Folders in one place please?
April 4, 2012 7:37 AM Subscribe
Why is folder copying on my Windows 7 laptop all hinky?
I've been noticing an occasional disconcerting problem with moving large folders from one place to another- occasionally, when I drop OR copy/paste a folder from one place to another, the original folder will not delete itself entirely.
So, I'll see the folder in its new location, and a partial ghost/clone in the original location - typically one or two subfolders are left inside the original copy, sometimes entirely empty, sometimes with a file or two hanging around inside it. There doesn't seem to be any regularity about what kind of files get left behind. The ghost folder is typically pretty persistent - redoing the copying operation may result in a few more files/folders traveling to the new location but doesn't solve the problem.
Right now my solution is to make a brand new folder and transfer things in by hand. It often takes quite a bit of checking/rechecking to assure myself that I have a complete copy at the new location, but regardless I really would like this behavior to go away.
I am running Windows 7 on a Lenovo laptop, and the only thing I've been able to think of that might be involved is Dropbox (this has been going on for several months, and I didn't notice it until after several months on Dropbox)- but the problem persists even if I pause syncing. The problem files/folders are not in use by any program when I'm trying to move them.
I've googled around for possible answers, but there is a great deal about 'copying folders in dropbox' on the internet that is not relevant to this :p Any idea about what could be causing this?
I've been noticing an occasional disconcerting problem with moving large folders from one place to another- occasionally, when I drop OR copy/paste a folder from one place to another, the original folder will not delete itself entirely.
So, I'll see the folder in its new location, and a partial ghost/clone in the original location - typically one or two subfolders are left inside the original copy, sometimes entirely empty, sometimes with a file or two hanging around inside it. There doesn't seem to be any regularity about what kind of files get left behind. The ghost folder is typically pretty persistent - redoing the copying operation may result in a few more files/folders traveling to the new location but doesn't solve the problem.
Right now my solution is to make a brand new folder and transfer things in by hand. It often takes quite a bit of checking/rechecking to assure myself that I have a complete copy at the new location, but regardless I really would like this behavior to go away.
I am running Windows 7 on a Lenovo laptop, and the only thing I've been able to think of that might be involved is Dropbox (this has been going on for several months, and I didn't notice it until after several months on Dropbox)- but the problem persists even if I pause syncing. The problem files/folders are not in use by any program when I'm trying to move them.
I've googled around for possible answers, but there is a great deal about 'copying folders in dropbox' on the internet that is not relevant to this :p Any idea about what could be causing this?
Process Explorer is what I would try (From the Find menu choose "Find Handle or DLL" and enter part of the file or folder name).
Dropbox is a good suspect if it's happening in the folders you are synching, or some wonky virus scanners can do this too.
posted by samj at 8:48 AM on April 4, 2012
Dropbox is a good suspect if it's happening in the folders you are synching, or some wonky virus scanners can do this too.
posted by samj at 8:48 AM on April 4, 2012
if you are unable to track down the source of the problem i would try installing teracopy and see if it helps. if it does not resolve the issue it is likely to give you a more descriptive error message.
posted by phil at 8:50 AM on April 4, 2012
posted by phil at 8:50 AM on April 4, 2012
Start with the obvious things first like anti-virus and move towards using process explorer to find out what may be locking the files.
posted by samsara at 11:10 AM on April 4, 2012
posted by samsara at 11:10 AM on April 4, 2012
Another possibility is that the files aren't in use, but that you don't have ownership or the necessary privileges to delete them.
I distrust Windows so badly that when moving large folders I have Windows copy them, and then run a Perl script that verifies the copy and deletes the original. I'd send you the script if you wanted, but it's a pretty hackish, low-level, command-line-y thing to do.
posted by benito.strauss at 12:21 PM on April 4, 2012
I distrust Windows so badly that when moving large folders I have Windows copy them, and then run a Perl script that verifies the copy and deletes the original. I'd send you the script if you wanted, but it's a pretty hackish, low-level, command-line-y thing to do.
posted by benito.strauss at 12:21 PM on April 4, 2012
The default in Windows, as far as I can tell, is that a drag and drop on objects from one volume (drive) to another is to copy. But on the same volume it is move.
But I too have noticed that Dropbox is a little hinky with moving stuff around.
posted by gjc at 3:28 PM on April 4, 2012
But I too have noticed that Dropbox is a little hinky with moving stuff around.
posted by gjc at 3:28 PM on April 4, 2012
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posted by heyforfour at 7:46 AM on April 4, 2012