Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

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immewnity
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2025 11:11 pm

Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

Post by immewnity »

EDIT: Long story short, as shown in the below thread, the files do exist - Windows just couldn't find em.

Got an interesting issue where some files are showing up in Everything that, when I try to open them, show a Windows error message that "Windows cannot find '[filepath]'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again."

From PowerShell, CMD, and even WSL Ubuntu, I cannot see these files. If I rename a parent folder in the path, the Path shown in Everything does not change. So, I'm fairly confident the files don't exist and it's a journal issue of some sort. I have tried forcing a rebuild of indexes to no avail.

Any suggestions?

Using Everything 1.5.0.1402a on Windows 11 25H2.
Last edited by immewnity on Tue Dec 02, 2025 5:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
void
Developer
Posts: 19839
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

Post by void »

  • In Everything, from the Tools menu, click Options.
  • Click the General tab on the left.
  • Check Store settings and data in %APPDATA%\Everything.
  • Uncheck Run as administrator.
  • Check Everything Service. (Please make sure this is tick-checked and not square-checked)
  • Click OK.
  • Exit Everything (from the File menu, click Exit).
  • Restart Everything.

Please make sure Index -> Update Indexes is checked.


Does the issue persist?
immewnity
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2025 11:11 pm

Re: Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

Post by immewnity »

void wrote: Mon Dec 01, 2025 12:28 am
  • In Everything, from the Tools menu, click Options.
  • Click the General tab on the left.
  • Check Store settings and data in %APPDATA%\Everything.
  • Uncheck Run as administrator.
  • Check Everything Service. (Please make sure this is tick-checked and not square-checked)
  • Click OK.
  • Exit Everything (from the File menu, click Exit).
  • Restart Everything.

Please make sure Index -> Update Indexes is checked.


Does the issue persist?
All of these were already set as requested, so issue still persists.

The filenames themselves may be part of the issue - the files I've noticed this with start with

Code: Select all

._
(e.g.

Code: Select all

._HACP_AABQ_WWillu01_05_R_ad-1_LR.jpg
.
therube
Posts: 5711
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm

Re: Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

Post by therube »

While it may be odd to have file names named like that, shouldn't be any reason that Everything shouldn't be able to see or open them.
.
Everything - dot names.png
Everything - dot names.png (10.78 KiB) Viewed 6559 times
Double-click the .txt file & it opens in my editor.
The .lnk file does the same.
therube
Posts: 5711
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm

Re: Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

Post by therube »

> Got an interesting issue where some files are showing up in Everything

They are in fact showing up in Everything, no?

> when I try to open them, show a Windows error message that "Windows cannot find '[filepath]'

What is the filepath that it cannot find?
Maybe it is a "path" to... who knows, the cloud?
immewnity
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2025 11:11 pm

Re: Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

Post by immewnity »

therube wrote: Mon Dec 01, 2025 5:14 pm > Got an interesting issue where some files are showing up in Everything

They are in fact showing up in Everything, no?
Yes, they show up in Everything, but don't actually seem to exist (at least not anymore).
therube wrote: Mon Dec 01, 2025 5:14 pm > when I try to open them, show a Windows error message that "Windows cannot find '[filepath]'

What is the filepath that it cannot find?
Maybe it is a "path" to... who knows, the cloud?
For the example provided, full path is

Code: Select all

E:\FTP\Combined FTP backups\Spain\02 NINTENDO SWITCH\Juegos\Arms\Illustrations\._HACP_AABQ_WWillu01_05_R_ad-1_LR.jpg
Error message shows the same
image.png
image.png (15.17 KiB) Viewed 6553 times
Last edited by immewnity on Mon Dec 01, 2025 8:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
void
Developer
Posts: 19839
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

Post by void »

Can Windows Explorer open the file:

In Windows Explorer, type in the following address and press ENTER:

E:\FTP\Combined FTP backups\Spain\02 NINTENDO SWITCH\Juegos\Arms\Illustrations\._HACP_AABQ_WWillu01_05_R_ad-1_LR.jpg


-It it opens, then there's something up with the existing file being launched from Everything.



Does the path exist?

In Windows Explorer, type in the following address and press ENTER:

E:\FTP\Combined FTP backups\Spain\02 NINTENDO SWITCH\Juegos\Arms\Illustrations


Can you see your
._HACP_AABQ_WWillu01_05_R_ad-1_LR.jpg
file here?

-If not, Everything is indexing a dead file. (NTFS MFT out of sync with the folder listing -check your drive for errors)



To check your drive for errors:
  • Please backup anything important on your drive before checking it for errors.
  • In Windows Explorer, right click your drive and click Properties.
  • Click the Tools tab.
  • Click Check now...
  • Click Start
  • If prompted to schedule a scan on the next restart, click Yes.
immewnity
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2025 11:11 pm

Re: Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

Post by immewnity »

void wrote: Mon Dec 01, 2025 9:50 pm Can Windows Explorer open the file:

In Windows Explorer, type in the following address and press ENTER:

E:\FTP\Combined FTP backups\Spain\02 NINTENDO SWITCH\Juegos\Arms\Illustrations\._HACP_AABQ_WWillu01_05_R_ad-1_LR.jpg


-It it opens, then there's something up with the existing file being launched from Everything.
This returns the Windows error message screenshotted above.
void wrote: Mon Dec 01, 2025 9:50 pm
Does the path exist?

