my .xmp files arent syncing in Adobe Camera Raw

So i have been doing some work on my computer, created a new user and kept all of my files. I still have the same folders and all the xmp files right next to my original files, but for some reason the .xmp files arent syncing with my photos in ACR. If i go and edit pictures now, they work, but all the past editing i have done isnt coming together. Is there something i can do to re-sync the files? I have tried everything i know how to do, and need your help. Thank you in advance!

Clear the Bridge and ACR caches - tools -> cache- -> purge cache or something. Make sure the filenames of the cr2 and xmp files are the same, only ever rename in bridge.

Thanks Tim, I'll try that. I'm not about to go through and re-edit all of my pictures, especially because I have all the xmp files still.

That didnt seem to work TIm. I still have the xmp files, and i can view hidden files and they are right next to them in bridge. I didnt do any renaming, not even in bridge. I just need to find a way to re-sync them somehow. Like i said, when i edit a picture new, it will allow me to connect the two images, but not all my old files. I just cannot imagine re-editing them all again. Any more ideas?

That's odd. If the files have the same name except for the extension it should pick it up automatically. I wonder if file modification dates are involved, but clearing and rebuilding the cache should fix that.

Grab one image, change the exposure to +3. Copy the image and one XMP file to a new directory. Browse in bridge and see if it picks up the xmp file. Report back.

Of course you need to have it on "high quality previews (always)". Not sure what version of Photoshop you have, but if you have it on fast previews it'll only update the thumbnails from xmp if you go into the image. In CS4 it's on the toolbar just to the right of center, in CS3 I think it's in the preferences.

So i have it where it will show full quality, and when i re-work an image it saves it correctly. Is there a way to read if the xmp file has anything in it? When i go to bridge and try to reload it manually through ACR, it says "Unable to load the raw conversion settings. There were no Camera Raw Settings in the selected ".xmp" medadata fle."
But the odd thing is i didnt do anything to change it, or move it, or anything. Also, even after i save an image right now which will work, when i try to load it through ACR it says the same error message.

You can view an xmp file with notepad. Zip up a cr2 and xmp file, put it on a web server, and post the link here - or PM me. I'll take a look.

It's almost certianly some random setting. Try resetting the bridge preferences - hold down control alt shift as soon as you start bridge and you'll get the "do you want to reset" dialog.