All usb drives show all folders empty

Hi,

Some terms are highlighted to clarify.

I'm hoping to fix a problem I'm having with multiple USB thumb drives that show all empty folders when they're connected to my PC. I'm scared to connect any more of them I have because it might further damage them, but to be factual, I only opened folders with documents, images, audio, downloads, and images, and I don't remember other ones I may have looked in. All my USB drives were full of stored items that should be there. There are search results online telling how to make files in folders visible that don't say anything about every one of multiple USB drives not showing files. 

Things I read about online include showing folder options and checking Show hidden files, folders, and drives, and using these commands:

attrib -h -r -s /s /d f:\*.*

attrib -h -r -s f:\*.* /s /d 

CTRL+H   hidden or not

attrib -h -r -s /s /d g:*.*  replacing the letter g with drive letter

I haven't done this because I'm unsure.

There's also Settings>View>View Dev Drives>System>For Developers> I turned on the Allow Device Discovery, and saw :Install Windows Developer Mode Package. Maybe turn on Device Discovery, except I'm hesitant to do this knowing nothing about how to use it.

Show hidden and system files is turned on.

I ran a virus scan, which came out clean. I don't know if I ran CHKDSK on any of the USB drives. Then, following online instructions after backing up the registry, I navigated to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders and deleted {AB5FB87B-7CE2-4F83-915D-550846C9537B}. I'm afraid to test the USB drives.

I'd be very glad if someone can help me. I have tons of important stuff on my drives.

Thanks for reading all of this.

DAWNA56