Develop Bugs

Delete File in Windows Mobile 6

Hi, how can I delete a file in \Windows folder? it seems complaining that the file is in ROM, I had tried many way even using other File Explorer or via ActiveSync. None of them work.
How can I delete a file in \Windows folder in my Microsoft Windows Mobile 6?

Maybe Resco Explorer or Total Commander CE will help.

if it's built in the rom, you might be unable to delete that file.
Please be more specific: which file do you wish to delete?
Maybe you'd have to recook the ROM without that file.
Regards,
EquinoXe

Things built into the rom are "READ ONLY MEMORY" therefore cannot be deleted. if the file is only marked as system and readonly though you can change its atributes using total commander. just long click on item to bring up menu and go to properties. there you need to uncheck everything and delete

I had downloaded Total Commander and installed it, the checked file attributes are 'read only' and 'in rom'; so I guess the file shall be consider undeleteable.
Now I had to learn how to recook, any good guide how can I recook the ROM that I have?

similar problem
I downloaded some software and it came up as being faulty software. The file was a zip folder titled : res_ppc-custom.icons
I tried through my windows mobile device center to uninstall it, but it was never actually installed completely in the first place.
I then tried to delete the file a few times. Once directly from my pda, once through the device center and again through my pc windows explorer. All three attempts were unsuccessful.
How can I get rid of this thing?
Thanks in advance

perhaps you may want to check if the file being accessed by other software, easiest way is to soft reset and try to delete it.

That did the trick! Thanks so much

Move files to storage card
OK I want to move some files (not ROM) in Windows and keep getting error. For example Opera.exe is not marked as anything in properties yet I can't seem to delete the file. I did copy it to my storage card without any issue but can't delete the original from Windows directory. Any suggestions since Total Commander won't delete it. Will edit registry to find it on the Storage Card.

Deleting files in Windows folder
mynullvoid said:
Hi, how can I delete a file in \Windows folder? it seems complaining that the file is in ROM, I had tried many way even using other File Explorer or via ActiveSync. None of them work.
How can I delete a file in \Windows folder in my Microsoft Windows Mobile 6?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same problem - I have colpilot.wm6ppc.cab in my Windows directory. It's 12.6mb, I don't want it, and it's taking up a lot of storage space. My phone is a T-Mobile MDA and it obviously came with CoPilot as an option, but I think it's really unfair that the cab is right there in the Windows dir and I can't get rid of it....
Any help gratefully received....
Cheers,
Ed.

The cab is cooked in as part of the rom; there's nothing you can do about it, except flash a custom rom (this is one of the main reasons people flash custom roms). Be glad it was installed as a cab and not as a full package-at least cabs are compressed are a single file.

Farmer Ted said:
The cab is cooked in as part of the rom; there's nothing you can do about it, except flash a custom rom (this is one of the main reasons people flash custom roms). Be glad it was installed as a cab and not as a full package-at least cabs are compressed are a single file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the issue is not on the files in ROM.
I have the same problem. I've copied a file under Windows folder and after that I'm unable to delete it.
Strangely I'm able to rename it, which should mean that file is not in use, however deletion is not possible.
I've used TotalCommander, the built-in Explorer and also connected the phone via ActiveSync, but still nothing happens and access seems to be denied.
The exact message is "deletion error".
Any idea?
Thanks.
Cheers...
-nOra-

A very common problem with Windows explorer is reported on all Windows help forums. I've seen people complaining about problem with long path files deletion.
Some common problems with Windows Explorer people talk about:
- Doesn't allow to delete files with long path names
- Pops up error while deleting unwanted files or unnecessary files
- Errors like: Access denied, sharing violation, source in use etc.
I've found a very simple but smart solution for all these above mentioned common problems. A very simple but powerful tool to overcome these problems. Everyone who plays with the files must have this tool. Its compatible with all versions of Microsoft Windows.

johnylog.software said:
A very common problem with Windows explorer is reported on all Windows help forums. I've seen people complaining about problem with long path files deletion.
Some common problems with Windows Explorer people talk about:
- Doesn't allow to delete files with long path names
- Pops up error while deleting unwanted files or unnecessary files
- Errors like: Access denied, sharing violation, source in use etc.
I've found a very simple but smart solution for all these above mentioned common problems. A very simple but powerful tool to overcome these problems. Everyone who plays with the files must have this tool. Its compatible with all versions of Microsoft Windows.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you please tell us the name of this wonderfull tool, and how to have?

djulen said:
Could you please tell us the name of this wonderfull tool, and how to have?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Based on how he said it, I have to really wonder if he really does have such a tool...

badbwoydes said:
Based on how he said it, I have to really wonder if he really does have such a tool...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use Total Commander to modify the contents of the \Windows directory.

