Makoto0729

Hey, guys. I recently moved a lot of files to a folder with a blank name (Alt-255) and icon in My Documents. On top of that, I set the folder to hidden as well, so you'd have to be looking for it to find it. However, now it seems to stay hidden completely, even if I turn on hidden files and folders to be visible. And I know it's not just deleted, because if I try to move a new folder with the Alt-255 name into My Documents, it says there's already a folder with that name in there. But it's totally invisible even on Thumbnail view... It's just inaccessible period. How can I get back to it?

mike2020learnin

Hello & welcome to TSF ,

have you tried useing your search for it ?

and selecting all the boxs in the (more advanced options)

Makoto0729

Yes, I have tried that, I forgot to mention. I think because of the blank folder name, though not certain, nothing appears in there if I search for a file in it, for example, even if I search my whole drive.

mike2020learnin

okay ,

i think i have a program for this

not for sure if it will work let me find it and theni will get you a link for it

might take a bit / but i will let you know one way or another

mike2020learnin

hello ,

here is a link for a program to recover lost files / it is a free program

http://www.softperfect.com

also have you tried this

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Recuva_-_F...ery_d5514.html

very good program also

Makoto0729

I tried Recuva before, but it didn't work, because the files aren't deleted, just disappeared... And from the sound of the other undelete tool you linked, it seems the same. I'll try it anyway, but I doubt anything will work...

blah789

Do you have "hide protected operating system files" on in folder options? That might only apply if the folder has a system attribute set as well.

You might be able to access the folder from the command prompt to rename it. Here's how to try it. Open the command prompt. Click start, (all) programs, accessories, command prompt. You should be in your home directory: C:\Documents and Settings\yourusername\>
Type
cd my documents
(no quotes needed)
you said your folder had the blank character right?
type
attrib "<alt-shift-255>" -r -h -s
ren "<alt-shift-255>" somenameicanremember
be sure to put quotes around the null character, or the command prompt won't be able to interpret your command.
Hopefully this will make your folder visible again.

Note: I used the < > to delimit where the keystrokes should go - don't type in the < or the >!

Makoto0729

Thanks, guy... I really thought that would work, but whenever I try it looks like this:

Exactly like that (sans name)... It's reeeeally hidden apparently. Any idea what that means, or if there's anything else I can do?

And it does the same thing for the ren command too...

justpassingby

Start in safe mode (repeatedly press F8 at startup) and log as "administrator". Leave the password field blank if you didn't set any.

Run windows explorer (winkey + e) and select the root of c: in the left pane. Go to tools => folder options. In the general tab tick "use classic folders". In the view tab untick "hide protected operating system files", untick "hide extensions for known file types", tick "show hidden files and folders". Click apply to all folders then ok. Back in windows explorer click on view and select the details view. Browse to c:\documents and settings\yourusername\my documents\ and see if you can find the folder.

If you still don't see the folder search for one of the files that was in the folder using start => search => files and folders. Tick the first 3 boxes in the advanced section. Right-click => properties on the search results to find the path of the file.

I just created an alt+255 folder like you did (in c:\temp\) and I hid it. When I went to start => run and typed c:\temp\ \ (the blank space is alt+255) I was able to access the folder and the files in it. Attrib and ren from the cmd prompt worked too (c:\temp\attrib " " -h, the other parameters are not needed if the folder only has the hidden attribute, if you set it as read only as well then use -r -h).

A program like windirstat (freeware) might help :
http://windirstat.info/

Or totalcommander (30 days shareware) :
http://www.ghisler.com/download.htm
(go to Configuration => Options => Display => Show Hidden/System files)

here's what I see with total commander (click to zoom) :

Attached Images

hiddenfolder.JPG (43.8 KB, 3 views)

blah789

What was the exact name of the folder?
Was it exactly one time the null character? Was it more than once? Was it combined with other characters? Whatever it was put that in quotation marks when running attrib and ren.