Files disappear...now you see them now you don't

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Guest

This has been happening periodically and it is baffeling. Large wav
files (1GB) simply disappear. Sometimes if I use a small program
called Restore, it finds them somewhat shredded but sometimes
completely intact. Searching for hidden files and folders doesn't
produce the files. They seem to get deleted...sometimes they are but
don't make it to the Recycle bin but also don't warn me they are too
big for the Recycle. Seems to be random. The business of them simply
disappearing seems to indicate some underlying problem in XP SP2.

Does this ring a bell or have any underlying cause or solution? I am
not sure what to call this since simply searching for info on missing
files turns up a flood of typical OS issues but not this particular
issue.

Thanks for any insights on this.

Henry
 
This has been happening periodically and it is baffeling. Large wav
files (1GB) simply disappear. Sometimes if I use a small program
called Restore, it finds them somewhat shredded but sometimes
completely intact. Searching for hidden files and folders doesn't
produce the files. They seem to get deleted...sometimes they are but
don't make it to the Recycle bin but also don't warn me they are too
big for the Recycle. Seems to be random. The business of them simply
disappearing seems to indicate some underlying problem in XP SP2.

Does this ring a bell or have any underlying cause or solution? I am
not sure what to call this since simply searching for info on missing
files turns up a flood of typical OS issues but not this particular
issue.
Click to expand...
What does a scan in Safe Mode with your antivirus show? If you don't
have a full-featured av installed with an active subscription and
updated definitions, scan with either Sysclean (at the first link
below) or Dave Lipman's Multi-AV (second link). After you've done the
initial scan with one of those tools, get and install a full-featured
av, update it, and do a thorough scan in Safe Mode. It would be smart
to also scan for non-viral malware (instructions at first link).

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware
http://www.ik-cs.com/multi-av.htm - Dave Lipman's Multi-AV

Malke
 
Came up clean on all accounts. I am pretty careful about AV and
malware tracking etc. Since the problem is sporadic, I am not sure
what to make of it.

Henry
 
Came up clean on all accounts. I am pretty careful about AV and
malware tracking etc. Since the problem is sporadic, I am not sure
what to make of it.

Henry
Click to expand...

It would have been better for you to have included that information in
your first post. Sporadic problems point to possible hardware issues.
Test your RAM and then your hard drive.

1) Test the RAM - I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org. Obviously, you
have to get the program from a working machine. You will either
download the precompiled Windows binary to make a bootable floppy or
the .iso to make a bootable cd. If you want to use the latter, you'll
need to have third-party burning software on the machine where you
download the file - XP's built-in burning capability won't do the job.
In either case, boot with the media you made. The test will run
immediately. Let the test run for an hour or two - unless errors are
seen immediately. If you get any errors, replace the RAM.

2) Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from the mftr. Download
the file and make a bootable floppy or cd with it. Boot with the media
and do a thorough test. If the drive has physical errors, replace it.

Malke
 
Thanks for the info...it will take a while to get it done. Thought I
had mentioned it was intermittent but sorry for the oversight.

Henry
 
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