Phantom Folders in File Explorer


Laurel52

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Local time
7:35 PM
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OS
Windows 11
Oh, help.
I am running Win 11 22H2 on both a desktop and laptop. The File Explorer is expanding constantly--so many duplicates have been generated that I cannot find anything anymore and the directory structure is a shambles. The same folders are being duplicated all over under almost every heading. I have no idea how/why this is happening and I certainly don't know how to fix it. I have now acquired 3 "desktop" folders, 5 "documents" folders, some of which are subfolders as in "Documents>documents>documents", some have popped up elsewhere as in "Pictures (which I don't ever use) > documents". 3 Pictures folders, 2 each of "music" and "videos". The files are duplicating too, but not consistently in every folder.
If I do a single file search with just name.ext from the highest level I will get anywhere from 2-6 files returned, each in a different folder. I have used Windows in at least 5 different versions over the years and I have never struggled like this.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Elite Desk
    Browser
    Firefox
Would you please pick an example file by name. Search for it in file explorer, then post a screenshot of the search result. Thanks.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
Thank you, glasskuter. In this screen shot, I searched for " 985_ " which is the code for this item in my online store. I would expect one folder and then one photo of each color/item, but I get all of these plus another page or two, and as you can see there are several of each file listed, all with the same date . LaurelScreenshot (1).png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Elite Desk
    Browser
    Firefox
Regarding the folders for just this one item, I will refer using numbers 1-4 reading from the top down.
#1 This folder appears to be the sub folder for this item located in your documents folder. This is a reasonable naming convention.
#2 This zipped folder is a sub-folder under folder #1. What's inside this folder I have no way of knowing.
#3 This is where it goes wonky. It appears someone has created a link to a shared folder on the laptop that uses an entirely different file/folder naming convention.
#4 It appears the folder from the laptop has then been copied to folder #1. Note the underscore. That makes it an entirely different folder from the folder by the same name without the underscore.

Regarding the jpg files-There appears to be 3 copies of each jpg file but for me to see their file path you would need to change your "View" option in the top toolbar to be 'details'. Expand the file location so that the full path is shown before you take your screenshot. Use your mouse to drag the separator bar beside file location so that the full file path is shown.
Without seeing such a new screenshot, I'll go out on a limb here and bet these jpgs are duplicated in folders 1-3-4.

Question 1-Explain to me how you think you are sharing these files between the 2 computers or how you want to share them, Onedrive? Simple file sharing? a network drive?

Question 2-As far as all the duplication of your user folders, did you attempt to change the default location of these folders to another drive?

Question 3- Are syncing the folders to onedrive? Onedrive has been known to create duplicate files/folders when files/folders are updated by multiple people with participating permissions in different locations, so there are conflicts. OneDrive cannot merge multiple versions by itself, resulting in the creation of duplicate files/folders.
In addition, problems with Onedrive caching data and Onedrive connection errors may also result in duplicates on OneDrive.

It will take a lot of work to straighten this out because, yes, your file/folder structure is a mess. When I get your answers we'll figure it out.
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium

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