Yes, but you won't be able to delete a ROM file anyway.
In the \Windows folder, you commonly encounter three kinds of files :
- Pure ROM files (can't be deleted nor renamed nor moved, nor even copied, but can be overwritten, consuming internal storage memory space in the process to store the new copy, that will become used instead) ;
- Files put there by installation CABs or else (can be freely deleted, renamed or moved, provided they're not currently used by a running process) ;
- Files put on top of previously existing ROM files, wearing the same name (deleting, renaming or moving them will thus make the original ROM file undertneath to reappear with its original contents and attributes).
Once you've understood that, you'll be more aware of what's cooking there.
ROM files can't even be copied, but you can use ROMExtractor to copy them elsewhere, in case you want to study them, or use them in your own ROM (useful to get up-to date versions from another HTC device to cook your own ROM).
Since ROMExtractor is a very minimalistic tool (you have to type in all the files names with their path, same for the target copy, all one by one !) manually extracting hundreds (even thousands) of files is a very tedious taks, I made a MortScript to automate the process in order to extract all those DLLs, EXEs, MUIs, etc. files that can't be directly copied from a phone's ROM.
On the other hand, you absolutely can't delete a ROM file to make room. Overwriting it with a file wearing the same name will jut result in actually adding the new file, thus consuming even more room. The new file will just be used instead of the original one (so you can still update or personalize the ROM).
As a direct consequence, the only way to get rid of unwanted ROM files or permanently replacing them with up-to-date ones is to cook a ROM and flash it to the device to replace the old one.
That's way how operating systems can become better and better, and save space at the same time.
And no, Windows Mobile isn't dead : I'm not quite finished with fixing it until it's perfect, so it's not over yet. LOL

[Q] Download folder "empty"... Downloads unsuccessful

hey so I have two problems that im 100% sure are connected. One - anything I try to download (on stock browser, ICS Browser +, and Chrome) all fail even after numerous retries and clearing Download Manager / Downloads / Browsers data and rebooting.
Two - my sdcard/Download folder appears to be empty when using Astro and through a usb connection. Going to data/media/Download, I see all the contents of the folder, but sdcard/Download shows it as empty (false).
I'm on AOKP B28 and Franco M2
Any ideas? id love to be able to download things on my stupid phone again -______________________-
Edit: SOLUTION at post #14

I just got my galaxy nexus but from previous phones this is caused by not redoing permissions. Hope this helps. Rom Manager should help.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA

Fixed permissions. Download folder still showing up as empty. Downloads still unsuccessful.

Did you flash the sense 4.0 port by any chance?
That happened to me after I flashed that, couldn't see my pictures in gallery either.
To fix it I transferred all my sdcard contents to my computer, locked my bootloader and then unlocked it again and all was good!
Transferred everything back again then after.

nope havent flashed anything crazy but my custom rom and kernel

Well give that trick a go, it might sort everything out.

that method is basically a data wipe and would require me to reinstall the rom, kernel, restore all 300 apps and data ... every lengthy process .. without even a guarantee that it will fix the problem. but ill keep it in mind as a very last resort
anyone have any other suggestions?

It won't wipe rom and kernel, they will be fine but yes, unlocking it will wipe your apps.
It really is a last resort but in the thread for the sense port that is what the dev recommends.
Try everything you can before doing that obviously but I looked and that's all I could find that would work.
I'll keep an eye on this thread so if you find any way post it because I'm interested in finding out.

so any1 have a fix? i tried searching google and xda, found no solution or anything even close ...

Download an app called "Download All". Open it just once and close it, then try downloading the file again. I've had this problem before, and this seemed to have solved the problem for me. Let me know how it works out for you.
[EDIT]The direct link HERE[/EDIT]

Jesus christ people.
Settings > Apps > Download Manager > Clear Data.

