Non-existant existing files with Vista

I've been having a few problems with this laptop over the last few days. I've been playing around with "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" on this laptop and of course I've been modding. I've installed the construction set and over the last two days I've been back to modding, but last night I discovered a problem.

In order for mods to work in oblivion they must be placed in the oblivion/data folder in the program files. However, when went to clean one of my mods yesterday and upload it on the web, I couldn't find it. In fact, I realized that several files were missing from the oblivion/data folder. The game functions correctly, acting as if these files are still in the folder, opening the folders from...

c:\program files\username\bethesda softworks\oblivion\data

...but when I open this folder the files are not there. I tried using the options to make all hidden files visible, but these files still did not show listed. I tried finding these files via the search and run menus but again, the computer could not locate the files. Opening the Oblivion Construction Set I was able to load the files from that location, but when I checked again they were still missing. I tried re-pasting another mod which I had a copy of saved, and it prompted me to replace a file with the same name, which did not show up in the window as a file in that folder.

Oblivion functions correctly, and still reads those files without a problem, the same applies for the construction set, but as far as the computer is concerned these files do not exist. I have no way of deleting them from the computer because the computer claims they are not there, so I have several files taking up memory on this computer, which this computer claims do not exist.

I've tried running virus and malware scans to see if perhaps a trojan or some other wurm didn't steal or corrupt the files, but neither showed any results. I've also tried resetting the computer, as well as prompting the computer to show hidden files. I've tried locating the files via search (including indexing the containing folder), as well as the run command to attempt to open the missing files, but so far I've been unable to locate them outside of the game itself and the construction set (both of which claim the file is located at the location I've listed above).

I figure the problem is either vista, or the construction set, but since the C.S. and Oblivion both seem to function with no error then I figure the best guess would be a problem with Vista.

 

Just bumping this thread, I've yet to figure out what's happened with these files and the problem persists.

Also going to add in a new detail I noticed yesterday after installing another mod. The files I installed yesterday showed up in the folder listing, and I can find them just by opening that folder. The files for the mods I installed the days before I posted this thread are still as they were, and I've yet to figure out how to locate/remove them. I tried reposting them to see if that would fix the problem but they still show up as unlisted, though they function just as normal.

 

Thanks for the advice Halo. I tried unticking the hide protected files option, as well as turning off the UAC, but the files are still not apearing. What I'm going to go ahead and do is just reinstall Oblivion and the C.S. via the Bethesda instructions and try reinstalling the mods I downloaded. This means redoing my mods, but if it means being able to upload my mods to the web I guess I'm better off as opposed to having them but not being able to share them.