Folder names missing in xp- help

[cptsideways]

I've tried everything when I open certain folders some of folder names contained within are not there. Can't see there any specific settings for different folders or are there?

Help

[mattley]

How do you know they're there, if you can't see them?

If by default you belive them to be there

Try.....

in windows explorer Go Tools=> Folder options => view

Under hidden files and folders check Show...

While youre there uncheck Hide protected operating system files OK Click apply, click apply to all folders OK.


If you think you put them there, then you may have a filesystem problem.

Try.....

From the command promt

chkdsk /f /r c:

select yes and restart your machine.

assuming the problems on your C drive.

[cptsideways]

I can see the folders but not the names, unless I sweep the mouse over them

[pjskel]

Sounds like you've managed to change the font colour to that of the background.
Have a play by right clicking on the desktop, then select Properties.

Sorry I'm no further, stopped using Windows completely 3 or more years ago. Apple OS X all the way since.

[GreenV8S]

Screen shot?

[cptsideways]

GreenV8S said:

Screen shot?

How do I do them? I can host the image once I've got it no probs

[mattley]

The print screen button dumps the screen into the clip board.

The background and font colour thing mentioned above, makes sense but how would that only affect some folders? When you say move the mose over, do you see the folder name or the XP pop up with files?

[cptsideways]

It looks like this

[mattley]

Do the names appear if you go Menu bar => view => details

[cptsideways]

mattley said:

Do the names appear if you go Menu bar => view => details

yes they do, but change it back to thumbnails & they disappear

[mattley]

goto details view. Delete thimbs.db , and desktop.ini

Close windows explorer and then try it.

[cptsideways]

mattley said:

goto details view. Delete thimbs.db , and desktop.ini Close windows explorer and then try it.

Wheres the thimbs.db & desktop.ini ???

[mattley]

in windows explorer Go Tools=> Folder options => view

Under hidden files and folders check Show...

While youre there uncheck Hide protected operating system files OK Click apply, click apply to all folders OK.


they should be there in the folder in detail view.

[cptsideways]

mattley said:

in windows explorer Go Tools=> Folder options => view Under hidden files and folders check Show... While youre there uncheck Hide protected operating system files OK Click apply, click apply to all folders OK. they should be there in the folder in detail view.

That did'nt fix it when I tried but Go Tools=> Folder options, resetting button in folder options did Any ideas what it was??

[pjskel]

Yes, it was God's way of telling you to switch to a Mac!
As with most things Windows - it does what it wants, when it wants, with no rhyme nor reason.
It's fixed now, so be thankful it is, and if it happens again, you'll know how to fix it again.

[cptsideways]

I have both !!! Got an old skool Powerbook G3 for various tasks that back mu up when things go wrong.

[Jinx]

pjskel said:

As with most things Windows - it does what it wants, when it wants, with no rhyme nor reason.

There is a reason and possibly a slightly nerfarious one. Microsoft in its wisdom tries to make its software as user orientated as possible (hence if a folder is full of pictures it assumes you want to see thumbnail images rather than the name - subsequently for a subfolder full of pictures it creats a little folder icon with a selection of little thumbnails photos). This all sounded such a bright idea in a "focus" group.
Now the downside..... Unfortunately focus groups are a bit like Swindon; statistics show that Swindon is almost perfectly average and therefore [this is the big mistake] if it works in Swindon it should work everywhere. To the untrained/not cynical enough eye this looks like a good idea (a bit like digital watches) - in the real world (everywhere not Swindon) people are not average - you don't get averages until you have more than one person and hence what is right for the average person will be not right for everyone not the average person (ie. everyone) [I know its difficult but do try to keep up]
Windows is the Swindon of operating systems (hence the almost anagram) and therefore is perfect for average Swindonites and completely baffling to everyone else (much like the Swindon road system).
If you treat XP as if it was created for a focus group you'll soon find your way around.