Why can't Explorer see the files in an external drive?

January 23, 2009 6:53 AM

Windows Explorer can't see certain files within folders on an external hard drive. I'm running XP. I plug in a Firelite 40-gig external drive. Windows Explorer recognizes half a dozen .wmv files and three folders. However, it tells me that those three folders are empty, when in fact they each contain about 5 gig of MP3s and/or .doc files. When I hover the cursor above the folder, I'm told "Folder is empty." Okay, so I disconnect and plug the Firelite into my laptop, which runs Vista. Lo and behold, those folders are no longer empty at all, and all of my files are visible. What's going on?
posted by jackypaper to computers & internet (5 comments total)

Do you have system and hidden files visible on one machine but not the other?
posted by JuiceBoxHero at 7:34 AM on January 23

Not sure, but you should do a disk check on that drive. There may be some corruption. From XP: My Computer > Right-click on drive letter > Properties > Tools > Check Now (select both boxes).
posted by damn dirty ape at 7:35 AM on January 23

This sounds to me like a permissions issue. What happens when you try to open the folders in XP? I'm not familiar with Vista, but try to grant read access on those folders, then see what happens. (You might have to boot into safe mode, you would in XP.)
posted by philomathoholic at 7:35 AM on January 23

FAT32 doesnt support permissions. I doubt his external drive is NTFS formatted.
posted by damn dirty ape at 8:05 AM on January 23

FAT32 doesnt support permissions. I doubt his external drive is NTFS formatted.

Definitely worth checking, though. All my external drives are NTFS.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 9:59 AM on January 23