all backed up files are hidden away as protected operating system files?

This is a funky issue I have never run across before...

While i have used other backup utilities before, I have never used toucan. Toucan seems pretty straight forward.

I have googled and searched the PA forums and have not found a similar issue. I just cannot figure it out!

Using Toucan I backed up files from a computer (~30 gb) to an external tape drive (haha... yes, 120gb, a tape drive). I made sure the file/folder sizes matched and then reformatted the computer. The files are mostly standard documents, pictures, and videos. that have been collected over life.

When I initially plugged the usb tape drive into the machine (i tried on multiple), all of the folders were empty! I then freaked out a little and started investigating. I then found the folder properties dialog was showing the number of files and sizes.

In windows I made to sure "show all hidden files and folders" ... and the files did not show.

any and all help is greatly appreciated.

I then unchecked "Hide protected operating system files (recommended)" and all of the files then appears in the folders... however, they are "whited out" / lighter / more transparent... and there is a black icon in the lower left of the file.

This doesn't have anything to do with a virus... this seems like a weird file permissions / owner issue I simply cannot figure out how to resolve.

Does anyone have any ideas on how i can make these files... "normal" (for lack of a better and more technically correct term?)