Windows 10: Huge folders have turned into 0 byte files after upgrade. (Screenshot)

I don't know why or how but many of my folders have been lost after an upgrade, mostly games, and converted into 0 byte files. I don't know how else to explain it, so here's a screenshot:





Anyone know what is going on here, and how I can regain access to the folders on my PC?

:)

 

backup windows 7 to windows 10

Did you open this backup on 10 or just looking at properties that says 0 bytes and no files or folders?

My images and back ups show 0 bytes. But if you open them with admin privileges, then you will see the size and files/folders and usually after you open the backup or image then check the main icon that was 0 bytes and it will most likely show the actual
size, files and folders now.

 

Microsoft print to PDF not working

Hopefully this helps someone...

I found that if I didn't print to folder that is a OneDrive folder then the PDF file would be larger than 0 bytes and would open, but if I did print to a OneDrive folder, then it was a crap shoot whether there'd be more than 0 bytes.

Lesson learned, print to a non-OneDrive folder first and then copy to OneDrive folders.

 

Hi, just wondering, are the games themselves still installed?

 

I will have to check my programs in control panel, but the shortcuts on the desktop link to those blank files. They used to be directories, and when I attempt to launch the shortcut it gives a target not found error.

 

My thought is that the Nov upgrade did cause a very few programs to be uninstalled, although I've seen no ref. to games. If somehow your games were uninstalled, it might somehow explain your missing /0 byte folders.

Some people had problems with things going missing from their desktop, but it seems yours weren't even on C: - however, the shortcuts to them are. Maybe what you're seeing is somehow similar.

How were these folders created? In the above I'm assuming by the game itself.. but I could be quite wrong.

 

They were created by the games during installation while I was using Windows 8.1, and the shortcuts did work before the upgrade.

 

Oh, also, it happened in many other locations, including c:/program files (x86)/ and other typically used install directories

 

Hi, if you have lost files that are unique and of significance, and have no backup, your only option is data recovery software.

This text covers the situation- you may well be familiar with the principle.
"You can recover lost files and personal data after Windows installation, or any other event provided they have not been overwritten. This is because that files are not really deleted - the file table is modified and the files space is marked as free.

You should stop using the computer once you realize that files are deleted. Do not install or uninstall any programs, do not open or close any programs, this will prevent new data being written to the hard disk, and hence prevent file overwriting, and increase the chance of data recovery.

The best way to recover lost photos, videos, documents and other files is to use data recovery software. The data recovery software will help you analysis the Windows computer hard drive and retrieve lost files.'

The difficulty you now face is whether the files were deleted before part of the Windows upgrade took place. That is, if the clusters were released, they became available to be overwritten.

As to why some people have experienced files being lost as part of the upgrade- I have absolutely no idea. Clearly that's serious, but demonstrates just how essential disk imaging before any significant change is (and it should be used regularly). I prefer Aomei Backupper (free is ok) - many here prefer Macrium Reflect free- having looked at it it's a very professional piece of software, with a couple of features removed in the free version. I find Aomei Backupper simpler.

So, lesson learnt, you now need to think what of significance you may have lost.

Recovery? Recuva (free) is recommended- you need software you can ideally run from a USB or bootable disk (i.e. don't install anything) which will scan your disk, including a deep scan, list what's found, identify what is recoverable and what is corrupted.

There are a good many commercial programs as well- often these are offered as giveaways.
E.g. Minitool Power Data recovery

You should concentrate on data (files, photos, music....), not installed programs- programs you can reinstall later.

Conversely, if you have lost little personal data, you might consider reverting to the previous version-
I assume TH2 can be removed in the same way as reverting from, say, Win 10 to Win 8.1 if you had Win 10 installed and received the November upgrade.

Or if you upgraded from 8.1 to Win 10 after the Nov. upgrade, once you've recovered what you can, you might consider reverting to 8.1, or just reinstalling missing programs - unless there's some deeper corruption..

 

I think the problem is related to a similar issue I experienced in Linux with improperly configured symbolic links. I know the data is still there, it's still taking space on the hard drive, but the OS has failed to recognize them for what they are. I'll try that free recovery program you mentioned and let you know what happens, but if it doesn't affect linking, I'm not sure how well it will do. I don't think they have been deleted, or overwritten, but instead just linked incorrectly.

 

Fortunately my data like music and photos are fine, only large games and a few installed programs were affected by the upgrade. I had managed to restore, but not access a couple of folders and delete them while messing around with advanced security permissions, but I can't remember what I did or how and haven't been able to replicate the process. Mainly I want to be able to delete them to free the space up and reinstall them.

 

Good- Doesn't sound so disastrous.. just inconvenient.

 

It's kinda disastrous in the sense that I have over 200gb of games using up space and I can't figure out how to free it back up. You wouldn't happen to know if some sort of...aggressive permission manager or symlink restoration program that works on Windows 10 would you?

 

Hi, ok, to delete things you can't delete from within Windows you have various options:
1. Use a boot disk and delete when running that.
2. Try Emco Move On Boot (it also deletes on boot) (free)

Your boot disk could be Win 10 installation e.g; navigate thru troubleshooting to a command prompt. Or it could be one of the freely downloadable boot CDs (provided your PC is configured appropriately to boot from external media- harder if UEFI).

 

For some reason I forgot all about boot discs lol, thank you Syu much for the reminder, there's this awesome bootdisc toolkit I used to use that should still exist. I just need to remember the name now. Falling all else I could just use a Linux CD, which should link everything that is not linked properly in Windows.