Stadsport said:
Jesus christ people.
Settings > Apps > Download Manager > Clear Data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the OP.
DERRRRPPPP!!!!
---------- Post added at 05:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:36 AM ----------
Dmw017 said:
hey so I have two problems that im 100% sure are connected. One - anything I try to download (on stock browser, ICS Browser +, and Chrome) all fail even after numerous retries and clearing Download Manager / Downloads / Browsers data and rebooting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reading. An amazing tool.

Try Dolphin browser HD

Okay so.. I wish I would've taken a screenshot of the file before I deleted it but whatever I guess I'll just describe the entire scenario for anyone else who's having this problem and getting no answers (to the guy who said Dolphin Browser.... Really?.......).
So first of all, data/media/Download functioned 100% fine, sdcard/Download, however, was basically a hollow tomb. You couldn't place any new files into it or even access any of the old files because the folder would appear as empty. So after getting not much help from xda and getting fed up with being unable to download anything at all (you'd be surprised how many things you need to download on a daily basis), I decided to look around using Astro and Root Explorer... Now this is where it gets weird/interesting...
So, using Astro, I found nothing out of the ordinary. But going into Root Explorer, I found a file(not folder) called "download" which was 4.36mb, had permissions rw-rw-r I believe, and showed no content when using a text editor or opening as a zip file. At first I tried setting this files permissions to that of any other folder I had in /sdcard, thinking all my download problems were because the permissions were set wrong, but even after changing the permissions, I couldn't download anything off the Internet. So I go back to the file, again with Root Explorer (this file wouldn't even show up in Astro.. anywhere), and decide to rename it, thinking it's just causing problems (deliberately or accidently) to downloadxxxx.zip (it had no extension before, just strictly "download") but even after this my problems still persist. Lastly, I just decide to delete this weird file altogether and... Voila, I was able to copy a file into my Download folder again, I can download files off the Internet, and i can view/access the contents of the folder. So everything is back to normal, hurray. I'm just curious what the hell that 4.36mb file could have been and why was it messing with downloads even after being renamed (I figured, okay, if it had the same name as the folder, that might cause problems, but after a rename... It made no sense). My only thought now is that the file was a trojan, but I'm not a coder or massive software techy so I can't say for sure. Anyways, problem solved. Just goes to show, sometimes you gotta take matters into your own hands. Hope this will help someone in the near future. Cheers.

Dmw017 said:
Okay so.. I wish I would've taken a screenshot of the file before I deleted it but whatever I guess I'll just describe the entire scenario for anyone else who's having this problem and getting no answers (to the guy who said Dolphin Browser.... Really?.......).
So first of all, data/media/Download functioned 100% fine, sdcard/Download, however, was basically a hollow tomb. You couldn't place any new files into it or even access any of the old files because the folder would appear as empty. So after getting not much help from xda and getting fed up with being unable to download anything at all (you'd be surprised how many things you need to download on a daily basis), I decided to look around using Astro and Root Explorer... Now this is where it gets weird/interesting...
So, using Astro, I found nothing out of the ordinary. But going into Root Explorer, I found a file(not folder) called "download" which was 4.36mb, had permissions rw-rw-r I believe, and showed no content when using a text editor or opening as a zip file. At first I tried setting this files permissions to that of any other folder I had in /sdcard, thinking all my download problems were because the permissions were set wrong, but even after changing the permissions, I couldn't download anything off the Internet. So I go back to the file, again with Root Explorer (this file wouldn't even show up in Astro.. anywhere), and decide to rename it, thinking it's just causing problems (deliberately or accidently) to downloadxxxx.zip (it had no extension before, just strictly "download") but even after this my problems still persist. Lastly, I just decide to delete this weird file altogether and... Woala, I was able to copy a file into my Download folder again, I can download files off the Internet, and i can view/access the contents of the folder. So everything is back to normal, hurray. I'm just curious what the hell that 4.36mb file could have been and why was it messing with downloads even after being renamed (I figured, okay, if it had the same name as the folder, that might cause problems, but after a rename... It made no sense). My only thought now is that the file was a trojan, but I'm not a coder or massive software techy so I can't say for sure. Anyways, problem solved. Just goes to show, sometimes you gotta take matters into your own hands. Hope this will help someone in the near future. Cheers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good job! This one is being saved as a mental note!
Also I don't want to be pedantic, OK I lie I do, but by woala I presume you meant voila as in the french word.
I dabbled in a bit of French in school.

only thing that worked for me was to lock and unlock the phone.(for some weird reason rom manager does not correct permission and gives an error). You will erase everything but at least you start fresh, eh?

