Solved Just how many video folders should there be??

[Florio]

Up until recently I had two video folders on my PC, one in with my collections (photos, music, videos etc), which I consider the principal folder, and another as a User subfolder (which is identical in terms of its contents to the main one, and which I don't really touch).

The other day, for some reason there was a third folder, containing exactly the same files as the other two, nested within the public videos subfolder of the main video folder. As my video folder contains numerous films, and is therefore very space consuming, I decided to delete the third folder; I received a message that the contents were too big to go in the bin. After about a minute I realised that the contents of this third folder were also being removed from the other two video folders, and so I cancelled the deletion, but not before a large number of video files had been completely removed.

I have managed to recover some of these (but by no means all of them) by using various software. But the problem still remains: why is there a third video folder, and how can I get rid of it and its contents without affecting my other video folders?

 

[Kaktussoft]

Please post a screenshot. That will show the problem.

So you deleted files from Folder1, Folder2, or Folder3? Assume you deleted files from folder3.

Rightclick on folder3 and select "previous versions". Select some version and click "open". Now you can drag some old (deleted) files to the current folder.

 

[Florio]

Thanks for the reply, Kaktussoft.

I initially tried what you've suggested, but there were no restore points on my PC!!!
I used a couple of recovery tools (including Recuva), but many of the files I'd erased could not be restored.
I've uploaded a screenshot but it is not terribly helpful. You can probably see, however, that the two video folders are identical (I wouldn't have been able to fit the User video folder on the same screenshot.)

 

[Kaktussoft]

Rightclick on library Video just under musica. Select properties. Post screenshot

Under library Video I see 2 folders called Videos with an icon. Both folders have same contents? So if you add a file to one folder it is also in the older folder?

Does the problem folder contain Public or Private stuff? I mean should all users on pc be able to see them?

 

[Florio]

Hi Kaktussoft,

Sorry to have taken so long to get back to you (terrible week!!).

Here is the screenshot you asked for (you'll notice that my version of Windows 7 is in Italian, but I'm sure you can still understand what the commands etc. are).

If I add a file or subfolder to any one of the three video folders, it appears in the other two folders.

I am really the only one who uses this computer, and there is only one user profile (if my wife does use this laptop, she uses my profile; but she doesn't watch my videos!)

Florio

 

[Kaktussoft]

It isn't a folder problem at all!! It's a library problem.

public video's are in: c:\utenti\pubblica\videos pubblica (the default , so fine)
private video's are in: c:\utenti\pubblica\videos pubblica\videos

So private video's are in subfolder of public video's!! Normally you see private and public video's. So some folders you see twice. They are actually the same!

Click on "reset to default settings" somewhere on bottom of screenshot. Click ok. Now again properties and post screenshot

 

[Kaktussoft]

Most likely you dragged on dropped your "private video" folder to c:\users\public\videos (but then in Italian). win7 is too smart and updates libary automatically as well.

 

[Florio]

Have done as you say, but the screenshot is the same. I'm sure that you are right, and that I (accidentally) dragged and dropped one video folder into the other.
The 'ripristina' button doesn't seem to have done anything.

 

[Kaktussoft]

In folder c:\utenti\pubblica\videos pubblica
you have a folder called "videos"
right click on it->properties.->tab location.->default settings. the location changes to C:\users\yourname\Music (yes?)
Now press OK and again OK I think.

Create screenshot again and post it

 

[Florio]

I'm doing it now, but all of the files are being copied!! Should this be happening? It's going to take an hour...

 

[Kaktussoft]

Copying from what to what? to c:\users\yourname\videos?
There was u button "relocate" as well!

Let it copy now

Are you still in dialog?

 

[Kaktussoft]

cancel the copy

move the files/folders yourself from c:\utenti\pubblica\videos to pubblica\videos to c:\utenti\yourname\my videos
Now c:\utenti\pubblica\videos to pubblica\videos is empty and c:\utenti\yourname\my videos has all the stuff

then do again
In folder c:\utenti\pubblica\videos pubblica
you have a folder called "videos"
right click on it->properties.->tab location.->default settings. the location changes to C:\users\yourname\Videos (yes?)
Now press OK and again OK I think.

Create screenshot again and post it
-----
P.S. I posted Music in last post sorry

 

[Florio]

I cancelled the copying as it was going to take forever; I'm not sure exactly how much was copied or where it ended up!
I'll try following your latest suggestions. I'm a bit wary of losing my files again, but we'll see how it goes. I suppose I'll be told that the various files already exist and then asked if I want to replace them. I'll get back to you later, if not tonight then tomorrow.

 

[Kaktussoft]

I cancelled the copying as it was going to take forever; I'm not sure exactly how much was copied or where it ended up!
I'll try following your latest suggestions. I'm a bit wary of losing my files again, but we'll see how it goes. I suppose I'll be told that the various files already exist and then asked if I want to replace them. I'll get back to you later, if not tonight then tomorrow.

Nothing is lost!!! Part of it let's say 30% has been copied. Move (don't copy) all files to the new folder. Win7 says "file already exists". Click "don't override" and put checkmark at "do same action for all files". I don't know exactly but it's something like that. Moving takes maybe 1 minute.

 

[Florio]

Everything now seems to be in the right place!!

I have my videos in the folder below images and music and also in my individual (utente) folder, with no other copies anywhere!

Thanks a lot for all your help and patience!

 

[Kaktussoft]

it's fine now? c:\utenti\pubblica\videos to pubblica\videos is empty or gone? Or still some files there (files that you did copy and not move)

Delete that folder if you're sure everything is in the other place

 

[Florio]

Can't see any other video files for the moment, but if I do I'll just delete them (the other folder has disappeared).
Thanks once again for your help.