title: Cygwin sees a file that windows can't--I want to access this file from python
body: <p>I have a device connected to my USB that creates a logfile called Tpolling.log.
  I can see it through Cygwin but I can't see it through Windows (with hidden files set to be always shown). I can't access it from python either.</p>
  
  <p>I want to be able to read it in python but python doesn't find it.</p>
  
  <p>The cygwin path that works is</p>
  
  <pre><code>  /cygdrive/c/Program Files (x86)/TDA
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>An ls shows that there's a file called Tpolling.log</p>
  
  <pre><code>$ cygpath -w "/cygdrive/c/Program Files (x86)/TDA"
  C:\Program Files (x86)\TDA
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>However, the following gives an error saying no such file as Tpolling.log. I checked the base path with other files.</p>
  
  <pre><code>f= open("C:\\Program Files (x86)\\TDA\\TPolling.log",'r')
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Windows can't see the file Tpolling.log when I run "Dir" in command propmpt.
  The file is saved on the USB device in its flash memory, I did not ask cygwin to mount it so I am not sure how cygwin can see it.</p>
  
  <p>How do I access it from python, apart from running the python program from cygwin?</p>
  
  <p>Here's the files permissions from cygwin-</p>
  
  <pre><code>    drwx------+ 1 SYSTEM         SYSTEM             0 Jul 23 11:27 .
      drwx------+ 1 Administrators None               0 Jul 23 14:39 ..
      -rwx------+ 1 SYSTEM         SYSTEM        684032 Dec 27  2010 NationalInstruments.UI.Design.dll
      -rw
      -rwx------+ 1 SYSTEM         SYSTEM          1078 Jan  3  2010 TDAT.ico
      -rwx------+ 1 lab    Domain Users 2920041 Aug  6 14:50 TPolling.log
      -rwx------+ 1 SYSTEM         SYSTEM         65536 Dec 27  2010 Winsoft.ComPort.dll
  </code></pre>