Dmw017 said:
Okay so.. I wish I would've taken a screenshot of the file before I deleted it but whatever I guess I'll just describe the entire scenario for anyone else who's having this problem and getting no answers (to the guy who said Dolphin Browser.... Really?.......).
So first of all, data/media/Download functioned 100% fine, sdcard/Download, however, was basically a hollow tomb. You couldn't place any new files into it or even access any of the old files because the folder would appear as empty. So after getting not much help from xda and getting fed up with being unable to download anything at all (you'd be surprised how many things you need to download on a daily basis), I decided to look around using Astro and Root Explorer... Now this is where it gets weird/interesting...
So, using Astro, I found nothing out of the ordinary. But going into Root Explorer, I found a file(not folder) called "download" which was 4.36mb, had permissions rw-rw-r I believe, and showed no content when using a text editor or opening as a zip file. At first I tried setting this files permissions to that of any other folder I had in /sdcard, thinking all my download problems were because the permissions were set wrong, but even after changing the permissions, I couldn't download anything off the Internet. So I go back to the file, again with Root Explorer (this file wouldn't even show up in Astro.. anywhere), and decide to rename it, thinking it's just causing problems (deliberately or accidently) to downloadxxxx.zip (it had no extension before, just strictly "download") but even after this my problems still persist. Lastly, I just decide to delete this weird file altogether and... Voila, I was able to copy a file into my Download folder again, I can download files off the Internet, and i can view/access the contents of the folder. So everything is back to normal, hurray. I'm just curious what the hell that 4.36mb file could have been and why was it messing with downloads even after being renamed (I figured, okay, if it had the same name as the folder, that might cause problems, but after a rename... It made no sense). My only thought now is that the file was a trojan, but I'm not a coder or massive software techy so I can't say for sure. Anyways, problem solved. Just goes to show, sometimes you gotta take matters into your own hands. Hope this will help someone in the near future. Cheers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am having the exact problem that you are and would love to try your fix... The only problem with that is I need to know where you found this file? I did a search using Root Explorer but didn't see any files called download, just a bunch of folders and databases with the "string" download somewhere in their name. Any help would be great but I am getting very close to just locking my phone again and starting over in hopes that this will do the trick.
Thanks

File Structure

When I updated to 4.2 my files structure was thrown out of wack, folder inside folder inside the same name folder with all of the same directories. I tried twice to move thing to one folder but it is very difficult.
I need to know what the actual structure should be, should everything be in the first 0 folder (for my user) apps, and all other folders currently it is a 0 inside a 0 insides another 0 each level has different app files and saved files. I think a lot of stuff is duplicated also as im reaching my internal memory limit of 32gbs.
I just need a pointer of where everything should actually be so I can spend the time setting it up correctly. I also came across this, wonder if it would delete all duplicates while it does it's thing or if it actually works.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.file.sorter
Thanks in advance for any help, I am a computer guy so I do understand what is going on here, I am just not sure the best remedy.

The reason Google did this is because 4.2 added multiple user support. If you had multiple users on your device, the data would be separated in all those different "0" folders. But anyway, after using 4.2 for a while, you will notice stuff you download, app data, etc. being added to /sdcard/ or /storage/sdcard0/ which is the same location. Thats where you want all your stuff.

Yea I understand the multiple user support, but currently I have /sdcard/0/0/0/apps with an apps folder and an images folder inside each of those 0's.

Ciggyy said:
Yea I understand the multiple user support, but currently I have /sdcard/0/0/0/apps with an apps folder and an images folder inside each of those 0's.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well like I said, everything on my device simply goes in /sdcard/
You can move it all if you'd like

Yea that's the plan, just needed to know exactly where things should actually be. Going to be a pain but ill get it done.
Thanks.

Ciggyy said:
Yea that's the plan, just needed to know exactly where things should actually be. Going to be a pain but ill get it done.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cut then paste. Talk about a pain.

you also should update your recovery.
its not like this same topic has been beat into the ground or anything.

