Disappearing Files

I moved my files (all of them) from an XP machine to a new Vista machine.
I'm now finding that some of the files are missing. Specifically, the files
show up within the proper folders with the proper attributes, but when I
attempt to open the file (e.g., by double clicking on the file name), I get a
message saying the file cannot be found and suggesting that I need to check
whether I keyed the name correctly.

Suggestions would be appreciated.
--
Krusty One

IBKrusty wrote:
> I moved my files (all of them) from an XP machine to a new Vista machine.
> I'm now finding that some of the files are missing. Specifically, the files
> show up within the proper folders with the proper attributes, but when I
> attempt to open the file (e.g., by double clicking on the file name), I get a
> message saying the file cannot be found and suggesting that I need to check
> whether I keyed the name correctly.
>
> Suggestions would be appreciated.

1. How did you move the files?
2. To where did you move them?

Without knowing more, I'm guessing that you copied files to locations
that don't really exist such as \Documents and Settings\some-user. There
is no more \Documents and Settings hierarchy in Vista - they are
junctions for backwards compatibility.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

I use my own folder structure, with the top level folders showing up directly
on the "c" drive. For example, the last one this happened to was of the form
c:\folder name\document name (where folder name=Optima, and document
name=Agreement)

This was exactly the structure used on my XP machine, and the copy was
physically made by copying the top level folders/contents (as above) to a USB
hard drive, which I then moved to my Vista system, and I recopied the
folders/contents to the c drive on my vista machine.


--
Krusty One


"Malke" wrote:

> IBKrusty wrote:
> > I moved my files (all of them) from an XP machine to a new Vista machine.
> > I'm now finding that some of the files are missing. Specifically, the files
> > show up within the proper folders with the proper attributes, but when I
> > attempt to open the file (e.g., by double clicking on the file name), I get a
> > message saying the file cannot be found and suggesting that I need to check
> > whether I keyed the name correctly.
> >
> > Suggestions would be appreciated.
>
> 1. How did you move the files?
> 2. To where did you move them?
>
> Without knowing more, I'm guessing that you copied files to locations
> that don't really exist such as \Documents and Settings\some-user. There
> is no more \Documents and Settings hierarchy in Vista - they are
> junctions for backwards compatibility.
>
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>

IBKrusty wrote:
> I use my own folder structure, with the top level folders showing up directly
> on the "c" drive. For example, the last one this happened to was of the form
> c:\folder name\document name (where folder name=Optima, and document
> name=Agreement)
>
> This was exactly the structure used on my XP machine, and the copy was
> physically made by copying the top level folders/contents (as above) to a USB
> hard drive, which I then moved to my Vista system, and I recopied the
> folders/contents to the c drive on my vista machine.
>
>

You may be running into a permissions issue. Vista protects the root of
drives, so first see if you can see your folders by enabling hidden
files as below:

*****
From bleepingcomputer.com

Windows Vista changed the location where you can modify the folder and
file display settings. While before you could access these settings
within any folder, in Windows Vista you need to use the Folder Options
control panel in order to modify how folders, and the files in them, are
displayed.

To enable the viewing of hidden and protected system files in Windows
Vista please follow these steps:

1. Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
2. Click on the Start button. This is the small round button with
the Windows flag in the lower left corner.
3. Click on the Control Panel menu option.
4. When the control panel opens you can either be in Classic View or
Control Panel Home view:

If you are in the Classic View do the following:

1. Double-click on the Folder Options icon.
2. Click on the View tab.
3. Go to step 5.

If you are in the Control Panel Home view do the following:

1. Click on the Appearance and Personalization link.
2. Click on Show Hidden Files or Folders.
3. Go to step 5.

5. Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio
button labeled Show hidden files and folders.
6. Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide extensions
for known file types.
7. Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide protected
operating system files.
8. Press the Apply button and then the OK button.

Now Windows Vista is configured to show all hidden files.
*****

Now see if the "missing" files/folders are there. If they are, I would
suggest that instead of fighting the way the operating system is
constructed you put your folders under your User's directory
(C:\Users\Your-user-account) instead.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Seems unlikely as I can read most of the files (even those in the same
folders) that were copied over at the same time.

All of the file attributes show and apparently are correct.

--
Krusty One


"Malke" wrote:

> IBKrusty wrote:
> > I use my own folder structure, with the top level folders showing up directly
> > on the "c" drive. For example, the last one this happened to was of the form
> > c:\folder name\document name (where folder name=Optima, and document
> > name=Agreement)
> >
> > This was exactly the structure used on my XP machine, and the copy was
> > physically made by copying the top level folders/contents (as above) to a USB
> > hard drive, which I then moved to my Vista system, and I recopied the
> > folders/contents to the c drive on my vista machine.
> >
> >
>
> You may be running into a permissions issue. Vista protects the root of
> drives, so first see if you can see your folders by enabling hidden
> files as below:
>
> *****
> From bleepingcomputer.com
>
> Windows Vista changed the location where you can modify the folder and
> file display settings. While before you could access these settings
> within any folder, in Windows Vista you need to use the Folder Options
> control panel in order to modify how folders, and the files in them, are
> displayed.
>
> To enable the viewing of hidden and protected system files in Windows
> Vista please follow these steps:
>
> 1. Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
> 2. Click on the Start button. This is the small round button with
> the Windows flag in the lower left corner.
> 3. Click on the Control Panel menu option.
> 4. When the control panel opens you can either be in Classic View or
> Control Panel Home view:
>
> If you are in the Classic View do the following:
>
> 1. Double-click on the Folder Options icon.
> 2. Click on the View tab.
> 3. Go to step 5.
>
> If you are in the Control Panel Home view do the following:
>
> 1. Click on the Appearance and Personalization link.
> 2. Click on Show Hidden Files or Folders.
> 3. Go to step 5.
>
> 5. Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio
> button labeled Show hidden files and folders.
> 6. Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide extensions
> for known file types.
> 7. Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide protected
> operating system files.
> 8. Press the Apply button and then the OK button.
>
> Now Windows Vista is configured to show all hidden files.
> *****
>
> Now see if the "missing" files/folders are there. If they are, I would
> suggest that instead of fighting the way the operating system is
> constructed you put your folders under your User's directory
> (C:\Users\Your-user-account) instead.
>
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>

IBKrusty wrote:
> Seems unlikely as I can read most of the files (even those in the same
> folders) that were copied over at the same time.
>
> All of the file attributes show and apparently are correct.
>

Then I'm sorry, but I'm out of ideas. Try copying the missing files over
again. Perhaps someone else will have the answer for you.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Hi,

I would like to add to this thread since I am experiencing disappearing
files on a network drive in a Small Business Server 2003 environment. The
problem has occured a few times to the lone Vista Buisness client on the
network. Files that were worked on and saved to the shared network drive on
the server have simply disappeared. They are not available from previous
versions, and they are not in the network recycle can.

I appear to have resolved another problem concerning permissions that did
not exist before the Vista client, which is that a file saved by the Vista
client (excel) could not be opened and worked on by other users. I changed
the permissions on the entire share to be total control for all users which
then allowed the file to be worked on around the office. Could this affect a
file such that it would be deleted by the system?

Under what conditions could such a thing happen? Which, in case it isn't
obvious, is a potentially business killing event. Vista defaults to offline
files being enabled. Could this cause a file to go missing? I have disabled
offline files and have not heard of any further complaints, but still do not
understand how those files disappeared. Unless the backup captured the file
during it's scheduled run (it didn't) that file is just plain gone.