Windows 7: Computer shows external drive empty while its not.

HI everyone,

Ive been using my WD Elements 1.5TB for quite a while now but I recently had trouble with it.
It doesn't show any of the maps I created on it. However if I type the name of the map in the address bars it does reach the map. I use it to store all my programs, games and movies so its quite important.

Example:
E:\ = It will show that this folder (drive) is empty
E:\Movies = It will show all the movies.

Its the same with my other folders on that drive.

I had the same problem with a smaller drive but there wasn't much on that so I just formatted it and it works fine again.
I can't afford to have all this data wiped so it will take a lot of time backing everything up. (which I also don't have to room for)

I hope anyone knows a solution for this except formatting the drive,

Thanks in advance

It sounds like your permissions have been changed. Do the following steps.

1. Click Start Menu
2. Click My Computer/Computer
3. Right Click the drive in question
4. Click Properties
5. Go to the Security tab

What is listed under Group or user names: ?

Its in dutch but il tranlate it directly

Everyone
System owner
SYSTEM

And all of those have full permissions.

Its also not the hidden folders, I tryed that already.

Alright, do the following. If you have closed the properties and security tab, do steps 1-5 in my previous post again.

1. Click Edit and follow the UAC prompt to get to the next screen.
2. Remove Everyone
3. Add Authenticated Users and give permissions to modify, read & execute, list folder contents, read, and write
4. Add Administrators and give permissions for full control
5. Add Users and give permissions to read & execute, list folder contents, and read
6. Click Apply and then OK
7. Click Advanced (now that you are back in the Security tab)
8. Click the Owner tab
9. Click Edit
10. Follow the UAC prompt to proceed
11. Change Owner to: select your administrative user (you may have to click Other users or groups... and enter the name of your administrative account exactly as it appears when logging in hit OK and then select that user)
12. Tick Replace owner on subcontainers and objects
13. Click Apply and follow the prompts accepting all that you can.
14. Click OK.

Post back whether you are still having problems accessing your folders and file system on the drive.

I tryed it couple of times but with no result. Should I restart my computer after I make the changed to take effect ?

It should not require a restart. Looks like we may have to try something else. Open an Elevated Command Prompt and type in the drive letter for the drive. Then type dir. Should look like:

D:
dir

What does it print out?

Volume in drive E is Elements. (Thats the name of the drive)
Volume Serial Number is XXXX-XXXX

Derectory of E:\

File Not Found

try

dir /a

Thanks for helping like this by the way.
I posted this on the WD forum to and some member just said

"Google" And then no link or anything......

No problem. We occasionally suggest people Google things on these forums, but we usually give a little more direction as to what to Google. We try to give carefully thought out steps to solve problems rather than giving generic solutions.

If dir /a yields the same thing as dir, let us know.