Directory cannot be deleted?

[IAIHMB]

On my desktop I have a diretory inside of a directy, "C:\Documents and Settings\David Sissitka\Desktop\Whore\Warum". When I try to delete "\Whore\Warum\" I get "Cannot delete file: Cannot read from source file or disk.". If I add a directory called "Warum" to "\Whore\Warum", so it would look like this "C:\Documents and Settings\David Sissitka\Desktop\Whore\Warum\Warum" I can move the directory to the Recyle Bin. However, when I move the directory to my Recycle Bin the last "Warum" is deleted and it becomes "C:\Documents and Settings\David Sissitka\Desktop\Whore\Warum" again, meaning when I try and empty my Recycle Bin I get "Cannot delete file: Cannot read from source file or disk.". I've tried deleting through Command Prompt, but I cannot select "Warum" I have to select "\Whore\Warum", which gives me an error stating that I cannot delete because the seleted directory is not empty. Any help would be appreciated, Windows is a pain in the ass.

Edit: By the way, "Whore" came along when I was getting pissy trying to bury "Warum" over 100 characters deep so it wouldn't be read when I was deleting, but that failed.

[Soopafresh]

This should fix it...

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/moveonboot.html

[IAIHMB]

That was actually what I turned to first, but it does not work. The folder isn't being used, it has to do with it being corrupted on this particular partition I believe. Which lead to Checkdisk, that did no good.

[Soopafresh]

OK, what about rebooting in safe mode and trying to delete that way ? I don't think it's a hard drive problem. Windows can sometimes be a huge pain when you're deleting files.

BTW, is that folder empty, or does it have files in it ?

[BJ_M]

this is what is known as a locked directory and is common with FXP directories .. you can remove them various ways ..

some apps:

http://www.jrtwine.com/Products/DelFXPFiles/


or (doesnt always works)

Sometimes you want to delete a file but when you do so an error message pops and tells you it cannot be done. Do successfully delete such a file do the following:

Open a Command Prompt window and leave it open.

Close all open programs.

You now need to close EXPLORER.EXE. The proper way to shutdown Explorer is to raise the "Shut Down Windows" dialog (select "Shut Down..." from the start menu), hold down CTRL+SHIFT+ALT and press the CANCEL button. Explorer will exit cleanly.

Note: The <CTRL+SHIFT+ALT> at the 'Shut Down Windows' dialog method of closing Explorer is built into Explorer. (It was specifically designed so that developers writing Shell Extensions could get Explorer to release their Shell Extension DLLs while debugging them).

Go back to the Command Prompt window and change to the directory where the undeletable file is located in. At the command prompt type DEL <filename> where <filename> is the file you wish to delete.

Go back to Task Manager, click File, New Task and enter EXPLORER.EXE to restart the GUI shell.

Close Task Manager.

[BJ_M]

there are also some wildcard dir names used in console t used to del locked paths and as well there is an app on the win2k server disk that can be used (sometimes)

[Soopafresh]

Hey, thanks BJ_M. I've been looking for a util that can delete Macintosh files and directories on an NT server. Some of the characters "/, ?" can make it REALLY hard to get rid of those files.

[IAIHMB]

I just tried closing explorer.exe and removing that damn directory with command prompt, it didn't work. It gave me an error stating that the directory could not be found, when I could see it on the <DIR> list.

[Soopafresh]

Safe Mode. F8 at the Windows Countdown screen when you restart.
Try it. For me. Pretty please. With sugar on top...

[IAIHMB]

I just tried it, and it didn't work. However, that Delete FXP Files program did, thanks alot for all of the suggestions guys.

[BJ_M]

I just tried closing explorer.exe and removing that damn directory with command prompt, it didn't work. It gave me an error stating that the directory could not be found, when I could see it on the <DIR> list.

that means there was a hidden charactor in it or the next level down or a not legal name ..

as you found out -- the FXP Del Dir program will work ..

[Garibaldi]

You could try removing it via a live-cd with Captive NTSF. That way windows wouldn't be running in any form... you shouldn't have any problem deleting it. I would dl Knoppix and try that:
www.knoppix.net
at the boot prompt be sure to type Knoppix26 so you get the 2.6 kernel. Once in KDE you can then activate Captive NTSF and delete the folder.

[BJ_M]

there are several dir types that can not be removed in unix that can be in windows .. it is pretty easy to hide a dir. on a linux box .. (and a windows box also) ..

Knoppix can screw up your MBR record and file tables - so use it if you want with extreme caution ..

[Garibaldi]

Knoppix can screw up your MBR record and file tables - so use it if you want with extreme caution ..

I remember reading somewhere that Knoppix used outdated Captive NTSF drivers. Do you know where he could find a distro with up-to-date drivers that would be safer?