Files that I have deleted keep coming back on their own!

My computer runs Windows 7 Home Premium.

I have been going through my Library directories, (in particular my Document directory), doing some housekeeping. You know the procedure, deleting old files which are no longer relevant and deleting stuff that I no longer want and stuff that somehow I have repeatedly located in different directories, getting everything rationalised and organised.

The sort of files that I am deleting are Word and Excel files, .pdf Adobe files, downloaded program files that I scan prior to installing, zip files and folders and folders containing files - nothing out of the ordinary really!

A couple of days later I notice those damned files that I know I deleted, (and I made sure that the Recycle Bin was cleared out too), have all somehow been reinstated to exactly where I deleted them from.

I repeat the exercise and it happens again!

I don't understand why - it's like the candle you can't blow out!

I'm not sure if the same thing has happened with any other areas of the Library.

I do perform a backup to an external hard drive once a week. The drive is a Seagate and I am using the Seagate backup software, but this shouldn't be causing this - should it? I'm only backing up, I'm not asking for it to restore anything.

Can anyone tell me what is going on and how I can fix it?

I can't perform what you say at present as i've cleared the unwanted files out again. I have checked and cleared them out of the Recycle Bin and I've also had a look in the Public Folders under my name and they have deleted from there also.

I have a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach that it may be something to do with my weekly backup to my external Seagate hard drive. I run Seagate's software to perform the weekly backup.

I'll report back to this thread after the next backup operation which is due next Monday 20, September, so keep a watchout!

Hi Bigmck,

Remember that sick feeling I had in the pit of my stomach?

Well the Seagate drive ran the backup using the Seagate software (for a Seagate 500GB Desktop External hard drive), today and guess what - all my housework was for nothing!

Its all there - all the old files and folders I deleted are all back where they came from.

So it is something to do with the Seagate stuff. I have sent a query off to the Seagate support team so it remains to be seen what they come up with.

In the meantime, if anyone knows anymore about this I would really appreciate it.

Barneyboy48 said:

My computer runs Windows 7 Home Premium.

I have been going through my Library directories, (in particular my Document directory), doing some housekeeping. You know the procedure, deleting old files which are no longer relevant and deleting stuff that I no longer want and stuff that somehow I have repeatedly located in different directories, getting everything rationalised and organised.

The sort of files that I am deleting are Word and Excel files, .pdf Adobe files, downloaded program files that I scan prior to installing, zip files and folders and folders containing files - nothing out of the ordinary really!

A couple of days later I notice those damned files that I know I deleted, (and I made sure that the Recycle Bin was cleared out too), have all somehow been reinstated to exactly where I deleted them from.

I repeat the exercise and it happens again!

I don't understand why - it's like the candle you can't blow out!

I'm not sure if the same thing has happened with any other areas of the Library.

I do perform a backup to an external hard drive once a week. The drive is a Seagate and I am using the Seagate backup software, but this shouldn't be causing this - should it? I'm only backing up, I'm not asking for it to restore anything.

Can anyone tell me what is going on and how I can fix it?

One problem I see here is that you are trying to delate files from the Homegroup rather than the User folders. Remember that the Homegroup folders only represent the actual files contained in your User folders, they are not the actual file but mearly an icon that represents the actual file. Therefore it usually works best to delate those files directly from the User folders instead of the Homegroup folders.

It seems that depending on the size of the file, they do not delate correctly from the Homegroup. Hope this helps. :)

You can also try using the menu to delate files from the Homegroup. In Homegroups try enabling the menu first, go to organize tab>layout>enable menu bar>then highlight file>file delate may work.

bigmck said:

Hi -- That is really strange. When Seagate replies to you, let us know what they say. You have my curiousity up now.

Hi BigMck,

I have had a short response from Seagate, (surprisingly quick off the mark!).

Only a couple of simple questions including, "are you deleting from the computer also after you delete it from the hard drive", and "are you doing a back-up or a sync of the drives"

In answer to these questions I have replied that I am only deleting files from the computer, the external hard drive is only connected when I am doing my weekly back-up.

As far as the second question is concerned, I said back-up only, as far as I am aware. I have only followed the standard back-up instructions and all the settings are as recommended. The only thing that I have set differently is the day and time of the back-up.

I am a bit confused by his first question. I am not deleting anything from the external hard drive before I start on the computer. I would have expected the external hard drive to back-up exactly whatever files and folders are on my computer regardless of whether I have deleted, created shifted around and generally reorganised them.

I think, from reading the software bumpf, that the first time back-up takes everything as it is, and then subsequent back-ups only look at files that have been amended or added. Perhaps I have confused it by all of my intense housekeeping - I don't know! Perhaps after I had finished the big house keeping exercise I should have started the back-up as though it was a "virginal" one, (for want of a better term).

But surely, it should be capable of dealing with this sort of eventuality - I mean we all tidy up our computer hard drives from time to time don't we, (don't include my missus in that generalisation!).

Keep your eyes peeled, I will come back to you when Seagate respond again.

bigmck said:

That first question stumps me also. Not sure what Seagate means. You are correct that after the first backup, only new items are backed up. I have an online service that backs up my HD everynight and I am sure I have deleted some files, but have never seen them reappear, but they might if I ever have to do a restore. I am not sure. In your case you are not doing a restore so it is a mystery how they keep showing up. I will keep my eyes peeled for your next chapter.

Hi BigMck,

I think I am dealing with an imbecile again!

I cannot seem to get through to this guy that it isn't my computer that is at fault, and I don't think the hard drive is faulty either - it's seems fairly obvious that it is the actual software that Seagate have supplied to set up the back-up procedure and perform it.

I've already written back telling him this and asked him if he can consult someone higher up the ladder.

I've also told him that I have performed backups using two other software packages, (i.e. FBackup and the backup facility within Windows 7), using a different hard drive and had no similar problems.

I thought by sticking with the Seagate software using the Seagate Desktop external hard drive, it would make life easier when I requested technical back-up.

Obviously I was being unreasonaable with myself!

Out of interest, here's the latest reply exactly as it came, (he sounds as if he comes from a Spanish or Portugese speaking country, then again I might be wrong and its probably Mumbai again!

Dear Sir;

Thank you for your response.

However if your problem is with the computer and not your hard drive you will need to contact the manufacture of the computer.

It is not that I dont want to assist you but Seagate policy prohibits me from this because if I misdiagnose the issue then Seagate would be responsible for the errors.

Please i hope you understand. But issues with the hard drive I can assist but issues with your computer i cannot.

Best Regards