Strange happenings...

[ladybugamanda]

I just spent quite sometime sorting through photos and narrowing down what I will enter into the local fair. I made a file, named it and copied the photos into it. I exited out of "my pictures" and then went to look at something again and all the photos were GONE and two different ones in the file. I have a fairly new machine - just a few months old, running Windows XP. Any ideas what is going on? (And don't tell me it's cause I'm using Microsofts stuff! ;-) )

[schrackman]

But it is because you're using Microsoft stuff :yikes:

No, seriously, I think what you probably did was copy your files to another folder or directory by accident. I've done it on my Mac lots of times. Just use your "Find" function to locate them if you know the file names. If you deleted them by accident they should be in your Trash folder and that's just a matter of going into your Trash folder and restoring them back to their original folders. Unless, of course, you've emptied your trash? :mad2:

[AmberC]

I hope you are able to find your stuff! Sorry I cannot help..

Amber

[ladybugamanda]

Everything was in the new folder before I closed "my pictures". When I reopened "my pictures" there was the new folder - named what I named it - but with 2 pictures in it that I hadn't even looked at. Luckily the pictures I'm considering for the fair were only copied there - and they are (or should be) in their original folder. It's like my machine is possessed! I ran Spybot and my AVG antivirus program - and they proclaimed the machine clean so I don't know. I'm going to call my ISP and see what he says. I go with a very small company just for times like this when I need them to talk me down. I'll let y'all know the outcome. Thanks for the help so far!

[Chunk]

An Internet Service Provider wouldn't have anything to do with files on your own computer.

Did you do the search that Schrackman advised you to do? I've inadvertently moved files myself and have also had to help others search for theirs.

You can also search for file dates if you know those. I windows you can find the Search program by pushing the Start button.

[ladybugamanda]

I know my ISP wouldn't be directly related to the issue - but he's great at answering questions and explaining strange happenings. He's also a puter guru. I found the original file on my external HD, but I don't know how the one with the mystery pictures got in my main file. It's very strange! Now that I found it, and my photos, I'm not as freaked out - but it's still strange. The other day I was trying to view a photo and a different kept opening. It was wierd! I don't know what's up with this crazy machine!

[freygr]

I just spent quite sometime sorting through photos and narrowing down what I will enter into the local fair. I made a file, named it and copied the photos into it. I exited out of "my pictures" and then went to look at something again and all the photos were GONE and two different ones in the file. I have a fairly new machine - just a few months old, running Windows XP. Any ideas what is going on? (And don't tell me it's cause I'm using Microsofts stuff! ;-) )

Did you log out and then logged in using a different name? This is the fastest way of not finding your stuff. As long as you set up a folder outside of MY Documents Folder any one would be able to see the files.

[Photo-John]

Do you know the names of any of the files? Do a search and they should show up. I've accidentally selected stuff and moved it before. I've also accidentally deleted the contents of folders. Poke around and hopefully the files will turn up. The freygr's suggestion about login is a good one, too. I wouldn't have thought of that. But it could explain why they suddenly disappeared.

[ladybugamanda]

I'm the only one who uses this machine, so I dont log off. Everything is accounted for - just not in the place I left it! Very weird. Thanks for all th suggestions!

[tink]

do a search on files created on that particular day. I've done this before too and thought it was created in one file and found it somewhere completely different!!