I have updated my recovery, and I also did a forum search about this first. Maybe you could point me to a thread about it?

Ciggyy said:
I have updated my recovery, and I also did a forum search about this first. Maybe you could point me to a thread about it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A cursory search for sdcard will get you many results pertaining to the updated directory structure. What follows is but a small sampling of the results.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2184927&highlight=sdcard
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2162925&highlight=sdcard
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2159491&highlight=sdcard
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2151646&highlight=sdcard
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2134720&highlight=sdcard
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1996263&highlight=sdcard
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2029743&highlight=sdcard
It's a simple cut and paste to put everything in its proper home. Go to the last nested 0 folder in /data/media/0 and paste everything therein to /data/media/0. After that, delete /data/media/0/0 and you're done.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

Thank you for an answer with out an attitude, najaboy.
I never would have thought to search sdcard considering it's internal memory but thank you for pointing me in the correct direction.

Any way to copy file when not rooted?

Hello all
Forgive me for any ignorance for any part of this, kinda still learning the Android stuff.
Basically I got a Tab Pro 8.4 for Xmas, an like a lot of it, but really don't care for the huge Weather widget, or how it's designed. But I do want to stay with a Accuweather version.
My first learning of Android came from a Stratosphere II phone I have, an I kinda like that weather widget. Plus I think it would be a little smaller.
To mention, I rooted that device as it was pretty easy, (an way out of warranty), but I have yet to root the 8.4 as seems to be more complicated and I kinda almost don't want to unless I really have too as I really don't want to trip the Knox.
Anyway, so my goal here was to try the Strat's weather widget in the 8.4, so I went into the system folder of the Strat, got all the files that had to do with anything of the weather widget, copied them to my PC, put them in the doc's folder of the 8.4, and then tried to copy them to same system folder, which I was able to view with Root Explorer, but when I went to paste them in, it told me I couldn't as the device was not rooted.
So is there any way I can get these files into there?
Thanks for any help.

To write or modify with '/' or '/system' files you will need root, really anything outside of the /mnt/sdcard directory(s) are mostly read only or 'locked' with permissions to a certain user (each "app" is a separate user).
Anyways I don't see why you would need to put the file there anyways as you should be able to just install it as a normal "User" application regardless where it was installed on the other device, all you need is the .apk file from the other device then install it on the 8.4, you will first need to enable "unknown Sources" in Settings.
(First on device that has the app you want - look in "/system/app/" ," /system/priv-app/" - there should be some files with a ".apk" extension find the one for the weather app /widget you want to use, and copy it to your pc, then copy the file to the tab 8.4, click on it in a file manager such as root explorer or the one that came with the tablet, it should prompt you to enable Unknown Sources under settings , enable the option, then proceed to install it - you shouldn't need any other files besides the apk )
If it doesn't work then the apk could be coded to a certain device (as some Samsung apps are) or just too old to run on kitkat.
See my screenshots for some basic example (the apk file will probably be called something else on the other device)

Thanks so much otyg, you are always such a great help.
So just to reply a few things . . . yes, the files were in the system/apps folder from the original device. Second, when I first got the 8.4, I went through all the settings menus, an found that thing on "Unknown Sources" an clicked it, kinda remember that from something I learned with the smartphone, so knew right off to check that. Guess the only reason am mentioning, is to mention that I have been using a few Explorer apps, but none have promoted me for what you mentioned, an am guessing as it was already checked(?).
So at the moment I have the files sitting in a documents folder of the 8.4, but now to ask on those . . . when I went into the app folder of the org device, there were several files that had the accuweather in them.
First on this point, there were three that had the apk ext, an those were, AccuweatherDaemon.apk, AccuweatherWidget_Main.apk and, AccuweatherWidget.apk.
Then to mention too, each one had a corresponding worded file with a .odex ext.
So not knowing much, I copied all six.
So don't know if you could answer this, but do you have any idea of which I should install, or should I install all of them? An again just to remind, what I am looking for here is the Widget from my org device, but I do want it to work. Then one more question on this point, is there anyway to uninstall these if any cause some kind of issue?
Lastly an just to mention, as I posted, I don't know much about the Android system, so just didn't know that a .apk file is basically a install file. KInda thought they were application execution files, which I think they are(?) . . . but they can be app install files a well? Sorry to ask such a knob question as well as so many others, but is how I will learn.
Again, thanks so much for the help.

