Files disappear inside directory

Thanks in a advance for your help. For some reason, the files and subdirectories inside my "C:\unzipped" directory have disappeared, and when I copy a new file into this directory, it also disappears. But I know the files are still in that directory because when I try to copy the same file into that directory, a message indicates that a file with the same name is already in the directory.

I was able to open one of the many subdirectories inside the C:\unzipped directory by using the File - Open - Recent command in Internet Explorer. I was able to drag this subdirectory into a new directory, and all of the files are intact.

I tried the "Show hidden files and folders" command within the C:\unzipped directory, but nothing changed. I also checked inside the directory using MS-DOS, and it appeared empty. However I know the files are still in there since I can open some of them using programs that save recently opened files.

This problem is limited to the C:\unzipped directory.

Any thoughts on this problem would be greatly appreciated, as I am totally stumped (and not a computer expert).

Thank you very much.

 

Have you tried doing a drive Search (using the Search tool of XP) for some file that you know to be in that folder? That may give you some clue as to where the file are really being written.

 

Yes, I did try that. The search does not find the files that are in that directory, even though I know they are in there. I can open some of them through programs that save recently opened files, and I cannot copy files with the same name into the directory because it says they are already in there. As I mentioned, DOS doesn't show the files either.

Thanks for responding. It's a very strange situation.

 

Do you have a lot of folders in that directory?

Bill Drake notes:

As far as I know this issue has never been corrected in Explorer.

 

There are a number of folders in that directory, although less than 100. But it appears to be totally empty, so I cannot delete or move any of them. I also tried to delete the directory itself, but I cannot do it because it says the directory is not empty. Again, when I transfer files into this directory, they disappear, even though I can open them so I know they are still there.

Thanks for responding.

 

Start, Run, CMD

attrib -h \folder_name
attrib -h \folder_name\*.*

exit

 

i recently had the same problem. i ran chkdsk on the drive to no avail. i used norton system works 2005 to fix it actually. their disk doctor cleared up the file indexes and i guess that was a problem. if you have it give it a try.