Can somone help me with a really basic computer question?

[CTyankee]

I know this is dumb but...one of my picture files disappeared from My Pictures. I did a search and found it but cannot copy/paste it to My Pictures. It is burrowed deep in My Documents. I've tried to copy it and nothing appears in it when I open it. I tried to copy it to My Desktop and drag and drop it into My Pictures but I can't even do that. I don't know why it "disappeared" from My Pictures. Every other file I created there is still there...

Mine is a very basic Lenovo Windows system. No frills and several years old.

[lukasahero]

1. What's the full path of where you found it hidden?

It sounds like maybe you dropped it to your recycle bin and some systems won't let you drag and drop from there - you may have to use restore. Let me know the full path (something like C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\My Documents) and I may be able to help.

[CTyankee]

2. OK, I just found it WITHIN another file in My Pictures! I don't know HOW it got there!

I've tried to get it out by going to copy or send to. Those two options don't do it. All I want to do now is to take it out of the folder it is in and put it in the My Pictures section by itself. I'd like to keep it segregated in its own little folder to make it easier to access the images. Of course, I CAN access it by going to the other file that it is in, but I prefer for it to appear on its own in My Pictures.

I feel like an utter bonehead...

[lukasahero]

3. I really need details to help

You're not a bonehead. :)

I do need the full path, though, to figure out what's up.

Worst case - if you can open the file from the folder it's in, can you then select "Save as" and save it to the folder you want it in?

[CTyankee]

7. OK, that was what I was TRYING to do and not being successful, for some reason.

My daughter suggested that I simply drag and drop it from the folder it is in to my Desktop, then opening My Pictures and drag and drop from the Desktop to My Pictures and voila!

Boy, is my face red! Here I was getting all tangled up with "Send to" and "Save as" and it was SO SIMPLE.

I always make something more complicated than it needs to be...

Thank you for your patience and your help, tho. I appreciate you taking the time and making me feel not so stupid...

[lukasahero]

13. No worries!

FTR, if you're kid is under 20, there's a good bet you can ask them for computer help and they'll be able to fix it for you. It's a rule. ;)

Glad you got it fixed!

[pinboy3niner]

4. Sounds like your file may be infected with...

...THE DA VINCI CODE! A common affliction of those who store art images to torment others with Friday Challenges. The only thing that can help you now is...TOM HANKS!

:evilgrin:

[CTyankee]

8. OMG, you've made my day!!!

That was SO FUNNY!

Ah, but you won't be laughing so hard when you see my NEXT challenge!!! Har, har...:evilgrin:

[pinboy3niner]

11. Rut-roh!

:scared:

:rofl:

[HopeHoops]

5. Buy a Mac.

Well SOMEBODY had to post that!

On a serious note. One of the problems with Windows Explorer (and Mac's equivalent as well) is that it is WAY too easy to accidentally drag/drop a folder into another location and be left with that sudden feeling of "oh shit". You may or may not realize you just did something, but even when you realize it you can't always figure out exactly WHAT you just did.

When you say "nothing appears in it", do you mean the file is there but opens with a blank image, it won't open at all, or what?

[CTyankee]

10. I would see a "no images" message in the file I copied. It would open.

But nothin' was there.

So now, it's done, thanks to my daughter, who has a Mac by the way. I just dragged it out of the little folder it was in to the desktop, opened My Pictures up and dragged it there. Simple. I feel like I've wasted people's and my time and that upsets me.

But thank you for trying to help me. It's nice of you...

[HopeHoops]

12. You didn't waste anyone's time. Windows is full of such stupidities and there's often no answer.

I've been a computer geek since the late 70's and have MCSE certification but I STILL get hosed by Windows once in a while.

I'm glad it worked out.

Oh, I guess the "buy a Mac" thing wasn't as much as a joke as I intended it to be. :evilgrin:

[CTyankee]

14. But when my daughter advised me about the simple drag and drop, I

was dumbfounded by how uncomplicated it was! It's one thing if it's a little geeky (which I am NOT in the least). But this was at the elementary level...

As for buying a Mac, I hear that all the time from my kids. I'm so used to it, it's really funny...kind of a joke in our family...

[HopeHoops]

16. It's a running gag. I meant it as a joke as well.

[NoPasaran]

6. Have you rebooted the computer?

Many, many problems seem to go away after a reboot.

[CTyankee]

9. That's always a good idea...I've noticed that myself...

but now I am embarrassed to say that the problem is fixed by a simple drag and drop process, not the complicated process I was failing at. I feel a little stupid, but now I know not to complicate stuff too much -- go for the simplest answer...

[Duer 157099]

15. I don't understand what the problem was, exactly

but what I was going to suggest was that when you found the file, you right click on it and choose "Properties" to examine the properties associated with that file. Oftentimes, a file will *somehow* suddenly have some sort of restriction imposed upon it such that your computer won't want you to move or copy the file.

So maybe next time. But glad you worked it out anyway! :hi:

[CTyankee]

17. Thanks...as you can see it was breathtakingly simple...occam's razor and all that...