Can see files in command prompt but not in windows explorer

My friends HD crashed. Before I reformatted it, I went into the Command
Prompt option from the Windows RE and copied all the files and folders to a
usb harddrive. (I used the robocopy command from the command prompt.) Now,
when I connect the hd to another machine, I cannot see and of the files or
folders that I copied in Windows Explorer. I know the files are there because
I can still see them from a command prompt and Windows (Vista) even reports
that there are 27GB used on the disk. How can I see these files in Windows so
that I can copy them back? PLEASE help! Thanks.

domtrump <> wrote:
>
> My friends HD crashed. Before I reformatted it, I went into the Command
> Prompt option from the Windows RE and copied all the files and folders
> to a usb harddrive. (I used the robocopy command from the command
> prompt.) Now, when I connect the hd to another machine, I cannot see
> and of the files or folders that I copied in Windows Explorer. I know
> the files are there because I can still see them from a command prompt
> and Windows (Vista) even reports that there are 27GB used on the disk.
> How can I see these files in Windows so that I can copy them back?
> PLEASE help! Thanks.


What is the location of these files?

I am assuming that they are not hidden system files (without the hidden
attribute) as you actually want to save them (and I do not think there are
many, if any, system files with the hidden attribute set).

I am guessing that these files are on the Desktop, and you cannot see them
in the user's desktop folder because they are in the shared Public desktop
folder.

C:\Users\Public\Desktop

.... is the default location, IIRC.

ss.

Synapse Syndrome <> wrote:
>>
>> My friends HD crashed. Before I reformatted it, I went into the Command
>> Prompt option from the Windows RE and copied all the files and folders
>> to a usb harddrive. (I used the robocopy command from the command
>> prompt.) Now, when I connect the hd to another machine, I cannot see
>> and of the files or folders that I copied in Windows Explorer. I know
>> the files are there because I can still see them from a command prompt
>> and Windows (Vista) even reports that there are 27GB used on the disk.
>> How can I see these files in Windows so that I can copy them back?
>> PLEASE help! Thanks.
>
>
> What is the location of these files?
>
> I am assuming that they are not hidden system files (without the hidden
> attribute) as you actually want to save them (and I do not think there
> are many, if any, system files with the hidden attribute set).
>
> I am guessing that these files are on the Desktop, and you cannot see
> them in the user's desktop folder because they are in the shared Public
> desktop folder.
>
> C:\Users\Public\Desktop
>
> ... is the default location, IIRC.


I re-read your post and realised that I did not read it properly.

I cannot think of any reason for that happening right at this moment, but
what is stopping you from using Robocopy to copy them back?

ss.

"Synapse Syndrome" wrote:

> Synapse Syndrome <> wrote:
> >>
> >> My friends HD crashed. Before I reformatted it, I went into the Command
> >> Prompt option from the Windows RE and copied all the files and folders
> >> to a usb harddrive. (I used the robocopy command from the command
> >> prompt.) Now, when I connect the hd to another machine, I cannot see
> >> and of the files or folders that I copied in Windows Explorer. I know
> >> the files are there because I can still see them from a command prompt
> >> and Windows (Vista) even reports that there are 27GB used on the disk.
> >> How can I see these files in Windows so that I can copy them back?
> >> PLEASE help! Thanks.
> >
> >
> > What is the location of these files?
> >
> > I am assuming that they are not hidden system files (without the hidden
> > attribute) as you actually want to save them (and I do not think there
> > are many, if any, system files with the hidden attribute set).
> >
> > I am guessing that these files are on the Desktop, and you cannot see
> > them in the user's desktop folder because they are in the shared Public
> > desktop folder.
> >
> > C:\Users\Public\Desktop
> >
> > ... is the default location, IIRC.
>
>
> I re-read your post and realised that I did not read it properly.
>
> I cannot think of any reason for that happening right at this moment, but
> what is stopping you from using Robocopy to copy them back?
>
> ss.
>
>
>

If I copy back with Robocopy, the same thing happens on the new computer.
The files are there, but they only show up in command prompt - not windows
explorer. Any ideas?

Domenick wrote:

> If I copy back with Robocopy, the same thing happens on the new computer.
> The files are there, but they only show up in command prompt - not windows
> explorer. Any ideas?

Someone more clever than I about attributes/permissions may come along, but
here's a workaround I'd try.

Boot with Knoppix or the Linux Live CD of your choice. Burn the files to CD
using the K3B burning program. Or try copying them to a freshly formatted
USB stick with enough capacity. The point is that Linux doesn't honor
Windows' file attributes/permissions and perhaps this will allow you to get
the files back in a visible state.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