Folders shown as having -1 bytes size

My Windows is
Version 24H2 (OS Build 26100.3775). I do not use beta copies of Windows.

Recently, all the disks attached to my desktop PC started to show like this in File Explorer.



I have a few attached disks, mainly internal but also one attached USB drives. - 6 Physical disks which are a mixture of SSD and HDDs. The partition style is GUID Partition Table (GPT). Every drive shows folders as having "-1 bytes" in the File Explorer 'Size' column, which used to be left blank.

I have been noticing increased missed files when doing simply file searches. As an experiment I can have a folder containing just a handful of files, and yet with file search for one of say 4 files, File Explorer still doesn't find the file. However most file searches within File Explorer seem to work OK. I guess I simply won't know if a file is missed. I now rely on other file search programs.

My major worry is for the integrity of my files, which so far seem OK.....

Does anyone know what's happening?

Are you using any 3rd party utilities to tweak anything in Windows?

No, I try to keep things uncomplicated. That said I have numerous bits of software installed, the most recent change was to install the email program called ProtonMail. That was about 1 month ago, and these "-1 bytes" started occurring maybe a week ago at most.

Any help is gratefully received, so if you have any ideas, pls help. My main worry is keeping my files uncorrupted. But strangely this issue is displayed on all disks. That includes my main backup disk.

I am very old and frail and I have no other places to turn to for help. I am in the middle of heart problems and hence my late reply to you.

Take care,
Doug

Hello, with your external drives connected, would you please post a screenshot of your file explorer set at "this PC" so we can see your disk structure.

To open File Explorer to "This PC" instead of "Quick Access," navigate to View > Options > General in File Explorer, then select "This PC" from the "Open File Explorer to:" dropdown. Click "OK" to save the changes.

Also, what do you see if you open one of those folders?