I am using windows backup and I am having a problem restoring my favorites folder/subfolder structure. I wanted to verify the backed up contents before restoring to the original location so I chose to restore the folder tree to a different location. When I did what I found was that the restored directory contained duplicated folder names for all of the subfolders. I am baffled. I have examined these subfolder names and they are exactly the same. And this is not a library folder. The files contained in the subfolders are not the same in every in every pair of subfolders but are the same in most of them. I know you probably think that duplicated folder names aren't possible under the same folder but believe me they are and I still have this folder with all the dups if I need to prove it those in disbelief. Ultimately, I need to be able to restore my favorites directory tree with full integrity. Help please.

This article is for Vista, but give it a try http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/148461-personal-user-folder-restore-missing-folder.html Regards Milos

Thanks. The article references a missing or duplicate favorites folder which is a special windows folder. My problem is not a duplicated favorites folder but about one hundred duplicated subfolders under the favorites folder. Just about all of them.

Hi, Can you please post a screenshot here? When you choose the files you wanna restore in Backup and Restore dialog, do you see the same duplicate folders either? Juke Chou TechNet Subscriber Support If you are TechNet Subscription user and have any feedback on our support quality, please send your feedbackhere. Juke Chou TechNet Community Support

I do see the dups in backup and restore and also in the restored folder. I'm assuming I have to link to the capture file since it doesn't look like this forum supports uploads? Where do you typically place the file for viewing?

Hi, This forum supports uploading images. The button is at the right top of edit field. Juke Chou TechNet Community Support

Below is a partial image of the downloaded subfolders contained in favorites?

Hi, Type dir "the folder that contains duplicate folders" /a /o:n > 0 & start notepad 0 in CMD. A Notepad will open with the results. Look at filenames/ directory names. Are any the same?Juke Chou TechNet Community Support

Hi, Please check in the properties of the folders, and found whether the "restored default" button on the location tab. and then change the location from a long phantom folder name to the correct path of "C:\USERS\<USERNAME>" Thanks. Kevin NiPlease 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.

Hi, Type dir "the folder that contains duplicate folders" /a /o:n > 0 & start notepad 0 in CMD. A Notepad will open with the results. Look at filenames/ directory names. Are any the same? Juke Chou TechNet Community Support they are the same with one of the pair having a "?" appended to the end of the file name which does not show up in explorer but apparently is visible in dos. I don't think these files were in the folder when they were backed up but I can't be sure. Something happened that made the folders disappear. That's why I had to go to backup.

Hi, @Kevin, the folders are not in Library. Your reply seems to no avail. @NCquv, Please just restore the folders you need, then run Backup and Restore again to back them up=>Observe whether the duplicate folders apppear.Juke Chou TechNet Community Support

I'm thinking that the dup folders with the ? were either applied by sugarsync or by Xmarks. Sugarsync replicates favorites to the cloud and xmarks to other machines. My money is on xmarks but I'm not certain if I'll ever know for sure. Probably more likely than windows backup doing it.

Hi, I agree, I also think this is not caused by Windows built-in Backup tool. I have never encounter the issue just like yours. Please keep monitoring and if you get any update, post back. :) Juke Chou TechNet Community Support