Folders have 1 extra file

[piano632]

I have 2 big folders on my PC with probably 1,000 subfolders each. The problem is, each of the subfolders reports 1 extra file under File Properties. (For example, if the folder actually contains 5 files, the file properties reports 6 files.) I can't find any hidden files. There is obviously something wrong with these folders, but I can't figure out what it is. If I copy the folders to another hard drive, it works OK. If I try to copy 1 of these folders to a drag-n-drop type disc, it fails saying it's a read-only drive (which it isn't). Nothing appears to be wrong with the folder contents, only the folder properties. I can copy the individual files in each folder, but not whole folders. Any ideas what is going on here?

[ahhaa]

Are you setting your Search parameters to see hidden files?

There is a file called Mscreate.dir, it is hidden, empty & useless on an XP machine. It was used by older software installers. It sometimes gets into the default folder settings, and if the software it came from was on a CD, it will be read-only too. If it starts to do its Sorceror's Apprentice thing, you can easily wind up with hundreds of pointless files...

[piano632]

I found out what the extra file was - a well-hidden system file called Thumbs.db in each folder. However, I still can't copy these folders to a drag-n-drop disc. It always claims it's a "read-only" ROM drive (which it isn't). Other similar folders seem to copy OK. I can't figure out what's different about these 3 big folders. I tried to "take ownership" in security settings, but it doesn't help.

[redwudz]

You can get rid of those pesky 'thumbnails' by clicking on any folder, then selecting: 'Tools>Folder Options>View' and checking 'Do not cache thumbnails'. It will only work on new files from the time you changed the setting. You can safely delete the old thumbnails, though.

It may not work for your problem, but there is a small program called Unlocker that can remove most Windows lock of folders. It works very well for deleting files that Windows won't give you access to to delete. It may also work other denied accesses: http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

[Krispy Kritter]

You can get rid of those pesky 'thumbnails' by clicking on any folder, then selecting: 'Tools>Folder Options>View' and checking 'Do not cache thumbnails'. It will only work on new files from the time you changed the setting. You can safely delete the old thumbnails, though.

It may not work for your problem, but there is a small program called Unlocker that can remove most Windows lock of folders. It works very well for deleting files that Windows won't give you access to to delete. It may also work other denied accesses: http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

Thanks for that prog....I have that cannot delete issue fairly often.

[jagabo]

From Explorer, go up a folder level, press Ctrl+F (find), L (all files and folders), make sure "Search Hidden and System Files and Folders" and "Search Subfolders" are enabled, enter "thumbs.db", and press Search. Delete them all.