Empty folders disappearing

Hi,

OS: Windows 10 build 1082.
Issue: Empty folders (randomly) disappear.

This happened at least 2 times (of which I am sure). I do not recognize a pattern.

When it happens, all the sub folders (within one "main folder") that did not have files in them just vanish. The other sub folders who contained files remained intact. I checked outside the "main folder", I found empty folders on the hard drive.

The first time I put it on the account of user manipulation. I recently bought an external hard drive and I have been transferring and organizing a lot. I also activate the option of not moving files to the Recycle Bin. Although I never made a mistake in the past ten years, this could have been my first time.
There was a second time after that but I could not remember for sure if I did create the folders.
This past 24 hours, on the other hand, it happened again, and this time I am positive it s not a user mistake: Empty folders are missing, other folders are fine.

I do not think it is malware or virus related.

There is no software, to my knowledge, that is supposed to interact directly with that "main folder".
I do not use a cleaning software. I did defragment my hard drives lately, but after testing it today the problem did not occur (maybe I should re test it after creating a hundred empty folders...).

I did not find a relevant thread about this issue, and I have no idea where this is coming from.

If there is a need for additional information, please let me know, I ll try to answer as soon as possible.

Umaro

P.S In case someone is wondering, an empty folder still has a name, and it is an useful data to me.

Hi Umaro

I'm no expert, but I have had this problem in the past.....usually caused by myself being a bit 'click happy'.
Is it possible that you may have 'accidentally hidden' the folders ?

milton

Milton said:

Is it possible that you may have 'accidentally hidden' the folders ?

Unfortunately, it is not the case. My current setting is on "show hidden files/folders/drives".
(Also, for the sake of conversation, I do not use the "Hide" feature, my pointer has little chance to hover over it)

Still, it is good that you pointed out this option, since I did not check it in the original post.
In any case, thank you for your help.

You're welcome Umaro.
Like I said, I'm not an expert, but I'm sure one of the 'many very good tech guys' on the forum will assist you with the problem.

milton

Are you using Classic Shell seem to remember it was an option in there!

ossie said:

Are you using Classic Shell seem to remember it was an option in there!

I am not using Classic Shell.

Did you mean there (maybe) is an option that "hides" empty folders? Or did you mean there is a feature that would help stop this problem from occurring again?

spunk said:

There isn't a Windows 10 version 1082, do you mean 1803?
Check in One Drive to see if the missing files have been moved there.

Yes, 1803 (I do not know how I came up with the other number). I will edit the OP.

I do not use One drive, nor any similar type of software (no cloud, no synchronization).

Just to be sure, I am not missing any file, only empty folders(*), and it happened more than once over a period of 2 to 3 months.

(*) I guess that Folders are a type of file, but it is not the point here.

Edit: I do not know how to edit the OP.
Edit2: I opened One drive to be sure, it does not contain the missing folders.

Umaro said:

I am not using Classic Shell.

Did you mean there (maybe) is an option that "hides" empty folders? Or did you mean there is a feature that would help stop this problem from occurring again?

No longer use program but thought there was an option that automatically deletes empty folders. Probably wrong though!

Racking brain because I remember it happened to me do you use CCleaner perhaps that was program with the option!