Missing files / directories
 

My downloaded files do show up (and can be played) in the limewire library window.
however when I use windows explorer to look in that directory:
c:\My Documents\Shared Documents\Music
(also c:\Windows\All Users\Shared Documents\Music ... (same directory)
there is nothing but an empty folder...no downloaded mp3's, even the incomplete folder is missing!
From within Limewire Library, the files show up (and can be accesses) but when I click explore I get the same empty folder.
Makes no sense...
Please Help
Thank You
K Jolin

Use the Windows search function and search for any file you downloaded.

That's the thing, I tried that...search does not find the files, it's as if they aren't on my computer, yet they are in the Library window. I am an ET and have been using and working on computers for 25+ YEARS and have never run across a situation like this.

I'm not a windows user, but is there a possibility you have the preferences set for that directory to be invisible. ie: other apps can see the files but you can't see them.
Go into Control Panel > Folder Options > View > Show hidden files and folders

that's one of the first things I checked.
all hidden & System files are visible.
The files show up and play in Limewire.
but cannot be seen or accessed through explorer

There's 3rd party apps that can make files invisible. Nobody else there has played tricks on you? I don't suppose different accounts would apply here. What about changing the location of the LW dwnld folder to somewhere else. I don't like suggesting those things b/c of possible issues with incomplete files. You may need to move all your incomplete files across (if they're in a different directory including the download.dat & bak files.

Weird problem K Jolin,

This reminds me of a weird problem I had in XP with explorer.
I have a dual boot with 2K and XP, I connected and installed my scanner in 2K but did not install drivers in XP.
I had strange things happening while trying to acess my HD like parts not showing up, and all becouse of missing scanner drivers.

Perhaps you have a conflict somewhere, has this problem been around from the moment you installed Limewire ?

Click 'Explore' in the library in LimeWire after selecting the folder you want. My guess is the files aren't being saved where you think they are.

Ok, well the problem is solved, I did as suggested and changed the target directory in limewire, now when I download files, they show up in both the library window and in the proper folder in windows explorer.
Unfortunately I lost all 152 files that were in the original 'shared' directory.
I know that they are hiding somewhere on my drive, however I expect that they will never be found.

K Jolin,

There are two places where LimeWire might default your save directory. One is C:\Documents And Settings\<username>\Shared. The other is C:\Program Files\LimeWire\Shared. Check for both of those.

LimeWire does *NOT* default your save directory to the Windows Shared folders. Looking there will show nothing.

I checked all directories for certain mp3 files that I knew were in the limewire shared direcory,
from what I can tell, my guess is that originally the program defaulted to C:\Program Files\LimeWire\Shared
After installation I went into the library window, changed the share directory to c:\My Documents\Shared Documents\Music
which windows me also sees as c:\windows\All Users\Shared Documents\Music
After I changed the share directory, I deleted the C:\Program Files\LimeWire\Shared directory as I no longer needed it and didn't want too many shared directories.
I assume now that limewire was still putting the files into the location on my HD that used to correspond to C:\Program Files\LimeWire\Shared. As limewire was the only program that could see these files, SEVERAL searches with windows explorer never found these files (again all hidden & system files were visible), yet limewire could see and play them. Now after changing the shared directory again limewire cannot find them either, They are probably all just lost clusters now....:(

Hi K Jolin, I would suggest you just let them be in the LW library. I click on my mp3's there and then I drag them to folders. For example. I make a folder called Rihanna. I download her music then click until it turns gray, then drag it into the Rihanna folder. I'm not sure if this helps. I used to have mine go the the desktop but they won't anymore. I'm using Vista. What OS are you using?

do you really think K Jolin is going to pop in 3 years later?