New folders and files disappear on a Windows 7 network share
I have a "server" machine running W7 Pro x64, networked to a number of XP machines. I have a shared folder on the server. All of the XP machines are set up to access this shared folder, and all works fine. The XP machines can read and write to existing files in the shared folder so I assume the network is setup correctly. However... When I create a new sub folder under the shared folder on the W7 server computer, it is not visible to the XP machines. Even stranger, if I create a new subfolder under the shared folder from one of the XP machines, it creates the folder ("New Folder") and is visible. But if I then rename this folder it disappears from the point of view of the XP workstation. It has been created though, you can see it on the W7 server itself. (All these observations are using Windows Explorer). This behavious also applies to files created in the shared folder. It's as if W7 is not sharing new files / folders in an existing shared folder. However, if I carry out the same process in an existing sub folder of the shared folder, all seem to be fine, you can see the new folders / files everywhere. I have tried pretty much everything in terms of changing network settings. The share has been set up using the sharing option in explorer, but I am not using HomeGroup. All XP machines are logging onto the W7 server using the same credential, although I have tried this with only one XP machine switched on, no difference. This networking model was working fine using the previous "server" computer, running Windows 2000 Professional. Any ideas? This one is driving me nuts!
January 27th, 2011 12:47pm

Hi, After checking this issue, I would like to suggest you perform the following steps to check the result: 1. Temporarily disable the firewall. 2. Boot into Safe Mode with networking to check how it works. 3. Try UNC path: \\ComputerName\SharedFolder\Resource to see if you can access the new folder. Hope it helps. Alex ZhaoPlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
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January 31st, 2011 7:58am

Hi Alex, thanks for your reply. I've tried disabling the firewall and antivirus (Avast) on the server, which I assume is what you mean, makes no difference. I've tried booting the XP workstation / client in safe mode with networking, makes no difference. Its a bit tricky doing this on the server, but could do if it's still significant. I think more significantly though i can open a command prompt,on the xp workstation / client, do a dir on \\server\data\*. and see the newly created folder. This is NOT visible in Windows Explorer. I can also (in a command prompt ) do a dir on F:\*. which is mapped to the above folder and see the newly created folder. So I guess the issue is that Windows Explorer cannot see these folders but the command prompt can. I really dont get that! How can Windows explorer be selective about the folders it displays? Hidden and System folders are both set to be visible in Folder Options. Looking forward to hearing back from you. Mark UK
January 31st, 2011 7:45pm

H Marki again Alex, a little more info. If I re-share the shared folder on the server, sometimes the missing sub folders appear in the folders pane of explorer (but not in the right hand pane) but if I then close and re-open explorer they are no longer there. This behaviour seems to be a bit random in that it doesn't do it all the time and with all folders. I experimented with the caching settings on the server, initially thought this had solved the problem but no, it hasn't. Mark
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January 31st, 2011 8:29pm

Hi, Thanks for update. According to your description, I suggest you boot your Windows 7 into Safe Mode with Networking to check the result. If this issue persists, please try to edit the following registry value in Windows 7 to check the result: NOTE: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem\NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation Set the Value Data to 0. Hope it helps. Alex ZhaoPlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
February 1st, 2011 4:41am

Hi again, Tried those, unfortunately didn't resolve the issue. Looking at this a bit more, it seems to have something to do with the "owner" of the folder. In this setup, I have 3 shared folders, lets say they are Data1, Data2, and Data3. There are 3 user accounts on the W7 server. MarkServer is the local administrator accont, then there are accounts called "Staff" and "Managers" The 3 shared folders are all at the same level, under a folder called DataMain. I originally had this folder shared, but removed the share for this then re-shared the 3 subfolders. Data1 and Data2 are shared with "Staff" and Data3 is shared with "Staff" and "Managers". Data3 is intended to only be accessible by managers. Now, I am creating the new subfolder under Data1 from an XP workstation which is logged to the server using the "Staff" user credentials.I note that when I do this, the new sub folder is owned by "Staff" and shared with "Managers". This is the folder that disppears when you rename it. Existing folders, which are visible and accessible as expected on the XP workstations are owned by MarkServer, the local W7 Server administrator, as they were created on the server. So it seems that new folders are owned by the creator (which I would expect) but are not visible to that owner (which I would not expect!) The server is a new machine / setup by the way, and to date is only used as a p2p file sharer. There is nothing else installed on it so it is a fairly clean install. I have used this kind of file sharing setup for many years without problems (albeit with older OS on the server) So I'm finding it strange that this is an issue no-one else has encountered. Anyone else out there seen anything similar? Mark
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February 1st, 2011 9:05pm

