Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!snorkelwacker!bloom-beacon!world!rcochran
From: rcochran@world.std.com (Ray Cochrane)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Empty Folder Problem
Message-ID: <1990Aug31.051854.20289@world.std.com>
Date: 31 Aug 90 05:18:54 GMT
References: <25542.26DA84DE@stjhmc.fidonet.org> <6275@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU> <8369@ncar.ucar.edu>
Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die
Lines: 61

schabtac@stout.atd.ucar.edu (Adam Schabtach) writes:

>In article <6275@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU> roskar@jhunix.UUCP (Veljko Roskar) writes:
>>In article <25542.26DA84DE@stjhmc.fidonet.org> Chris.Gehlker@p12.f56.n114.z1.fidonet.org (Chris Gehlker) writes:

>>>is with Norton Utilities.  I don't know of anyone who's had this problem with
>>>6.0.5.
>>>
>>Well I have the "Folder from Hell" on 6.0.5. It appeared in the root directory

>I've gotten it on 6.0.5 too.

>>I have a problem. Can't afford NU. How do I fix this without it. Please don't 
>>tell me to back up and reformat, I am finishing my MS and just don't have the 
>>time!

>I certainly hope you're taking the time to back up -- it will take MUCH longer
>to reconstruct your MS if you don't have a backup when your hard disk dies
>(notice I said 'when' rather than 'if' :-).

>However, the way I deal with Folders From Hell (TM) is by dragging
>them onto the desktop (usually conveniently close to the Trash) and
>renaming them something like 'From Hell' or 'Dead.' Then the next time
>I boot or restart, I can throw them in the Trash and they stay there.
>It seems that the restart takes care of them (at least on my system).


There is a way to kill these folders from hell! See the following message:

FROM: Eric Larson
TO: Ray Leninger
SUBJ: A Folder Question
In a message to Norm Goodger {26 Nov 89} Ray Leninger wrote:
> I've never reformated my HD20 in the 4 years I've owned it, but I guess
> that'll be the only solution.  According to the Finder it is empty
> although one of my Locator DA's shows there are 26 files in it (but won't
> show anything if I open it).  Another interesting "feature" of this folder
> is that if I create a text file and save it to that folder, there's still
> nothing in the folder according to the Finder.  It would be interesting to
> know WHAT causes this, but it must just be "one of those things."
I've seen this mentioned several times now... the problem is caused by a
discrepancy in the Macintosh file system that causes the Finder to believe a
folder contains files when in fact it is empty. Of course, the Finder will not 
throw away a folder unless it is empty... The problem is quite easy to fix with
a disk editor ala MacSnoop/Fedit/SUM Tools. First, name the folder in 
question something unique, like FUBAR FOLDER.
Then, using a tool like DiskTop, examine the folder information to get an idea
of how many files the Finder thinks are in the folder... write the number down.
Now, open the volume FUBAR FOLDER resides on with your disk editor, and do an
ASCII search for the string FUBAR FOLDER. When the string is found, look at
the hex codes immediately following the string FUBAR FOLDER. You should see
a sequence something like 0100 00xx, where 00xx is the hexadecimal equivalent
to the number of files that Disktop reported being in the empty folder. Using
the disk editor, change this number to 0000 and save the edited sector. When
you have completed this editing, you should have no trouble throwing away 
FUBAR FOLDER.
Of course, this is not something for the timid, or for folks who do not have
a good backup of their hard disk around. But done correctly, it does let you
throw away those folders from hell....

I have used this method with great success....be careful...and backup first!