CCleaner Free Space Wiper and (hidden) Folder Lock files

CCleaner for Windows CCleaner Windows Bug Reporting
1

Can anyone advise?

Am using an older version of FolderLock http://download.cnet.com/Folder-Lock/3000-2092_4-10684031.html on on an external USB connected hard drive (OS -Windows XP home Edition 32bit)

I ran the free space cleaner option in CCleaner's Drive Wiper tool on the external hard drive ( I can assure everyone I was 100% careful to select the free space option and not the entire drive contents) and the next time I opened up the folder lock software, the contents of the secure 'locker' folder were 'missing' (ie as in, not visible in windows explorer type window). (No folder nor files views are set to 'hidden', it's not that)

So next, I ran piriform Recuva and it finds the files and tells me they have a status of 'not deleted'.

Anyone able to tell me how I make the locker folder and all its files visible again?

Regards.

2

I used FolderLock or something similar on XP Home years ago, and applied to a folder on an external USB drive.

The "hidden" and totally inaccessible folder was absolutely visible, usable, and normal when I plugged the drive into a different P.C.

In my view FolderLock or whatever has simply "corrupted" your operating system so that your operating system says the folder does not exist.

This "corruption" is the way it does its magic and in normal situations is harmless.

In your case the hidden folder is a phantom that in some ways could appear to be free space - which you selected to wipe.

I suggest that you connect your drive to a different P.C. which is free of "corruption",

and use that to inspect your drive and use Recuva on a P.C. that has never had the "benefit" of FolderLock.

A POSSIBLE alternative is to use Windows Disc Management or a third party tool.

Change the "Drive/Partition Letter" that your Windows allocates to the partition that held the locked folder,

and with a lot of luck your Operating System will then see all that is present on the drive.