, Properties, what does the Contains
say. Files? Folders?

Drop-down to Command Prompt, do a dir /a /x in the folder and see what shows
up and what the counts are at the end of the list. Note the shortname and
see if any conflicts.

Do the filenames have any special characters in them, spaces? dashes?
periods? (how many periods)?
tildes? (~)

 

[Guest]

Indeed, a chkdsk solved the problem. Thanks so much!

Cynthia