Cannot delete folder/desktop icons

[DJediMaster]

When i try to delete a certain folder from my hard drive I get an error 'cannot read file: cannot read from the source file or disk'. Is there any way to remove the folder/icons? Thanks.

 

[spanky]

delete it in DOS.

 

[DJediMaster]

The drive is NTFS so it can't be recognized in DOS.

 

[spanky]

what OS r u using? first i would try to reboot and see if i can delete those files. if that does not work... i work look at my task manager to see what is running. if there is anything funky in there... kill it. then try deleting again.

 

[AnimeKnight]

if you running like Win XP or windows 2000.. if you go to Run and type cmd.. you can delete the files from dos thru this way.

 

[DJediMaster]

I'm using WinXP. Yes i have tried running CMD from start->run and using the 'rd' command the remove the empty directory but it does not work. The error message is
'The system cannot find the specified file
The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.'

I checked windows task manager and closed all the programs that can be closed except for the critical processes so I know it can't be an access violation. I also believe that running cmd within windows does not produce a pure DOS environment. You can even create folders within this directory that i'm trying to remove and they act as normal. Any other suggestions? I tried rebooting the PC already and i don't really want to format the disk because of this.

 

[WarCon]

Its possible it has an unseen character in the name. There was a prank that did that. Needs to be done in dos/dos mode and you need to know what character it is.....

If a friend did this, tell him to undo it.

 

[DJediMaster]

The folder is actually called 'b '. That is 'b' with a space after it. I don't think there are any extra characters in folder name because i can use the 'cd' command under command prompt and it does change directory to the 'b ' folder. Hmmmmm.

 

[Fireman]

Not sure if you have tried this, you probably have, but did you go into explorer and right click and select properties on the file, and make sure all the boxes were unchecked?

 

[spanky]

try using the xp boot floppies to get to a command prompt. then delete it from there. i heard the xp boot floppies are downloadable from MS website.

 

[WW]

(the ntfs dos or xp boot disk should work, but this might be easier)

sometimes explorer itself gets a hold of a file and won't let go, try this method:

close all programs

open a command prompt window (a dos window), and cd to the folder with the file (or folder)

do a control-alt-delete to get the task manager, and shutdown the 'explorer.exe' process.

you'll be left with just the dos prompt window...go back to it, and delete the file (del filename.mpg)

then in the task manager, in the applications tab, hit 'new task' and type in explorer.exe and you'll be back to normal