Directories changed into links

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gt13
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Directories changed into links

Post by *gt13 »

Hello
I got a very strange problem.
I was trying to implement a synchronization between D:\GT\ and my Synology NAS, using Synology Drive.
Then I decided to suppress the synchronization.
The result is that all the directories that I had synchronized appear in TotalCommander as links.
When I try to synchronize these directories, they do not seem to content any file, and the synchronization is not possible!
If I do the same (synchronization between directories) using FreeCommander, the files appear to be there, and the synchronization succeeds.

Here is a file with more details and screen captures:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/h518cwgb6s236yp/linked_files_problem.docx?dl=0

I am on Windows 10 Professionnel, version 1903.

Thanks for your help !
Gerard
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Re: Directories changed into links

Post by *ghisler(Author) »

They are probably links, because they are not fully synchronized. Onedrive also does such bullshit.
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gt13
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Re: Directories changed into links

Post by *gt13 »

Hello Christian,

Yes, but I do not understand this kind of links.
And when I ask for the properties of this directory, I do not see anything helping me:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oq8hgeog2e4wzfc/linked_dir_properties.png?dl=0

When I make linked directories myself, they appear differently:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/eyih41zeplyrbvi/linked_dir_as_usual_properties.png?dl=0

How can I suppress these links and revert to the normal state of these directories?
Why don't the other file managers see these strange properties of these directories (yes, I know, TC is more clever, but I would like to understand).

Up to now, the only solution that I have found is to copy all these directories somewhere else, and then discard these linked directories.

By the way, sorry for my slow response. It is due to the fact that I was not notified of your answer. I do not understand why.

Regards
Gerard
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Re: Directories changed into links

Post by *MVV »

In your example you've created LNK file, not a directory link. Directory links may be of two kinds, junctions and symbolic links, both shown with link arrow in TC, but only symbolic links have special properties tab with link target. You can view link type with e.g. my NTLinks plugin, or via dir command from cmd.exe console.
gt13
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Re: Directories changed into links

Post by *gt13 »

I do not see anything with DIR:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2jsafq0kjgeg3px/DIR.png?dl=0

And probably I do not understand how the NTlink plugin works, since I was not able to get any information about these strange directories:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5zs8d3b51sd6enc/NTlinks.png?dl=0
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Re: Directories changed into links

Post by *gt13 »

I have checked that the directories that appear with the "link" icon arrow in TotalCommander are not standard directory symbolic links, nor directory JUNCTION.
They have very strange properties, since it seems that only TotalCommander is seeing that they are special, and shows them with the "link" icon with an arrow.
Indeed, Explorer shows them without the "link" icon with an arrow.
The DIR command shows them without any particular property.
And the NTlink plugin also seems to consider them as normal directories.

I have updated the document which gives more details with new screen captures:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g1de7dpnf43shkv/linked_files_problem_v2.docx?dl=0

What do TotalCommander see in these directories that is so special ?
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Re: Directories changed into links

Post by *petermad »

2gt13
What does

Code: Select all

dir /ad
show?
License #524 (1994)
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TC 11.03 32+64bit on Win XP 32bit & Win 7, 8.1 & 10 (22H2) 64bit, 'Everything' 1.5.0.1371a
TC 3.50b4 on Android 6 & 13
Try: TC Extended Menus | TC Languagebar | TC Dark Help | PHSM-Calendar
gt13
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Re: Directories changed into links

Post by *gt13 »

Here is the result of DIR /AD :
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fqys98p2bpfccts/DIR_AD.png?dl=0

Nothing new ! Still very strange...
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Re: Directories changed into links

Post by *petermad »

So they are not real links, because dir /ad shows <SYMLINK> or <JUNCTION> for links in stead of <DIR> - try it in C:\Users\
License #524 (1994)
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Re: Directories changed into links

Post by *gt13 »

dir /ad in C:\users :
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oa3h3rhwzmbgmzq/DIR_AD_Users.png?dl=0

dir /ad in c:\users\my_login :
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8kbvuqgoewffc8a/DIR_AD_Users_mylogin.png?dl=0

By the way, I decided to backup the files in these strange directories, then delete the directories, then recreate them, and put the files back into them.
And what ?
I have deleted the directories, but I do not retrieve any space on the drive (emptying the trash-bin does not do anything. Same with CCleaner). It means that the drive is now almost full, and I cannot recreate the directories and put the files back!
Any solution to inspect the drive and find where are these files and delete them ?
Gerard
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Re: Directories changed into links

Post by *Usher »

gt13 wrote: 2019-11-11, 12:27 UTC I have deleted the directories, but I do not retrieve any space on the drive (emptying the trash-bin does not do anything. Same with CCleaner).
Most likely deleted directories were moved to "System Volume Information" and created a new system restore point.
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Re: Directories changed into links

Post by *petermad »

I have deleted the directories, but I do not retrieve any space on the drive
So maybe they were LINKS and you just deleted the links not the physical content. Try and search for one of the files you backed up, from the root of drive C: - they might still exist somewhere else. I suggest to search with administrator rights to be sure to have access everywhere.
License #524 (1994)
Danish Total Commander Translator
TC 11.03 32+64bit on Win XP 32bit & Win 7, 8.1 & 10 (22H2) 64bit, 'Everything' 1.5.0.1371a
TC 3.50b4 on Android 6 & 13
Try: TC Extended Menus | TC Languagebar | TC Dark Help | PHSM-Calendar
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Re: Directories changed into links

Post by *gt13 »

The files that are hidden somewhere were on the D: drive. If they are still somewhere, I assume they are on the D: drive.
I have checked the C: drive, but did not find my files there.
I am not able to access to the directory System Volume Information on the D: drive (even with administrator rights. Same from a command prompt or from TotalCommander):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2jkzlh0lu7nalkx/D_System_Volume_Information_access_denied.png?dl=0
But I can access to the directory System Volume Information on C:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/b2nprob2rq8akib/C_System_Volume_Information.png?dl=0

There are about 52 GB of hidden files on drive D:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/dcntev54grabiey/D_directories_sizes.png?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4jurtefp3jww72f/D_directories_sizes.xls?dl=0

It's crazy that it seems impossible to locate them!
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Re: Directories changed into links

Post by *petermad »

I am not able to access to the directory System Volume Information on D: drive
Try this - I cannot guarantee that it works:
Right click on D:\System Volume Information\
Choose "Properties"
Click the "Security" tab
Click on the "Advanced" button
Click on "Change" next to "Owner:" field.
Enter your user name (for a user that is administrator) and click the "Check Names" button - click OK
Check the box "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects" - click OK
Click OK in all dialogs - there might be warnings that ownership for some files cannot be transferred
License #524 (1994)
Danish Total Commander Translator
TC 11.03 32+64bit on Win XP 32bit & Win 7, 8.1 & 10 (22H2) 64bit, 'Everything' 1.5.0.1371a
TC 3.50b4 on Android 6 & 13
Try: TC Extended Menus | TC Languagebar | TC Dark Help | PHSM-Calendar
gt13
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Re: Directories changed into links

Post by *gt13 »

Thanks petermad
That was the way to enter inside System_Volume_Information.

But unfortunately the hidden files are not there:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rcwpd43faw5hqq7/D_directories_sizes_with_System_Volume_Information.png?dl=0

I am still missing 52 GB of files !
https://www.dropbox.com/s/t4mj7kb78qb41y6/D_directories_sizes_02.xls?dl=0
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