Can't Access Picture Folder in XP

Just changed from 98SE to XP, and transferred some files, including all our pictures.
They resided before in a directory called C:\My Documents\My Pictures, with subs
created by my HP picture-handling s/w.

I put the transferred pix in a folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\My Documents\My Pictures\,

which is followed by various dates.

For a while I could access the pictures by clicking on the drive and following the
path, but since opening up a folder which APPEARS to be on the desktop called My
Pictures, I can no longer get to my own pictures. When I follow the path as above,
getting to My Pictures, I get whoever-put-them-there's idea of what pictures I should
have access to.

This has me worried. The OS seems to be intruding on things excessively, IYAM.

How can I get access to the folder I normally use? Do I have to boot into DOS and
change the name of my own picture folder? Try to access them through their native
(HP) s/w? Or what?

Thanks.

Don.

 

Hello Don,

EDIT: What is that desktop icon? See below about right clicking > properties.

Does the desktop icon lead to your original folder? Right click on the icon > properties > shortcut tab. If it does, the original contents, your stuff, got deleted or moved.

If not, can you see your original folder if you bring up the drive > Documents and Setting > etc? In other words, is it still there?

If you can't, there is the possibilty that it was turned into a "hidden" file. To check whether the original folder was turned into a hidden file/folder, in explorer (not IE), > tools > folder options > View > scroll down and tick "Show Hidden Files and Folders ".

Regards - Charles