Empty folders with vanishing files, Mostly documents.

gwatts

New Member
Messages
23
Hi
Over the years I've tried to save all my documents. This means that they have been copied from folder to folder and computer to computer (whatever was before Windows 95) probably mostly through external storage. However, some of these were saved directly to the 2nd internal hard drive D:\ of Windows 8 may be included, but I'm not certain.

I believe all of the folders are present, most of which are identified by date. However, many of the folders are completely empty. I cannot see a pattern as to which folders. This seems to involve mostly older folders, (and this may mean that it is more likely that they have been through a USB device) but not all of the older folders are empty. More recent ones are also empty. Otherwise, I cannot identify any specific documents, only that large numbers of folders are empty.

I doubt it is possible to recover anything but I would like to prevent this from happening in the future.

Any advice or comments will be greatly appreciated.

 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ProStar Clevo M-Tech
    CPU
    i7 4930MX
    Motherboard
    P155M
    Memory
    32
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M
    Sound Card
    HD Audio device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 840 EVO 250GB mSATA

    HGST HTS721010A9E630
    Mouse
    USB
    Internet Speed
    6 mbps
    Browser
    Fx, IE, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malaware WinDefend
On the odd chance, open one of the folders and click the View tab, do you have a check mark in show Hidden files.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1 Update 1 Pro 64bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pavillion H8-1202
    CPU
    I7-2600 @ 3.4 GHz
    Motherboard
    PEGATRON
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NIVDIA GeForce GT 520
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC656GR CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster S22B350
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080 32 bit color
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 EVO SSD 500GB
    Keyboard
    Razer Blackwidow Ultimate 2013
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
Thank you. Yes, Hidden files is always checked.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ProStar Clevo M-Tech
    CPU
    i7 4930MX
    Motherboard
    P155M
    Memory
    32
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M
    Sound Card
    HD Audio device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 840 EVO 250GB mSATA

    HGST HTS721010A9E630
    Mouse
    USB
    Internet Speed
    6 mbps
    Browser
    Fx, IE, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malaware WinDefend

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1 Update 1 Pro 64bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pavillion H8-1202
    CPU
    I7-2600 @ 3.4 GHz
    Motherboard
    PEGATRON
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NIVDIA GeForce GT 520
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC656GR CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster S22B350
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080 32 bit color
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 EVO SSD 500GB
    Keyboard
    Razer Blackwidow Ultimate 2013
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
Thank you. I use Acronis TrueImage now (in the past Windows and Macrum Reflect) for my C:\drive. But I've always performed initial storage and the 1st backup of documents and other files that I wish to preserve on non C:\ internal drives and then drag, or copy and paste to USB devices and then back and forth to internal drives. Only occasionally have I uses CDs or DVDs.

Do you believe that these programs would create less vulnerable backups? I don't know for sure, but it's my impression the loss occurs later rather than earlier.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ProStar Clevo M-Tech
    CPU
    i7 4930MX
    Motherboard
    P155M
    Memory
    32
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M
    Sound Card
    HD Audio device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 840 EVO 250GB mSATA

    HGST HTS721010A9E630
    Mouse
    USB
    Internet Speed
    6 mbps
    Browser
    Fx, IE, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malaware WinDefend
Acronis Trueimage, excellent choice, I use it. Be sure to back up to an external HD. Saved my bacon on a couple of occasions.

Drag copy and paste was not a good choice and that is why your files are missing. It was not a secure option.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1 Update 1 Pro 64bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pavillion H8-1202
    CPU
    I7-2600 @ 3.4 GHz
    Motherboard
    PEGATRON
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NIVDIA GeForce GT 520
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC656GR CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster S22B350
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080 32 bit color
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 EVO SSD 500GB
    Keyboard
    Razer Blackwidow Ultimate 2013
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
Thank you.

Any links or info on this "drag not good" or how it differs?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ProStar Clevo M-Tech
    CPU
    i7 4930MX
    Motherboard
    P155M
    Memory
    32
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M
    Sound Card
    HD Audio device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 840 EVO 250GB mSATA

    HGST HTS721010A9E630
    Mouse
    USB
    Internet Speed
    6 mbps
    Browser
    Fx, IE, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malaware WinDefend
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