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Known Participant
December 23, 2024
Question

Files listed not in any Album

  • December 23, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 285 views

Recently updated from elements 12 to elements 2024. When I do a search for "any files not in a album" the result is many photos with the location listed as C:\users\.oudMedia\???. What are these files as I cannot find them in a search of my system and how do I delete them. My normal photo files are not stored on my C:\ drive. Are these files being duplicated and using data space on my computer?

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2 replies

Greg_S.
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 25, 2024

I'm not quite sure what has happened here.  I suggest you follow through with contacting Adobe Support.  With your permission, they can look at your computer remotely, and perhaps figure out the problem.  Please let us know if you get any results from Support.

Known Participant
December 26, 2024

Thanks for your help and advice. Elements was a lot less complicated when I first installed it over 10 years ago. I sometimes whether nerw software makes using the software is being made more of a pain than a help. 

Thanks again

Greg_S.
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 23, 2024

@allanwiltshire said:  When I do a search for "any files not in a album" the result is many photos with the location listed as C:\users\.oudMedia\???. 

 

I believe the files you are referring to have been uploaded to the Elements Web and may have been synced to the folder that you describe.  However, the path to that folder has been truncated.  To find out what the real folder name is, go to Edit>Preferences>Auto sync.  The folder name may be truncated there too.  But if you hover over the name, the full path name will pop up.  If you are unable to find the folder, you may have system files hidden in Windows File Explorer.

 

Unfortunately, auto sync with the Elements Web is turned on by default.  I didn't realize this until tens of thousands of my photo files had been uploaded to the cloud.  So yes, it is possible that you have many unwanted duplicate files on your C drive.

If you need more information about auto sync, take a look at this Adobe HelpX article.

 

Known Participant
December 25, 2024

Thanks Greg for your advice and help with this problem. Some of this new software seems to be programmed to decide what you want without your input. I found advice re Editing the preferences for Elements, but how do I get to the “edit” command?  I also want to change the Backup function as I already have that covered in another program. I thought my computer skills were OK, but some of this new software is baffling and overcontrolling.    Thanks    Allan

Known Participant
December 25, 2024

Greg.   I found the Edit/preferences function you mentioned. It appears when I upgraded from Elements 12 to 24 I did not sync media to the cloud. The cloud shows none of my files.  Good luck rather than good judgement. I took your advice re hovering over the location details to establish there are 417 files from aug1987 to mar2021 in a file  C:\Users\allan\appdata\data roaming\adobe\elements organiser/cloudmedia. Using windows file search I found that directory, but it shows no files held. Properties check of the data also shows 0 files. Also in elements organiser it does not allow you to delete the files. I have checked the original photo files are held in a seperate drive E:\.  I think this may be a hickup when the update of versions occurred. I may just refer the problem to the Support Adobe staff for their assistance. What do you advise?