WBFAir said:
Thanks so much otyg, you are always such a great help.
So just to reply a few things . . . yes, the files were in the system/apps folder from the original device. Second, when I first got the 8.4, I went through all the settings menus, an found that thing on "Unknown Sources" an clicked it, kinda remember that from something I learned with the smartphone, so knew right off to check that. Guess the only reason am mentioning, is to mention that I have been using a few Explorer apps, but none have promoted me for what you mentioned, an am guessing as it was already checked(?).
So at the moment I have the files sitting in a documents folder of the 8.4, but now to ask on those . . . when I went into the app folder of the org device, there were several files that had the accuweather in them.
First on this point, there were three that had the apk ext, an those were, AccuweatherDaemon.apk, AccuweatherWidget_Main.apk and, AccuweatherWidget.apk.
Then to mention too, each one had a corresponding worded file with a .odex ext.
So not knowing much, I copied all six.
So don't know if you could answer this, but do you have any idea of which I should install, or should I install all of them? An again just to remind, what I am looking for here is the Widget from my org device, but I do want it to work. Then one more question on this point, is there anyway to uninstall these if any cause some kind of issue?
Lastly an just to mention, as I posted, I don't know much about the Android system, so just didn't know that a .apk file is basically a install file. KInda thought they were application execution files, which I think they are(?) . . . but they can be app install files a well? Sorry to ask such a knob question as well as so many others, but is how I will learn.
Again, thanks so much for the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apk files used for installing apps like an exe file on windows or a dmg on mac, when you install something from the play store it is delivered as an APK file but it just happens "behind the scenes" so to speak, you are just bypassing the play store and directly installing the app but it's the same process...
When you install a app this is what happens in most cases.
1. The APK(s) gets stored in /data/app/<applicationname.apk> (this will get removed on uninstall.)
2. it creates a unique directory under /data/data/<applicationname> (this will get removed on uninstall)
3. it can create a directory under /mnt/sdcard/Android/data/<applicationname> (these files usually get left behind on uninstall but since it's on the user storage the user can remove them, it usually contains settings or cache files)
You don't need the .odex files, these are encrypted and probably wont work on other devices, it's basically the apk optimized for the device so it starts faster.
Just install the 3 apk's, the widget probably needs the main program for support and the daemon service probably runs in the background for updates ..etc, since you are installing them as a normal user it won't do much harm and you can always remove them if they do cause an issue, Applications are self contained and when you remove them the corresponding data folders are removed too (on the device) so it is unlikely to do any lasting damage.
To remove them go to Settings -> General -> Application Manager -> Downloaded and remove the apps from there . (if you don't see them swipe right until you see All )

Thanks so much for the reply an the education otyg
Did just as you suggested, deleted the odex files an tapped on the apk's to install, an don't know for why, but while it seemed to go as normal, in the end, I got a message saying they did not install, for all three.
Replaced the odex's back an that didn't seem to make a dif.
Perhaps it didn't work as could not install as device is not rooted?
Just to mention, I did have something with my Strat II device back a few months ago, where I placed another version of a accuweather widget in the systems/app folder, an it did show up.
At any rate, was a good try an thanks again for all the info.
Perhaps if I can get this device rooted, I can try again by just putting the apps in the folder.

[Help] Firefox Deleting Files Automatically

Hello, hoping I could get some help if possible. I have searched through the forums for similar issues, but have been unable to find anything that resembles this rather unique problem.
I have a rather odd issue with my HTC One M8 regarding the Firefox app. Generally, when I download files using the app they will show up in my Gallery "Downloads" album. Yesterday, I opened my Downloads album and saw all of my files vanish. I use TWRP as a recovery and have a recent backup, which I assumed would allow me to revert and retrieve my lost files. This does work, however within 5-10sec the files vanish again. Within that short time, I can open images and view them normally.
I have attempted to recover the files using both TWRP's file browser, as well as a pull with the ADB command line. The most I have been able to recover is thumbnails of the files, which are present both when pulling files and through TWRP's file browser. I have tried to locate the files on the device, however they seem non-existent on either the SD card or internal storage. Some of the files have shown up in HTC Sync Manager also, though the majority are missing. I'm not really sure where to go from here.
Thank you.