Folders copyng over to all subfoilders

I have structured my data files so that they are all in subfolders within a folder called "Root". So ther path is C:\Root\[Name of Datfafolder]. 

Weirdly, my hard drrive has becoime clogged up with all the sub-folders copy8ing themselves over to every other subfolder with ithis "Root" directory.

I can only guess at tnhe reason. Maybe it is someething to do wth my cloud storage sync foldefrs back over to the hard drive? Although this issue never used to happen until a few weeks ago and I ahve had this cloud stoirage (pCloud) for  years.

I am not awre of having done anythng with Windows that could ccause this but has anyone got an idea of how this has happened? Thanks!    

Edited by hamluis, 04 April 2024 - 09:46 AM.
Moved from Discussion to Spt - Hamluis.

 

I have structured my data files so that they are all in subfolders within a folder called "Root". So ther path is C:\Root\[Name of Datfafolder].

Why did you do that?

It seems highly ill-advised.

Let's see what the other, more technically expert folks say....

Because the computer repair guy set o up that way. An answer, by the way that takes me mo neasrer a solution and does not even offer  better way than the system it criticises...

Because the computer repair guy set o up that way. An answer, by the way that takes me mo neasrer a solution and does not even offer  better way than the system it criticises...

Here's just one explanation why this is a bad idea.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/is-it-really-safe-to-create-a-folder-on-the-root/702fef91-ed3c-4eeb-8c1e-2bc4eaa259cc

FWIW, this was/is not intended to create offense.

The computer repair guy seems to have been ill-informed.

So, if anything, the "fault" would be his.

I was not being critical of YOU, but rather merely sought a rationale for why things had been set up this way in the first place.

Having said that, I ought to have prefaced my reply by stating that I do not know a viable solution to your problem.

But perhaps someone more expert than I will offer additional/better advice.

I hope you get it sorted.

Thanks.  If someone you are paying good money to advises ort does something you tend to acdept it....

I have done a bit more research and it seems this dolder duplication is a thing on other cloud stogare services also.

I meanwhile I did a manual malware scan and found  - and removed - ttwo infections, although I doubt that they are to blame as I schedule daily malware scans

You won't like this answer.

If you can revert to or re-create the default folders windows uses. These need to be in the "User" account folder. You shuold find a folder with your name or partial name inside of users.

The correct way to specify a change of location for your data is to do it within Settings.

If you have a good backup of your data on an external drive then I'd suggest deleting root and all of it's contents and then dragging your actual data to the right default locations from your backup.

If you think you have malware then this topic needs to be moved to the malware forum.

 

The correct way to specify a change of location for your data is to do it within Settings.

 

OK. I do have a backup usinfg Easeus Todo, but unfortunaely it will ahve the unwanted foldrs copuied to it by now.

 I have ben trying to figurre out a neat/automated way of doing this. So all ythe data foildefrs shounld be in C....[User]\Documents, correct? 

So far the best I can come uop wth is to copy the folders I do want to keep to an extrerna disk and then djust delete "Root" altogether. 

I will follow your suggestion of ditching the C:\Root directory.

UPDATE: I ahve reorganised the folders on the C: drive and placed all data files in the Documents Library.

I have meanwhile deleted all foleras from my cloud storage and added back just the two most impoertant ones.

I see that on eof those folders on the local drive ois alterady full up with all the folders tanhtI dleted yesterday. I dont see how the clkoud storgae could be causing hris, unless it is pulling them out of the Recycle Bin?

I have deleted the sync again and wil,l see what happens.

If pcloud is not causing this, what is?

Are you using one drive?

If so what are the settings?

No, pclopud. 

But I have just detected some malware items using MWB and ESET so am going to start a thread in the malware forum.  

Open MRL topic at https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/796413/trojan-causing-duplicatiobn-of-all-data-filesfolders/ . 

This W10 topic is now closed to avoid confusion.

Louis