I think I have something similar. I have a user that cannot see 2 files in one network share subdirectory. When logged onto one machine, these files are missing, however, everything else in the directory is visible. One file is an .XLS file, the other a .TMP. For sanities sake, I removed any possible File Options involving hiding system files etc, and the .TMP appeared for about 30 seconds, then dissapeared. The problem is only (it appears) on one machine, if I get the user to log on elsewhere to another Win 7 box, she can see the folders. Permissions are correct and matching other users that have no issue seeing the file. I am about to go through the process of giving myself rights to the share and testing her machine with my account...
February 3rd, 2011 8:25am

Would appreciate any input Neil as I still have this problem and I really need to get it fixed. I've tried to reproduce this on my network at home (issue is in my office) but I cant. The only difference is that I only have a 32bit W7 machine at home to use as a server. I'm suspecting Windows 7 x64, if only cos most of my other probloems lately have been down to that!!
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February 3rd, 2011 8:48am

I can tell you that this one is not an x64 thing. These are all Win 7 Machines x86 and the file server is (cough) 2000.... It's got to be a local setting on just this one machine, however I'll let you know if I get the problem when I log onto that machine. If I don't get the issue when I log on, it's the local copy of the user profile that's at fault I'm guessing... Perhaps some Windows 7 way of handling it's view of Network drives or something?
February 3rd, 2011 8:53am

I've logged onto the users machine as myself, and the problem remains. I cannot see the files either in Explorer or DOS, even trying to view attribs of the file in DOS returns a File not found. It's very odd that it only seems to effect this one folder, and only 2 items in it. However this maybe just due to the user not using that many other network shares. There must be something locally on the machine that is denying view of these files?
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February 3rd, 2011 9:43am

You seem to have a different problem to me, in that it's only windows explorer that doesn't see new folders / files (dir from the dos pronpt dos see them) and with me its ALL workstations and ALL new folders / files. Bet there's a common cause though. Could do with hearing back from Alex!
February 3rd, 2011 11:01am

Did any one ever solve this issue as Mark and me seem tohave the same issue. I have a windows 7 pro machine as a server. I am using a simple workgroup, no credentials for any type of log in and every other day the user says then can not see a folder but if you do a cmd and look for it under that dir for that folder it is there. I did also experince one folder that did not show up under the windows 7 machine. My question is this: did anyone have the data folder sitting on another windows xp machine shared out then moved the date to a windows 7 machine? could this be the issue? Hope someone can answer this cause this is a odd one indeed.
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March 21st, 2011 2:03pm

Nope, I have the same problem and it seems to have started in the last few months. During a sync, I will encounter files that are listed as new. However they are not and are in both directories. They can sometimes be seen locally but not across a non Domain network that has worked backed up for 7 years just fine. The files chosen are random. Files attributes no unusual or common to problem. Sometimes when dropped into directory, there is the usual overwrite warning, file appears for ~30sec then disappears, but exists in CMD. This is not a problem XP to XP sync but XP - Win7pro Stumped also.
March 24th, 2011 12:41am

i did se reading recently and some people using the latest version of avast was the issue. for me i am not sure if it fixed the issue till the person comes in a checks it out. we are using a windows 7 32bit machine as a file server, then two windows xp sp3 machines. the data came off a snap server to one of the xp machines as a temp holding area. then one hte new machine came in it went onto that. i got sharing on this machine on every folder for guests, everyone, administrators. still this machine will not let files and folders show up but if you do does command and go to that folder it shows up. there has to be an answer for this..... some HELP! lol
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March 31st, 2011 7:33pm

The problem seems to be with the Version 6.0 Avast, although they say they are working on it. However you can only download Version 6.0000 from their site. I was losing too much data and moved to AVG for that PC and it works fine now. Will have to see when and if Avast gets it fixed.
April 1st, 2011 2:50pm

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