Full Folder transferred from XP computer shows "Empty Folder" in Vista

[frank1492]

I just copied the Documents and Settings/Frank/Applications folder
to a thumb drive and verified on the old computer that it copied all
sub-folders and files correctly. When read with the new computer
(Vista) I get a "this folder is empty" message, though a check of
Properties shows all files and folders are there! I tried an archive
but that didn't help.
Why won't those files show up when the thumbdrive is read
by the Vista computer? I need them to update the bookmarks and
history on a newly installed Mozilla Firefox.
Thanks for help!
Frank

 

[Cameron Snyder]

Click start/help and support and type "easy transfer" in the search bar.
Everything you ask for is there. Follow those instructions. You need a lot
more knowledge to use the thumbdrive-copy-on-your-own method. Continuing to
impose your XP assumptions on Vista, and forcing it to copy to incorrect
locations will result in problems. XP locations are not the same in Vista.
Indeed most of the problems here have their beginnings with the very natural
feeling that we know more than we do.

 

[theclyde]

I just copied the Documents and Settings/Frank/Applications folder
to a thumb drive and verified on the old computer that it copied all
sub-folders and files correctly.  When read with the new computer
(Vista)  I get a "this folder is empty" message, though a check of
Properties shows all files and folders are there! I tried an archive
but that didn't help.
     Why won't those files show up when the thumbdrive is read
by the Vista computer? I need them to update the bookmarks and
history on a newly installed Mozilla Firefox.
     Thanks for help!
          Frank

Vista likes to really control what you can and cannot see on your
computer. Do not expect Vista explorer and/or search to be helpful,
useful or even trustworthy when evaluating drives, folders or files.
Find yourself a good third party file management tool if you need to
see or use your files

 

[LSR]

Vista likes to really control what you can and cannot see on your
computer. Do not expect Vista explorer and/or search to be helpful,
useful or even trustworthy when evaluating drives, folders or files.
Find yourself a good third party file management tool if you need to
see or use your files

It's a problem with Permissions. Even with administrator rights, you have to
take ownership of the folder and subfolders, then give yourself full
control.

 

[frank1492]

I have not used easy transfer because the source computer has an
intermittent condition in which it is only functional occasionally.
Any long transfer process is likely to get hung up.
Have you seen documentation that says I can't do what I tried
to do? Is it having to do specifically with the "Documents and
Settings" folder that Vista doesn't want you to tamper with?
Otherwise it makes no sense to me that a simple folder/file
transfer (not a program transfer) can't be done without issues.
I thank you for your help but will continue to look for other
responses.
Frank

 

[frank1492]

Thanks now we are getting somewhere. Could you please
explain how I take "ownership?"

 

[frank1492]

I don't think this is the issue as I have no "Access Denied" error.
The files appear to be copying properly, but then when you go
to look at them, it says "this folder is empty."

 

[LSR]

I don't think this is the issue as I have no "Access Denied" error.
The files appear to be copying properly, but then when you go
to look at them, it says "this folder is empty."

Hmm. All I know is that I got exactly the same problem using Acronis to
restore files from an XP backup to Vista. Only "my documents" was affected.

It can't hurt to try anyway. (I'm at work using XP at the moment so I hope
it's the same with Vista). In folder options, disable "simple file sharing"
so you get the Security tab in Properties. Right-click the "empty" folder,
Properties, Security, Advanced, Owner. Select yourself, Replace owner on
subcontainers. If you don't have access permissions it should ask if you
want them. I daresay UAC might pop up a few times too.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Frank.

As one guy with just one computer and no net but the Internet, I never had
to learn anything about permissions and such until I started using Vista.
So I was frustrated and mystified when every attempt to Import email
messages into Windows Mail from the OE6 Store Folder always met with the
message that there were NO files in that folder! :>( It took me a while to
learn that, yes, I did have to give myself permission to see my own files,
even on the same hard drive in the same computer. And then I had to learn
HOW to do that; I eventually got it done, but by trial and error and I'm not
sure just what steps finally worked. But when I did finally Take Ownership
of that Store Folder file, all my emails were there and transferred just
fine. ;<)

Like you, I got no "Access Denied" message. Just "there are no files in
that folder", or something to that effect.

You have an additional hurdle which the others mentioned: There is no
Documents and Settings folder in Vista, only a Junction pointing to the new
location, which for you is probably C:\Users\Frank\Documents. It would have
been better if you had copied the CONTENTS of that folder from your old
computer to a folder named simply "OldDocs" or some other generic name on
the thumb drive. Then Vista would happily show you all those files and move
them to wherever you say on your new computer. Maybe it's not too late for
you to wipe the thumb drive clean and start over with copying from the old
computer.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)

 

[Dave]

Use "Takeown" to take ownership
Use "Icacls" to change permissions


http://blogs.msdn.com/tims/archive/2006/11/10/windows-vista-secret-11-deleting-the-undeletable.aspx

 

[Cameron Snyder]

Well the most immediate documentation of the fact that you can't do what you
tried to do is your own message. Perhaps if you would describe exactly the
files or settings you want to transfer, someone would be able to tell you
how. However, flash drive can be used in easy transfer and there is
documentation for that where I pointed you.

The reason that a simple transfer can't be done is that where you are trying
to copy to does not exist, and you are unable to create it because it is
reserved for backward XP compatibility not your manipulation. Be happy,
you'd probably doing a complete reinstall if you were allowed to mess with
it.