Two folders with identical (i.e., duplicate) names

Anonymous
2010-05-14T20:19:28+00:00

When I look at my drive E in the Windows Explorer, I have two folders named \Users in the root (using Vista with the lastest updates). When I look from a cmd box, I only see one.

I think the second one was created when I used Vista's robocopy to backup my C files onto E (e.g. "robocopy c:\Users\Steve e:\Users\Steve"), but (1) I didn't think you could end up with duplicate names in the same folder and (2) how can I specify which of the two files I want to copy files to?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2010-05-14T20:50:22+00:00

You can't have two folders with the same name in the same directory - something must be different (maybe an underscore at the end of one or something else).  I have no idea how or why this happened.  When you scroll through each of the folders are they identical in terms of contents (same folders, same files, you can open files from both folders,...)?  I'm not familiar with robocopy so I'm not sure if that was responsible (though it seems likely).  If  they are identical in all respects, just delete one and use the other one (or better, remame one to something else and save it elsewhere "just in case" - at least until you're sure the folder  you selected is working properly and there are no problems.  I'd give a month and then delete the other folder.

If you see only one in cmd then move some file to a different directory and then ccheck on Windows Explorer to see in which folder the change occurred (and verify it didn't occur in both).  Then you'll know which folder to use  and which to rename are indicated above.

I hope this helps.

Good luck.

Lorien - MCSE/MCSA/Network+/A+ --- If this post helps to resolve your issue, please click the "Mark as Answer" or "Helpful" button at the top of this message. By marking a post as Answered, or Helpful you help others find the answer faster.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-02-14T22:03:29+00:00

    I have same issue.

    I deleted one of them, and they both disappeared, so it appears to be a rendering or display issue?

    Thank goodness I have a backup!!

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-02-03T20:27:45+00:00

    @Mr. Crusher.

    Thanks.  This worked for me.  I had two folders that appeared to have identical names in Windows Explorer as "Programs."  They were not in the Libraries grouping.   At the command prompt, one showed up as xPrograms.      I deleted the desktop.ini files in each and I sorted out the contents of the folders.

    I read that it safe to delete desktop.ini as the system rebuilds these files.   No problems with Chinese or alternate languages or deleting system files.

    Thanks, again.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-01-08T07:06:56+00:00

    I have the exact same problem with Windows 7. After I moved the Downloads folder (using Properties:Location), a second Downloads folder appeared in the Explorer window of my "user" directory. Both folders point to the same new path. Moving the Downloads folder back to its default location (again, using Properites:Location) did not cause the duplicate folder to disappear. Deleting one, deletes the other.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-03-04T11:28:09+00:00

    Thanks for the informative post and "I want it fixed real bad"!!

    Ok, this isnt perfect but it might fix your problem

    Download either

    or

    Locate BOTH the duplicated files using Search (takes a while).

    Now pay Data Doctor $69 to unlock the demo version so you can Save these files.

    Save BOTH the files by saving under new names to a safe location.

    Check you can now access BOTH new files independently.

    Go to windows explorer / cmd prompt or whaterver, and delete the OLD duplicate files (if you can).

    Let us know if it solves it for you.

    wikiwebs.com.au

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