Can't delete a folder in XP

[PepperBreath]

On my desktop I have a folder that just won't go away. When I try to delete it, it says "Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk." Before you say it's a bad sector, I've had it scanned by 3 different defrag utilities so it's not the HDD.

One thing that is unusuall is that it has a space after the name. Usually when naming a file or folder, it removed spaces after or before the name automatically.

Anyway to fix this? I've tried the Command Prompt but it gave me the same error from there.

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

Try deleting it in safe-mode.

 

[PepperBreath]

Didn't work. :/

 

[0p73r0nG33k]

I've noticed in XP that if there is anything that was previously using the folder, example is when I listen to an MP3 that was in the folder, then I stopped playback, moved the file to another folder on the same or a different hard drive, re-enqueued it in WinAmp and played it, I couldn't delete the folder until I actually closed WinAmp.

If that's not the case (esp. since you tried in safe mode) you might want to use the Recovery Console. Boot to that, and get to your desktop through the root
C:\Documents and Settings\usernamehere\desktop\folder_to_be_deleted

either rename it or delete it from there

Can you rename the folder from within windows?

 

[PepperBreath]

Can you rename the folder from within windows?

No I can't. It gives me the same error.

And this might sound like a stupid question but how do I get to the desktop directory? In the Recovery Console, I only seem to be able to access the Windows directory. Trying to get into "Documents and Settings" where the Desktop folder is gives me an "Access Denied" message.

 

[PC Freak]

Try booting with a DOS disk the find your desktop through dos and deltree that baby out.

c://doc's & settings/account name/desktop/

If you need a DOS boot disk to ge the the C:\ go here. Boot Disk.com

 

[GrumpyMan]

Have you tried right clicking the file/properties/general tab/ and see if read only is ticked on. If it is untick it, apply and then see if you can delete it?

 

[PepperBreath]

Try booting with a DOS disk the find your desktop through dos and deltree that baby out.

I can't. I'm using NTFS. If there was one reason to go back to FAT32, this would be it though. I never use the security features in NTFS anyway.

Have you tried right clicking the file/properties/general tab/ and see if read only is ticked on. If it is untick it, apply and then see if you can delete it?

Yes. There are no attributes set. If I try to click the "Read Only" or "Hidden" attributes, they don't seem to stick either.

 

[MainFramed]

try and delete everything in the folder then if there is something that cant be deleted move it somewhere and delete that folder.

 

[JellyBaby]

Enable "show hidden files". Delete thumbs.db. Try again. Might help depending on how you're viewing that folder using Explorer.

 

[PepperBreath]

try and delete everything in the folder then if there is something that cant be deleted move it somewhere and delete that folder.

It's an empty folder.

Enable "show hidden files". Delete thumbs.db. Try again. Might help depending on how you're viewing that folder using Explorer.

Tried that. There are no system files or anything else in the folder.

 

[LS]

To access the documents and settings folder from the recovery console you need to make a security policy change. Enter secpol.msc in the run box. Expand local policies and select security options. Scroll down to "Recovery console: Allow floppy copy and access to all drives and all folders" and select enabled. Now when you launch the recovery console enter "set allowallpaths = true" without the quotes. You will now be able to cd into documents and settings and hopefully get that folder deleted.

 

[PepperBreath]

Well I got into the Desktop via the Recovery Console but it game me the same error with a different wording more or less. "Unspecified File or Folder" or something like that.

 

[JellyBaby]

Trying using something besides Windows Explorer to nuke it...DL something.

Try checking the disk for errors and maybe even defragging.

Try sacraficing a chicken!

Oh, and FAT32 is no Holy Land...XP has issues therein, too.

 

[earthman]

Can you delete it with a linux console?

 

[igiveup]

I remembered this from way back. Found it on LittleWhiteDog.com and the article is titled Evil Windows Tips and Tricks....

Evil Windows Tips and Tricks. Funny enough, its the first one mentioned in the article. Anybody else use your computer much???



