Duplicate folders iCloud for windows

Greetings, amspectrum.

It appears that you downloaded photos you have in iCloud using iCloud for Windows. While selecting folder to download, you also found that duplicate folders were created. You're wondering if it's safe to delete the duplicate folder, and we're glad to help with this.

Set up and use iCloud Photos on your Windows PC - Apple Support.-- iCloud Photos doesn't actually sync to your Windows PC. You can sync your photos with other Apple devices though. Using a browser on your PC, log into your iCloud account by going to https://icloud.com and select the Photos app. Do you see duplicate folders (on iCloud, they're called albums) there? If not, you can delete the duplicate folders on your Windows PC. If you do, let us know.

Take care.

It started last night.

Every folder and every file in the base directory has copied 4 times, each with a sequential (1) (2) (3) (4) added to the end of the folder or filename. The folders appear empty except for the ones labeled (4). It seems to have stopped, but I just noticed there are quite a few folders appearing moved to the base directory, that were moved from their carefully categorized subfolders. I dont know how I will ever remember my whole folder structure I have built over the years, but everything is jumbled.

Im curios what to do from here to prevent loss of the important files. If there is a way to reverse the whole thing back by 1 day I would love that.

Oh wait! Its on copy number 5 now!!!!!

This is what im talking about:

These folks must have the same issue... I dont see a resolution in these discussions though:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7845751

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251961817?answerId=253751655022#253751655022

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7434428