Infinitely nested files!

[SteveT]

W2003

I`ve a strange file in a users area which I`m unable to delete.

File x, contains File y, contains File z.
File z, contains File x, contains File y, contains File z, contains File x etc.

This appears to go on indefinitely! (gave up drilling down after a while).

Unable to delete (directory not empty).

Any ideas?

[NetworkGeezer]

Use the following command at a command prompt window

 RD /S /Q x

If you are sure that x and it's sub folders contain nothing.

The Q switch removes the need for confirmation so you must be absolutely sure.

[Face-Man]

I had this problem with a student creating a file name and folder tree longer than windows can handle. in the end I had to map a drive to shortern the directory tree run a search for *.* to find what was in there and delete it that way. RD should work though

[OutToLunch]

RD seems to still throw a wobbly if you ask it to delete a directory tree containing a filename which would normally cause problems. The best way I've found to get rid of directories/files with invalid names is a combination of the RD as suggested above and the alternative method of accessing files using a variation on UNC paths.

Rather than trying to map a network drive further down the directory tree, you can use the following syntax to avoid long filename problems :

\\?\driveletter:\folder

e.g \\?\C:\x\

RD will accept paths in this format as a parameter - so for example

RD /s /q \\?\C:\x

[mrforgetful]

Use the following command at a command prompt window

 RD /S /Q x

If you are sure that x and it's sub folders contain nothing.

The Q switch removes the need for confirmation so you must be absolutely sure.

Or, when they come to complain valuable work has being lost just tell them it's their own damn fault!