Ghost file with duplicate name under same parent dir

[morongo]

I used robocopy to copy/merge updated files into my DAZ directory.

This worked, no performance issues.

However, I now have two 'My Daz 3D Library' folders existing side by side under the same parent directory, so two dirs with the same name under the same parent.

Looking at the contents in Explorer, they each show identical dir/file structure.

Listing 'Properties' shows one dir at 87GB, the other at 17MB.

Attempting to rename the 'ghost' dir, results in the rename being applied to the 'real' dir.

They are, in some way, linked. I don't want to lose 87 gigs of data and work experimenting with file deletion if I can't 'for sure' rename the ghost, thus unmapping it from my main (real) dir.

And, yes, clicking on any file/subdir in the 'Ghost' dir results in: '...refers to a locaction that is unavailable...'

Furthermore, after renaming the ghost directory, the 'real' dir get's renamed, not the 'Ghost and I am able to see that the ghost only has two subdirs under it...I would have tried deleting these, but if they are linked data with the 'real' dir, I could lose those folders, so I'm going with caution until I get some expert advice.

I contemplated going ahead with the rename, deleting the ghost and then renaming my original dir back again, but figured I'd wait to see what others had to say.

 

[file3456]

What I would do is copy/paste the real directory to another spot as a backup and then try to delete the ghost directory. However, I'm thinking that if you copy/paste the real directory to another location I'm thinking the ghost directory will come along for a ride.

I know of a small program that might help with this and/or delete the ghost directory. It's called FastCopy. Download FastCopy - MajorGeeks

PS: Your image there from Dropfiles isn't parsed correctly. You can just attach images here using the advanced posting option, or use the image BBcode.

 

[morongo]

Thanks, F22.

Yeah, like I said, I've thought about doing the renaming thing, which does separate the contents of the folders with the exception of two subdirectories. Those two could have something to do with the link, symlink, or whatever Robocopy managed to mess up when I was merging files.

On copying over the real directory, I think you may be right, Windows will probably maintain the linkage, similarly to the way it copies the 'files' dependancies when you move an html page.

Renaming is probably the only way to de-link the two folders, at this point.
I'll backup the real dir (after renaming), then try a delete on the ghost and see where it goes.

I'll post back the results.

Thanks again.


Here's the image that didn't make it in the last post:

 

[morongo]

No, that didn't work either, I'll try FastCopy and see if it can do anything.

 

[file3456]

Thanks, F22.
On copying over the real directory, I think you may be right, Windows will probably maintain the linkage, similarly to the way it copies the 'files' dependancies when you move an html page.

This is the exact analogy I had in mind when I wrote that. How Windows does that with saved HTML files and their accompanying resources in a folder of JS, CSS and what not I one day have to learn. It's very interesting how Windows knows that HTML file is associated to that resource folder. Perhaps understanding this may be the answer you're looking for. I was also thinking something about the thumbs file which is invisible, but I'm not sure.

It could be some sort of symlink. I only know those to be used where you'd want to redirect a Windows folder or something to another directory. I did it once to symlink my browser cache folder to a RAM drive so everything was dumped on exit, but since that was the case, between PC reboots the symlink disappeared. I used a nifty GUI-based program to create the symlink. I don't remember its name now, but I think I made a post about it years ago on my website.

Your issue now is just one reason why I won't use something like Robocopy. For general backups I use FreeFileSync. I guess for some people Robocopy works for them, by my computer clairvoyance tells me something different. LOL

 

[file3456]

No, that didn't work either, I'll try FastCopy and see if it can do anything.

You might want to backup then rename just to be on the safe side. I hope I'm not too late.

 

[iko22]

Hello,

I used robocopy to copy/merge updated files into my DAZ directory.

This worked, no performance issues.

However, I now have two 'My Daz 3D Library' folders existing side by side under the same parent directory, so two dirs with the same name under the same parent.

Looking at the contents in Explorer, they each show identical dir/file structure.

Listing 'Properties' shows one dir at 87GB, the other at 17MB.

Attempting to rename the 'ghost' dir, results in the rename being applied to the 'real' dir.

How are you renaming files? Do you use the REN command from CMD prompt? Or are you renaming files via the Windows Explorer (File Explorer) program?

Problems can occur if the Security Attributes are not copied over when you used ROBOCOPY, as Windows will then assume them to be separate Folders.