Files in sub folder not showing

martinpl · 09 May 2011

Hi

This is a new Acer with Windows 7 Home Premium.

I tried copying some .jpgs in subfolders from a different machine and pasting them onto the Acer. The copy and paste processes looked entirely normal.

On the Acer MyPictures properties shows 2.95 GB with 456 files and 24 folders which is correct. However with the exception of a couple of sub folders none of the .jpgs can be seen in Windows Explorer.

Start>Searching for .jpg shows all the files with a path C:\Users\userName\Pictures\ even though I only saved them in C:\Users\userName\Pictures\My Pictures . Not all the copied sub folders can be seen but those which can be seen show in both locations. Using Search it is possible to open and view any of the images whether or not the sub folder in which they are stored shows in Pictures and My Pictures.

I've been through Properties and don't have any hidden files.

Any help much appreciated.

Martin

MacGyvr · 09 May 2011

Why do you have pictures\my pictures?

GEWB · 09 May 2011

Thinking out loud here - you copied the entire My Pictures folder (with subs and pics) from a different machine, then pasted all into you new Pictures folder. I think the "old" My Pictures was a system folder so when you copied it, it may have kept the permissions. The new system wouldn't have the same "owner" so you can't see them.

This has been a thorn in the side with Windows for a while. Never store anything in the system created folders (My This, My That, Music, Pictures, whatever) as copying/restoring/sharing can trip you up - don't ask how I know but I've been dealing with these problems for a long time.

Regards,
GEWB

martinpl · 10 May 2011

McGyver, The Picture\My Picture is there to distinguish from Pictures\Public. It's the way 7 is set up and not something I did though I did check to make sure just in case

GEWB sorry, I didn't make it clear. I used a USB stick to transfer just the one folder created by me especially for the transfer, sub folders and files to the new machine. I just tried your hint and exactly the same thing happened, so, I thought I'd try copying them to another machine altogether but before I pasted I thought I'd check the images were visible on the USB drive - they aren't, though Properties shows them all as being there! I'm pretty sure there are no Properties set on the USB stick to cause this to happen as I've been using it for a while now with no similar problems so I'm even more confused! I guess it's getting round to doing the whole thing over and hoping something comes out different after checking Properties on the source machine when I can get on it.

Thanks for your thoughts.

mrdemon · 10 May 2011

OK TRY THIS,

Select all,

Property's

Hide all "apply"

Unhide all "apply"

See what happens there.....

martinpl · 10 May 2011

Hi mrdemon - tried that one without success as well.

GEWB · 10 May 2011

martinpl said:

GEWB sorry, I didn't make it clear. I used a USB stick to transfer just the one folder created by me especially for the transfer, sub folders and files to the new machine. I just tried your hint and exactly the same thing happened, so, I thought I'd try copying them to another machine altogether but before I pasted I thought I'd check the images were visible on the USB drive - they aren't, though Properties shows them all as being there!

Ah ha! This might be a clue. Not real sure where it leads me...

Hmm, thought you copied files from the source computer onto the USB flash drive but upon examination of the USB flash drive the files are not there - did I understand this correctly? And just to make things interesting, opening the USB flash drive Properties shows that the file count and capacity used indicates the files are on the drive?

This is getting "curiouser and curiouser!" (from Alice in Wonderland).

I'll give it some thought this evening. Maybe someone else has ideas.

Regards,
GEWB

Ztruker · 10 May 2011

Are they still on the original computer (where you copied them from)?

GEWB · 10 May 2011

martinpl said:

Hi mrdemon - tried that one without success as well.

OK, so you tried "unhiding" the files, that's good.

Just to be sure - you are trying to copy the file and not a shortcut to the file? (I have to ask, sorry.)

I would like you to try something else. Let's see if you can copy the files elsewhere on the source compter, then to the USB drive.

>> Do not plug the USB drive into the source compter just yet. <<

1. On the source computer, create a new folder on the desktop - name it Pics.

2. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to one of the folders that has files you tried to copy but didn't work correctly.

3. Once at the location, click on a file in the right pane, then using your keyboard press Ctrl-A to select all of the files.

4. Now on the keyboard press Ctrl-C to copy all of the selected files to the clipboard.

5. Minimize Windows Explorer - your desktop should now be visible.

6. Double click the newly created Pics folder - it opens as an empty folder.

7. Click in the folder then using your keyboard press Ctrl-V to paste the copied files.

8. Close the Pics folder and close Windows explorer.

9. Plug in the USB flash drive into the source computer.

10. When the system message box appears, select "Open folder to view files."

11. Move the window so you can see the Pics folder on your desktop (or resize if necessary).

12. Click once on the Pics folder on your desktop, then right click it and select Copy.

13. Right click in the right pane of the USB drive window (that you just moved) and select Paste.

14. The files should copy to the USB drive (unless you are copying SHORTCUTS and not actual files).

15. Properly close and eject the media from the computer.

16. Plug the USB flash drive into your new computer.

17. When the system message box appears, select "Open folder to view files."

Are the files listed? If so, right click one of them then select Preview - the picture should display.

If the files are NOT listed, I'll have to give this more thought.

Regards,
GEWB