In Windows Explorer, type in the following address and press ENTER:

E:\FTP\Combined FTP backups\Spain\02 NINTENDO SWITCH\Juegos\Arms\Illustrations


Can you see your
._HACP_AABQ_WWillu01_05_R_ad-1_LR.jpg
file here?
This path does exist, but the file is not present within.
void wrote: Mon Dec 01, 2025 9:50 pm -If not, Everything is indexing a dead file. (NTFS MFT out of sync with the folder listing -check your drive for errors)

To check your drive for errors:
  • Please backup anything important on your drive before checking it for errors.
  • In Windows Explorer, right click your drive and click Properties.
  • Click the Tools tab.
  • Click Check now...
  • Click Start
  • If prompted to schedule a scan on the next restart, click Yes.
After 20 minutes or so, Error Checking says "Windows successfully scanned the drive. No errors were found."
void
Developer
Posts: 19839
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

Post by void »

Thank you for the information.

Everything has a stale file in its index.

Please send your Help -> Troubleshooting information.
immewnity
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2025 11:11 pm

Re: Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

Post by immewnity »

Everything 1.5.0.1402a (x64)
OS: Windows NT 10.0 26200 (x64)
Admin: 0
Service: 1 (connected / installed and running)
Command line: -is-relaunch-command
Binary: C:\Program Files\Everything 1.5a\Everything.exe
Profile: C:\Users\...\AppData\Roaming\Everything\Everything-1.5a.ini
Database: C:\Users\...\AppData\Local\Everything\Everything-1.5a.db
Instance: 1.5a

Config:
shell_max_path=0
check_for_updates_on_startup=1
highlight_max_or_paths=256
auto_include_fixed_refs_volumes=1
auto_remove_offline_refs_volumes=1
auto_include_fixed_fat_volumes=1
auto_remove_offline_fat_volumes=1
find_first_file_path_not_found_retry_timeout=30000
icon_blend_hidden=1
thumbnail_medium_text_lines=3
thumbnail_large_text_lines=2
filelist_preview=0
filelist_context_menu=0
set_foreground_window_attach_thread_input=0
path_hit_text_only=1
keep_result_focus_in_view=0
index_date_created=1
fast_date_created_sort=1
index_attributes=1
fast_attributes_sort=1
fast_extension_sort=1
folder_rescan_timeout=300000
text_plain_extensions=a;ans;asc;ascx;asm;asp;aspx;asx;bas;bat;bcp;btm;c;cc;cd;cls;cmd;cod;contact;cpp;cs;csa;csh;cshader;csproj;css;csv;cxx;dbs;def;dic;dos;dsh;dshader;dsp;dsw;efu;ext;faq;filters;fky;fx;gsh;gshader;h;hh;hhc;hlsl;hlsli;hpp;hpp;hsh;hshader;hta;htm;html;htt;htw;htx;hxx;i;ibq;ics;idl;idq;inc;inf;ini;inl;inx;ipp;jav;java;js;json;jsproj;kci;lgn;log;lst;lua;m3u;mak;map;md;mdp;mk;odc;odh;odl;php;pkgdef;pkgundef;pl;prc;ps1xml;psh;pshader;py;rc;rc2;rct;reg;res;rgs;rul;s;scc;shtm;shtml;sln;slnf;sol;sql;srf;stm;tab;tdl;tlh;tli;trg;tt;txt;udf;udt;url;user;usr;vb;vbproj;vbs;vcp;vcproj;vcw;vcxproj;viw;vsh;vshader;vspscc;vsscc;vssscc;wri;wtx;xml;xsd;xsl;xslt
journal_max_size=33554432
context_menu_parent_folder=4
filter=EVERYTHING
omit_results=1
preview_icon=1
findbar_highlight_all=0
columns=[{"name":"Name","width":333},{"name":"Path","width":747},{"name":"Size","width":96},{"name":"Date Modified","width":153},{"name":"Date Created","width":153},{"name":"Date Taken","width":153},{"name":"Type","width":98}]
ntfs_volumes=[{"path":"C:","volume_name":"\\\\?\\Volume{98..53}"},{"path":"E:","volume_name":"\\\\?\\Volume{57..45}"},{"path":"F:","volume_name":"\\\\?\\Volume{8d..20}"},{"path":"M:","volume_name":"\\\\?\\Volume{17..2b}"}]
exclude_folders="C:\\Users\\...\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\Edge\\User Data\\Default","C:\\Users\\...\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\Windows\\INetCache","M:\\Drive backups"

Policy:

Plugins:
void
Developer
Posts: 19839
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

Post by void »

Thanks for the information.
This confirms no folder or filelist indexes, just NTFS indexes.

Please try the following:
Copy and paste the following into your Everything search box:
/delete-db

Press ENTER in your Everything search box.
Click Yes to delete the DB.

