Empty folders

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  1. gwatts
    Posts : 22
    Windows 7 64 bit
       New #1

    Empty folders


    Hi
    For some months I have noticed empty folders, particularly on several USB hard drives. This has occurred on both Windows 7 and Windows 8 laptops. It also occurs on the independent internal hard drive on this Windows 7 laptop that I am using now.


    This always occurs with folders within folders, all of which are preserved but without any contents. I’m not aware of any folders themselves that are missing. Most of the contents are documents but all types of files are missing.


    This occurs despite re installing images as well as after complete DVD Windows reinstallation.


    The snipping tool images show the empty folders yet with properties revealing 52 GB of data which cannot be found. Recuva freeware reveals only 2 PDFs.


    I will greatly appreciate advice.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Empty folders-empty-folders-1.png   Empty folders-empty-folders-2.png   Empty folders-empty-folders-3.png  
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  3. MilesAhead
    Posts : 5,092
    Windows 7 32 bit
       New #2

    Some of the folder names imply you are running encryption software. That would be the first thing I would check. Perhaps that software(assuming I'm correct) has a forum you can check for this type of issue.

    Edit: another assumption.. you already tried in folder view options setting it to show hidden files?
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  4. gwatts
    Posts : 22
    Windows 7 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Thank you Miles. Nothing has ever been hidden, all has always been shown (first thing I do on reinstall or new computer) and never any encryption. Win 7 PW removed on 2nd day of this re-install last week done hoping to cure this problem.

    Disorganized names is from over the years and copying from multiple USB HD devices. Athough I never searched on the HDs of Win 7 or 8 for missing files I was surprised to find missing files on the installed W7 HD.
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  6. MilesAhead
    Posts : 5,092
    Windows 7 32 bit
       New #4

    I've seen a post now and then about missing files. I seem to remember one person saying it was related to bit defender, but I have no link to the post. Just a vague recollection.

    Maybe someone else can chime in.
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  7. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       New #5

    Many programs place folders into Documents. That's why I have my own folders on another partition. That way I can keep easy control of the program or system generated folders.

    I would just leave them alone. The fact that they may appear to be empty does not mean that they are really empty.
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  8. gwatts
    Posts : 22
    Windows 7 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    But how to access? Any paid programs worth try?
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  10. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       New #7

    If those are folders that belong to programs, only those programs may be able to access them.
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  11. gwatts
    Posts : 22
    Windows 7 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    Thank you. I don't understand. What do I do with Word, Excel OO etc docs?
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  12. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       New #9

    Do you have Windows Office on your syste,. Else you can get the free Word Viewer or the free Excel Viewer. And if you want to do some processing with the files, you can try Libre Office. That is somewhat compatible.
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  13. gwatts
    Posts : 22
    Windows 7 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       New #10

    Have OpenOffice 3.3.0 and MS Office 2010. What do I do?
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