Windows 10: Is there a method to search for all folders that empty, i.e., contain no files?

Discus and support Is there a method to search for all folders that empty, i.e., contain no files? in Windows 10 Software and Apps to solve the problem; A couple of years ago I had a computer disaster and my computer is still a mess as a result. Essentially I had to get a new computer and tried to... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Software and Apps' started by Robert McNulty, Jul 4, 2023.

  1. Is there a method to search for all folders that empty, i.e., contain no files?


    A couple of years ago I had a computer disaster and my computer is still a mess as a result. Essentially I had to get a new computer and tried to download my files from a cloud backup service. However, the machine kept overheating and it failed more than once. In the end, it had multiple copies of some files and lots of folders with no files at all. Finally, I am trying to sort through it, and I'd like to identify all the empty folders to know what was lost. I don't want to delete the empty folders until I first identify them. I tried to use the search function in File Explorer, but I couldn't

    :)
     
    Robert McNulty, Jul 4, 2023
    #1
  2. dazzagil Win User

    Conditional searches for folder that contain a specfic combantion of file extenisions

    Cab anyone help with the following problem

    I have about 1,000 book folders that contain either1, 2 or 3 files with the extensions OPF , JPG and EPUB.

    What I would like to do is a search on the folders that would list all those folders that contain OPF and JPG file extensions only. if it contains a file with the .EPUB extension I want the search to ignore the folder.

    I've tried using the Search box in File Explorer with Boolean Logic (AND NOT OR) with no joy and I've tried regular expression but having trouble getting my head around how to set the expression.

    If anyone could help by suggesting a solution or even a file search program it would be appreciated.

    If posted in wrong area please tell me and I will move it
     
    dazzagil, Jul 4, 2023
    #2
  3. pjfarr Win User
    Search syntax for "folders containing specific file types" ??

    Thanks Lance. Most of that I know already. I was asking for syntax to specifically find folders containing a certain file type i.e. photos.

    For instance a search string that would in effect request: "List all folders on drive D containing photos" or "List all folders on drive D containing videos" and have just the folders containing those files, not the files themselves, listed in the results.
     
    pjfarr, Jul 4, 2023
    #3
  4. enso Win User

    Is there a method to search for all folders that empty, i.e., contain no files?

    Quick Access not searching Pictures folder

    Summary, that last suggestion didn't work.

    • I moved the pictures to another folder temporarily.


    • Since there were no troubleshooting steps for this scenario, just for the heck of it, I ran through the restore steps. Copied some pictures into the Pictures folder, ran a Quick Access search and initial problem remains: Searching all of QA doesn't find any files in Pictures folder, running search on just the Pictures folder does. I want to run a global search and find matching files in any/all of the Documents, Music, Videos, and Pictures folders.
    That article dates from 2015 and I'm guessing is out of date. I hope it didn't create potential future problems in my registry.

    Bottom line: I'm still looking for a fix.
     
    enso, Jul 4, 2023
    #4
Thema:

Is there a method to search for all folders that empty, i.e., contain no files?

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