Not sure how to proceed

Unwarranted

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Here's the situation: I was about to back up my files by transferring them to an external hard drive and was in Documents for that purpose, when I did something that triggered a 'spinning circle' (called a Throbber I believe). I waited for a few minutes but the throbber continued to be there, and the computer continued to do whatever it was doing, so I closed the Windows File Explorer, hoping to start fresh without a throbber. But when I opened the new Windows Explorer the spinning circle was still there and instead of being there for a few seconds--as the green line went left to right across the top and then presenting Documents, Downloads, Music, Videos, etc. when the green line completed its journey, with the spinning circle disappearing as it always does at that point-- the throbber remained, as the green line went 99% of the way across and then stopped.

My initial reaction was to give it as much time as it needed, especially since the words 'This folder is empty' were there, which is always the case when I first open the Windows Explorer for the day, but 'This folder is empty' normally disappears after a few seconds along with the spinning circle, but this time, because it was not completing the process for some reason, the spinning circle remained. I decided to give it more time, but now 'giving it more time' is obviously not enough since that was 20 hours ago! The green line is still there, 99% of the way to completion, but not progressing!

I was going to use the Task Manager and click End Task for the Windows Explorer but the fact that the words 'This folder is empty' were there gave me pause. I was afraid I would lose all my files! So I'm here, asking for advice on how to safely proceed: how I can end this impasse while not jeopardizing any of my files.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Z580
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I often get the same "folder is empty" until finally the directories populate with the real, existent, folders and files.
Being more than 20 hours ago, I do not know how to answer your situation.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit [MS blue-disk set]
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2 Acers & 1 Antec[?]
    CPU
    i7 in 2 Acers, i5 in desktop
    Motherboard
    Desktop w/Gigabyte
    Memory
    Two w/16GB, 1 w/8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Laptops GameWorthy; Desktop maybe GameWorthy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    flatscreens; 2 are BluRay worthy
    Screen Resolution
    1368x768; 1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1TB internals; 2 ext usb WD 1TB HDs
    PSU
    what's PSU?
    Cooling
    Regular plus external fans
    Keyboard
    desktio w/PS2
    Mouse
    desktop w/PS2
    Internet Speed
    DSL middle level [160?]
    Browser
    from Netscape 0.9 to FF 36
    Antivirus
    well-balanced, well-configured mult-layered defense is best
    Other Info
    From MS-DOS 3.3, MS-DOS 6.22, from Windows 3.1 to WFW 3.11 to Windows 95-98SE, now to Windows 7 Pro.
    Security for now: Windows 7 Firewall, Emsisoft AM, MSE [scan-only], SpywareBlaster, Ruiware/BillP combine
Thanks for replying Roland.

After thinking about it, I realized the only sensible thing to do was use the Task Manager, so with a beating heart that verged on tachycardia, I tried that course of action. When I highlighted Windows Explorer in Task Manager, instead of having the option of End task, as is usually the case, I was only offered Restart, so I hesitantly clicked on that. It had the effect of closing the folder, and-- I was ecstatic to see and am happy to report-- when I reopened it, there was a fully populated Windows Explorer folder and no spinning circle!

Roland, in situations comparable to mine, I've often heard people say, "My relief was palpable." In my case, I was actually able to put my relief on my lap and affectionately pat its head!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Z580
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I understand your happiness, same over here! Especially right after a move and paste operation -- the moved items are not visible neither in the former location nor in the new location -- after a restart, everything was in the new location.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit [MS blue-disk set]
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2 Acers & 1 Antec[?]
    CPU
    i7 in 2 Acers, i5 in desktop
    Motherboard
    Desktop w/Gigabyte
    Memory
    Two w/16GB, 1 w/8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Laptops GameWorthy; Desktop maybe GameWorthy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    flatscreens; 2 are BluRay worthy
    Screen Resolution
    1368x768; 1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1TB internals; 2 ext usb WD 1TB HDs
    PSU
    what's PSU?
    Cooling
    Regular plus external fans
    Keyboard
    desktio w/PS2
    Mouse
    desktop w/PS2
    Internet Speed
    DSL middle level [160?]
    Browser
    from Netscape 0.9 to FF 36
    Antivirus
    well-balanced, well-configured mult-layered defense is best
    Other Info
    From MS-DOS 3.3, MS-DOS 6.22, from Windows 3.1 to WFW 3.11 to Windows 95-98SE, now to Windows 7 Pro.
    Security for now: Windows 7 Firewall, Emsisoft AM, MSE [scan-only], SpywareBlaster, Ruiware/BillP combine
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