Empty Folders?????

**mraspie** · February 14th, 2004, 11:56 AM

ALL my folders (deskop, etc) are empty. The status bar says that there ARE files in there, but I can't see the icons...

I tried running adaware, spybot, norton antivirus, etc...even re-booted a few times...it's still happening...

I have Win 2000 OS...

Please help!!!

thanks!

**Bill in SD, CA** · February 14th, 2004, 12:09 PM

Welcome to TechIMO!!

I'm a little confused here - still early in the A.M.

Are you saying that your desktop is blank? i.e. no icons

Or are you saying that if open a folder like "My Documents" there are no files visible even though there are files in "My Documents?"

Bill

**mraspie** · February 14th, 2004, 12:12 PM

Thank you!

sorry...i worded it worng...

any folder, no matter how i try to acces it (whether from my desktop, or Explorer) is empty...but the status bar does say that there ARE files in them...so I don't think they got deleted

I can see the folders, but when I open them, they appear to be empty...meaning I can't see the icons...it's like they are invisible or something

**Jarhed7276** · February 14th, 2004, 12:21 PM

Is it possible that someone is playing a joke on you? Perhaps the text font has been changed to white from black. Open a folder, hold your left mouse button down and move your mouse. Does the text show up? If so you need to change the color back to black.

**Bill in SD, CA** · February 14th, 2004, 12:22 PM

I was pondering that myself Jarhed7276.

Bill

**mraspie** · February 14th, 2004, 02:52 PM

no, because i can't see any icons either...

I tried to highlight the icons (by clicking and dragging my mouse over the white area in the folder) to see if they appeared, but they didnt

**Bill in SD, CA** · February 14th, 2004, 03:03 PM

Can you take and upload a screenshot of what your seeing?

Bill

**mraspie** · February 14th, 2004, 03:15 PM

Here you go...

thanks for helping!

**f1oored** · February 14th, 2004, 03:21 PM

Make sure your folder options are set to view hidden files.

**mraspie** · February 14th, 2004, 03:47 PM

how do i do that?

**rpertusio** · February 14th, 2004, 03:53 PM

(1) Virus scan?
(2) spyware/adware scan?
(3) Corrupt registry entry? (Microsoft Support article 192315)
(4) animal sacrifices?
(5) Corrupt/missing files? (Start Menu -> Run... -> sfc /scannow

What's your OS? It looks like Win2000 from the screenshot

- rp

**Bill in SD, CA** · February 14th, 2004, 03:55 PM

If you right click that folder and select properties what does it say?

Bill

**mraspie** · February 14th, 2004, 04:00 PM

Open, Explore, Search, Sharing, Add to Archive, Compress and email..., WinZip, Scan with Norton antivirus,send to, cut, copy, create shortcut, delete, rename, properties

Also...I can't close the folders either...I have to "end task" in order for them to be closed...

**mraspie** · February 14th, 2004, 04:06 PM

3 tabs:

General:
Read only check box & Hidden check box

Sharing:
Do not share this folder radio button & shared this folder radio button (the rest is not highlighted b/c share is not selected)

Security:
Name & it's contents

Permissions & it's contents (all are set to allow)

ALso: I CAN see the contents (icons) of a folder in Safe Mode...

**Bill in SD, CA** · February 15th, 2004, 01:06 PM

Originally posted by mraspie
ALso: I CAN see the contents (icons) of a folder in Safe Mode...

When you say "icons" are you interchanging that word for "file names?"

Bill

**Atomic Rooster** · February 15th, 2004, 01:24 PM

To set your folder options to view hidden files, go to Control Panel > Folder Options > View > scroll down to "Hidden files and folders" and select "Show hidden files and folders". Click Apply and your set.

**rpertusio** · February 15th, 2004, 01:26 PM

Originally posted by Bill in SD, CA
When you say "icons" are you interchanging that word for "file names?"

I think mraspie just meant that everything looks okay in Safe Mode. It is only in the 'normal' booting that things don't work as expected.

mraspie, have you tried the suggestions I gave you a few posts up? In addition, you might want to try:

(6) Start Menu -> Run... -> msconfig
From there, head to the [statup] tab, and uncheck everything. Assuming your folders are now visible, you can re-check the boxes until you find what causes things to go awry

- rp

**mraspie** · February 16th, 2004, 04:31 PM

Thank you everyone for trying to help...it seems that i have bigger problems than the icons in my folders not appearing...

Now when I try to open a folder, my CPU usage goes up to 100% & the folder never opens...

If I try to go to run > msconfig, it tells me that it can't find the file...

I need to get the Win 200 disk and do a restore, or something...

I talked to a tech a Dell and he is helping me. I originally thought that since I installed Win2000, (my PC came with ME) that I voided the warranty, but since the tech didn't say anything to that effect, and was helping me, I guess I didn't

I think that I inadvertanyly downloaded something on to my pc that is screwing it up...

Anyway, thanks again to everyone!

**chleeb** · February 16th, 2004, 06:28 PM

cpu up to 100% is a virus.
I dont' know which one, but I know 2 people who hada virus where their CPU was up to 100% for no reason. There should be one file on there that is taking up 98% or something when that happens. Open up your task manager when you notice that happens and close the file. then run an anti-virus.
someone is messing with your computer.