Solved Copy function does not always move folders

First post here, not sure if this is the right subforum. I've searched for similar threads but didn't find any - please let me know if I missed them.

I just bought a new computer with Windows 8. It's fully updated, but I'm having a problem with the copy function. When I copy a folder with files in it, sometimes the files all show up in the destination folder without the source folder. For example, I copy folder "A" and paste it into destination folder "B." What happens is that all the files from folder "A" show up in folder "B" but without folder "A." Please let me know if this doesn't make sense.

This is frustrating especially for the complex array of folders and subfolders I am trying to copy, which would take hours to manually arrange.

More background: This hasn't happened every time. I'm copying folders and files from an external hard drive to the internal hard drive (with the OS) on my new computer. I've successfully copied a folder with not much in it to the desktop, and also one to another location. It has never worked when I've tried to copy all of my documents from the other computer - many gigabytes, thousands of files, many videos and pictures as well as MS Office files.

Is it the volume (number, size) or variety of things I'm trying to copy that's messing up? That seems like it shouldn't be a problem. It worked in Windows XP.... (my old computer).

The only next step I can think of is to be more systematic in my copying: try different destination folders and different amounts of files/folders to see if there are different results. I can paste those here if that would be helpful, but if any of you have helpful ideas that would be great. Thanks.

Yes, I found the same problem. Chronological files from 2002 to 2012 copied to Windows 8 resulted in many errors. An entire year was 'missed'. Many had incomplete days, where only half of the month was copied. I had to manually double-check the entire 30,000 files.
I have also found that the new 'delete' without the 'are you sure' option is not to be trusted, and may delete 3 to 4 consecutive files.
The system is inherently unstable for power users.

Welcome to EightForums, kozechuk. Hello, Jacy.

Could this be caused by different disc filing types and Metadata? Copying from FAT to NTFS perhaps? Just curious as to what the problem is.

External drive was formatted NTFS from factory. I suspect, but have no proof, that any interaction with the computer disrupts the copy action. Copying was done with dual monitors running.

Could be, but when does an OS ever stand still? Even at idle it does something in the background. With gadgets in Vista/7 updating and especially with 8 it's updating live tiles.

I'm on my phone. Have you searched the forum for solution?

Have you? I'm busy - I have a job.

HippsieGypsie said:

Could this be caused by different disc filing types and Metadata? Copying from FAT to NTFS perhaps? Just curious as to what the problem is.

Click to expand...

I hadn't thought of that. Just checked and both drives are NTFS.

Any other ideas about what the problem could be? I've already searched the forums (and Google) and didn't see anything relevant, but I could be using less than precise search terms.

Is it the fact that it's an external hard drive relevant, I wonder? Some of these can be a little flakey, I've heard, when you ask a lot of them.

Ha! Okay, got it. Actually there is no problem, it was just me misunderstanding how the new libraries system works in Windows 8.

I am now able to successfully copy the files! Now that I know what I'm doing... Thanks everyone.

Oh good. Would you please post where you found the answer?

I didn't find an answer online, but through exploration. The big thing for me was realizing that sorting library items by date just shows all the files without the folders, and that the only way to see the folders is to sort with the folder option.

This bugs me though, because what if I want to view files chronologically but also with the folders? I do that a lot for frequently updated files.

Ok. I see. One can still view the files chronologically, but without the folders. Not sure why the folders are important to you in that view? I'm confused and that isn't too difficult these days!

I like having the folders in that view so that the thousands of files they contain don't clutter up the Documents folder. It all serves the purpose of this quirky mental file management system I've created and don't want to let go of, which is too convoluted to explain here.

I've also discovered that one can have the folders displayed (and their files in them) and have the remaining documents arranged chronologically - it's in the ribbon! So what used to be one function (in XP) has now split into two: Sort By, found in the ribbon, and Arrange By, which comes up when one right clicks.

Clearly what I need to do is more exploring - I'm upgrading from Windows XP and don't have any touch screen devices so a lot of the new stuff in Windows 8 is quite new to me.

Glad you figured this out. I've been copying 100's of GB around and I haven't had any issues at all. I really like the "file copy status bar" with Win8 and it's one of the reasons I am now running Win8 on my main desktop. No issues here at all...