The Non-Existing Folder

Operating System = Windows 95 and 98
Annoyance level = High
Damage Level = 0/5
The Objective
The objective is to create a folder on the Windows desktop that can not be opened, renamed, or deleted by the average Joe Schmoe. This is a great simple trick that just annoys the hell out of people. Here's how it works:

The Steps


Open up a DOS prompt and change to the C:\Windows\Desktop directory.
The ASCII keystroke for a "space" can be done by holding down the "Alt" key and pressing "255" on the numeric keypad.
In the DOS window, type in "MD YOU SUCK" without the quotes of course. But between the words "You" and "Suck" use the ASCII keystroke of [ALT+255] instead of using the spacebar.
So what you are really typing is this: "MD[spacebar]YOU[ALT+255]SUCK"
Got it?
Now exit the DOS window, and you should see a folder on the desktop that looks like the one pictured to the right.
Windows doesn't quite know how to handle this "ASCII space" so it tries to put an underscore in it's place. Now if you try to open the folder, you get the error message below letting you know that the folder does not exist. The second picture is what happens if you try to rename it. And don't worry, there is another error message of you try to delete the folder too.




This simple little trick will drive most people absolutely crazy trying to figure out how to get rid of the folder. Even the geekiest of computer techs have a hard time remembering all of the ASCII codes.

I guess I should tell you how to remove the folder now eh? To delete this folder, all you have to do is open a DOS prompt and type in "RD[spacebar]YOU[ALT + 255]SUCK". If you try to use a space instead of the ASCII code, it will not work. You must remove the folder with the exact manner that the folder was created.

 

[PepperBreath]

Trying using something besides Windows Explorer to nuke it...DL something.

I'll try a 3rd party program although I have a feeling it won't work. I think it's related to the file system and not necessarily the explorer.

Try checking the disk for errors and maybe even defragging.

Both done, the former being performed about 3-5 times since the folder was created. No errors detected.

Can you delete it with a linux console?

Never tried it as I don't run linux and never have. I'd just as soon reformat and reinstall than install another OS just to delete a folder.

igiveup:

I'm running XP. The OS and file system are entirely different and don't have the limitations like the DOS-based Win95-98 OSes did. The Alt-255 trick doesn't work and XP just creates two seperate folders instead of one folder with a space in the name. That's not the cause of the problem. (though I wish it was that simple)

 

[elkinm]

loading it with a legacy dos floppy should alow you to remove it. You just need to find and select and delete the folder as it states in dos. If you are using NTFS then legacy dos might or might not work for you. I also have a very old dos file manager program called norton comander and although it is over 10 years old, I still use it as it is very simple and it can modify or delete any file on the system (possibly with the exception of NTFS). I once downloaded a file on kazaa which had a name hundreds of caracters long so basicly it was more then windows could take. I could not open it, I could not rename it, or remove it. And the trusty norton comander saved me once aggain as it seems invoulnurable to any weakneses of windows or other files. So if nothing works, just PM me your email and I can send it to you to try.

One other bug in windows XP that I noticed is the cannot delete file (or folder) because it is in use or access is denied although no running program is using it and it actualy is a working folder. This sometimes happens if it has some sub-folders, so if I delete a few of the sub folders then delete the original then it works fine. The most entereesting thing is that these errors almost apear randomly as they don't apear on some folders it does not occur and some it is just persistent sometimes. These are not only limited to XP but the folder access denied error which dissapears soon of after only a few subfolders are removed is deletable bug I have only seen in XP.

Anybody know how to remove all of these types of protection from windows. I mean that I want to be able to remove anything I want without complaints. As the evil tricks can allow one to reformat c: destroying everyhing why can't I destroy a folder or a file without any slowdowns. My old Nortot Comander did not complain if I deleated the drive partition files making the system virtualy worse off then formated so why is windows complaining?

 

[nitsuj3580]

i've had the unable to delete something happen to me a couple times after downloading Dave Matthews Band shows from Direct Connect.

Dunno why it happens, but when it happens, I open up Nero and delete the file from in Nero. Works everytime. Dont ask me why