Copy and paste the following into your Everything search box:
/restart-now

Press ENTER in your Everything search box.

Everything will perform a full reindex.
Is the ._HACP_AABQ_WWillu01_05_R_ad-1_LR.jpg file still shown in your results?
immewnity
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2025 11:11 pm

Re: Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

Post by immewnity »

void wrote: Tue Dec 02, 2025 3:04 am Thanks for the information.
This confirms no folder or filelist indexes, just NTFS indexes.

Please try the following:
Copy and paste the following into your Everything search box:
/delete-db

Press ENTER in your Everything search box.
Click Yes to delete the DB.

Copy and paste the following into your Everything search box:
/restart-now

Press ENTER in your Everything search box.

Everything will perform a full reindex.
Is the ._HACP_AABQ_WWillu01_05_R_ad-1_LR.jpg file still shown in your results?
Yes - it persists even still 😅 I'm assuming something is terribly corrupted on my hard drive at this point?
void
Developer
Posts: 19839
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

Post by void »

Chkdsk would have reported any issues.



Maybe the file really exists, but Windows doesn't have access or can't see it?

Does Everything show a date modified for the file?
Does Everything show a size for the file?

Try creating a new text document in the Illustrations folder, renaming it to ._HACP_AABQ_WWillu01_05_R_ad-1_LR.jpg
Does the rename succeed? If you then delete the file, does it get removed from Everything ?

Is the file important? -If not, please try deleting it from Everything with Shift + Delete



Please try a fresh USN Journal:
  • In Everything, from the Tools menu, click Options.
  • Click the NTFS tab on the left.
  • Select your E: drive.
  • Uncheck USN Journal.
  • Click Apply.
  • Re-check USN Journal.
  • Click OK.
After doing the above, try a reindex:
  • In Everything, from the Tools menu, click Options.
  • Click the Indexes tab on the left.
  • Click Force Rebuild.
  • Click OK.
immewnity
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2025 11:11 pm

Re: Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

Post by immewnity »

void wrote: Tue Dec 02, 2025 4:18 am Chkdsk would have reported any issues.



Maybe the file really exists, but Windows doesn't have access or can't see it?

Does Everything show a date modified for the file?
Does Everything show a size for the file?

Is the file important? -If not, please try deleting it from Everything with Shift + Delete
Everything does indeed show date modified and size. I've tried browsing to it from Ubuntu via WSL and still nothing, but perhaps that's WSL doing funky things. That said, even if I rename the parent folder, the path in Everything doesn't change, so some index seems static...

No, not terribly important - this was actually noticed while trying to delete several of these ._ files - but odd.
immewnity
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2025 11:11 pm

Re: Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

Post by immewnity »

void wrote: Tue Dec 02, 2025 4:18 am Try creating a new text document in the Illustrations folder, renaming it to ._HACP_AABQ_WWillu01_05_R_ad-1_LR.jpg
Does the rename succeed? If you then delete the file, does it get removed from Everything ?
Ooh, good idea. I was able to successfully create a file and rename it, with two line items then appearing in Everything - oh, wait, I see what the issue is. There are two "Arms" folders - one is all caps:
image.png
image.png (1.4 KiB) Viewed 6508 times
Not exactly sure how that is possible, but Windows and Linux got confused yet Everything didn't! I was able to successfully rename one folder and access the contents of both, and sure enough, the file is present in one.

Apologies for the wild goose chase, but hey, if the issue comes up again it's something to check!
therube
Posts: 5711
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm

Re: Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

Post by therube »

Linux is case significant, generally, so ARMS <> Arms.
Windows is case insignificant, generally, so ARMS == Arms.



And speaking of that, though slightly different...
Salamander - how can i have two directories with the very same name ?


1. in my non-unicode file manager (Salamander), i see two of the same directories
& i'm like, huh?

2. so i drop to a C: prompt & i still didn't see it

so in Salamander i check the directory sizes & they "both" show up a 0-bytes,
& i think how did that happen, as i'd just copied the directory using
fastcopy which i know doesn't have such issues. so again, how did that
happen?

so i try to delete them. & 1 deletes & the other does not? & i check the
directory size again, & this time it is 93 KB, so again, i'm what?

3. after the fact, Everything, & it kind of shows me, but still not too clear

4. Vim, now we're getting somewhere

5. Win32pad, again obvious

back in Salamander... Salamander cannot "enter" the unicode dirname, though it
can gather its' size, 93 KB. & what was happening is that i was able to enter
the non-unicode dirname, which was in fact empty, but when i attempted to
enter the unicode dirname, instead i ended up back in the non-unicode directory,
again, but didn't realize it. once i deleted the non-unicode version, then
there was no "fall back", so at that point Salamander simply said, "Error: (2)
The system cannot find the file specified", & with that, i knew i was good ;-).
.
Salamander - how can i have two directories with the very same name.png
Salamander - how can i have two directories with the very same name.png (12.61 KiB) Viewed 6355 times
void
Developer
Posts: 19839
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Files that do not/no longer exist being listed

Post by void »

Windows is case insignificant, generally, so ARMS == Arms.
Generally, yes.
You can set a folder to be case sensitive.
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