View original (French)

Duplicate folder issues on external hard drive

Closed
shiroiusagi Posted messages 10 Status Member -  
crapoulou Posted messages 28002 Registration date   Status Moderator, Security Contributor Last intervention   -
Hello, I recently noticed that several folders on my external hard drive (Western Digital My Passport 2TB) were duplicated. I don't know how this could have happened, I haven't done anything particular.
I can still read the video files contained in the affected folders.


(in orange: the affected folders, framed in purple: the folders I tried to delete)
The gray icons are the oldest folders, so I assumed the yellow ones were the duplicates, but when I double-click on a gray one and hit back, it selects the yellow folder.

I removed the files from one of the folders and both ended up empty. After deleting one, I replaced the files in the remaining one and a second folder reappeared.
If I try to delete the remaining folder, an error message appears:


and if I want to access the remaining empty folder, another message appears:


I would like to know what could have happened and what solution there is to my problem.
I hope my explanation is clear enough.
Thank you in advance to those who will respond :)

Best regards, Pauline.

3 answers

  1.
    FreeFour Posted messages 850 Status Member 189
     
    Hi!
    If I were you, I would try to find some space somewhere to back up my important data (from this drive) and then I would format it to NTFS before putting everything back on it.

    Other: I see from your screenshots that you are still using Windows XP, and that's not a good idea if this computer goes online since XP is no longer maintained with updates. It makes it vulnerable to viruses, other hacks, and compatibility issues with new hardware. If your computer is too old to run Windows 7, I suggest switching to Linux (with Zorin, for example).

    https://www.pcworld.com/article/2107641/3-easy-linux-alternatives-for-windows-xp-refugees-who-dont-want-a-new-pc.html
    0
    1. FreeFour Posted messages 850 Status Member 189
       
      The duplication issue may come from a registry problem - running the registry cleaner from CCleaner would be a good idea!!
      0
    2. shiroiusagi Posted messages 10 Status Member
       
      Hi, thanks for your response.
      I can't clear my hard drive, there are too many files and I don't have space on the computer.
      Indeed, I should change Windows XP but I prefer to wait until I buy a new computer. Thanks anyway for the link.

      I did the registry cleaning but it didn't change anything.
      0
    3. avion81 Posted messages 28 Status Member 2 > shiroiusagi Posted messages 10 Status Member
       
      Hello, if you know which ones are really duplicates, you can delete them! But duplicates don't mean they are the same; they can have the same name but not the same function at all! Duplicates happen when your PC does an update with a restore point! So the files end up duplicated! That's all for the info.
      0
    4. shiroiusagi Posted messages 10 Status Member
       
      Hello, when I delete one, it reappears.
      I don't leave the hard drive connected to the computer, so if there was an update, it wasn't connected.
      0
    5. avion81 > shiroiusagi Posted messages 10 Status Member
       
      Even if you just did a simple copy-paste of some folders or videos, it’s bound to end up duplicated! Your PC or your antivirus must have scanned your hard drive and moved the folders! They don’t duplicate by some miracle!
      0
  2. FreeFour Posted messages 850 Status Member 189
     
    Hello again,
    Most of my research results regarding your symptoms are associated with a viral cause.
    I believe it would be a good idea to move the topic to the Virus / Security section.
    (And to limit file exchanges and USB/other contacts)
    0
    1. shiroiusagi Posted messages 10 Status Member
       
      Thank you, I will move it :)
      0
  3. crapoulou Posted messages 28002 Registration date   Status Moderator, Security Contributor Last intervention   8 046
     
    Hello shiroiusagi,

    To get a response more easily on Virus/Security, you can create a new topic this time.
    I’m closing this discussion here.

    Good luck!
    0