Strange file system error

[Doomer]

Folder X has 20 files in it. They are numbered and I've counted them several times. There are exactly 20 files. If I select all and right click properties, Windows says there are 20 files.

However....

If I right click on the folder, Windows says there are 21 files. If I copy the folder to a second computer, it also says there are 21 files. If I copy the folder to a USB flash drive, Windows still says there are 21 files.

No, there are no hidden or system files in this folder.

Scandisk finds no problems on the resident drive and S.M.A.R.T. says it's healthy.

So what the heck can the mystery file be??????

EDIT: This drive also has a gazillion other folders and none of them have a mystery file, just this one.

 

[Dahak]

2 things that pop into my mind

1)
If there is images in the folders there is a hidden system files called thumb.db that does not show up unless you have both
Show Hidden Files and Folders AND Hid Protected System Files unchecked

2)
If it was copied from a mac for instance there could be a hidden .DS_something forgot the rest file (how macs hid files)
again it will only show up if Show Hidden Files and Folders AND Hid Protected System Files unchecked

 

[quakeworld]

sorry for the OT. are you DOOMer from qw and q3?

 

[imagoon]

2 things that pop into my mind

1)
If there is images in the folders there is a hidden system files called thumb.db that does not show up unless you have both
Show Hidden Files and Folders AND Hid Protected System Files unchecked

2)
If it was copied from a mac for instance there could be a hidden .DS_something forgot the rest file (how macs hid files)
again it will only show up if Show Hidden Files and Folders AND Hid Protected System Files unchecked

"desktop.ini" is another one of these files that gets built if you change settings on the folder view.

 

[Doomer]

Nope, it's not a hidden file. I know how to make them appear.

It looks like a file system error but it's disturbing that scandisk finds no problems.

Quakeworld, that's another Doomer. I'm a big fan of Doom II and still play it to this day. it's the best stress reliever I've ever found.

 

[imagoon]

Nope, it's not a hidden file. I know how to make them appear.

It looks like a file system error but it's disturbing that scandisk finds no problems.

Quakeworld, that's another Doomer. I'm a big fan of Doom II and still play it to this day. it's the best stress reliever I've ever found.

I am pretty sure the copy engine also considers the directory a "file" at least in the progress indicator. Does robocopy say 21 files or 20 files + 1 directory

--edit--

For reference, NTFS considers a directory a file with the attribute +D (directory) on it.

 

[Mushkins]

Not a file system error, this is normal behavior in Windows. As others have said, it's considering a related system file or the folder itself in the file count even if it's not showing you an icon for it.

 

[Doomer]

Yea but......

It's only this one folder that has this anomaly. There are about 100 folders on this drive and they all show the correct number of files when I right click -> properties on the FOLDER except the one in question.

And btw, Windows displays FILES and FOLDERS as separate entities so It's not possible for the FOLDER to be included in the file count.

 

[imagoon]

Yea but......

It's only this one folder that has this anomaly. There are about 100 folders on this drive and they all show the correct number of files when I right click -> properties on the FOLDER except the one in question.

And btw, Windows displays FILES and FOLDERS as separate entities so It's not possible for the FOLDER to be included in the file count.

Don't know what to tell you then. If chkdsk says it is fine and you move the files and the count stays the same, there is something there you are just missing. It could be a filestream or reparse link also