Cannot delete folder

[cookie_monster]

Hi all, I'm having an issue deleting a folder on an NTFS formated VHD attached to a 2008 server?

 

So far I've tried deleting direct with explorer, through the command prompt and through a share, the path to the folder is only 50 charters from the drive root so it's not too long. I've also rebooted the server and ran checkdisk.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks.

[mac_shinobi]

Malwarebytes.org

 

There are other similiar tools - see link below

 

http://www.thefreecountry.com/utilities/deletelockedfiles.shtml

 

scroll down the page a bit and you will see a list of utils to do the above mentioned

[Mcshammer_dj]

Are there files or folders insire this folder that you do not "own"?

[cookie_monster]

Are there files or folders insire this folder that you do not "own"?

 

As far as I could tell it was empty the odd this was that no matter how I tried to delete it I was told that it did not exist but I could open it and create another file inside and delete that

 

 

I've spent ages trying to get rid of that folder and waiting for checkdisk and so on, then I came accross this and it just removed it without a fuss, very odd

 

UNLOCKER 1.8.7 BY CEDRICK 'NITCH' COLLOMB

[mac_shinobi]

if you went to the link i posted above as per my screen shot attached it mentions unlocker

 

Not sure if you did or not just thought id mention it

Edited August 4, 2009 by mac_shinobi

[cookie_monster]

I had already found it actually but it's a good link so i'll send you some thanks over

[mac_shinobi]

I had already found it actually but it's a good link so i'll send you some thanks over

 

no problem

 

the free country website has a lot more links to free software etc if you click on the utilities link at the bottom left it will take you to the relevant page

[srochford]

Another useful tool is procexp Process Explorer

 

This does lots of stuff; basically, it shows you all the processes running and lets you see what they have in use (registry, files, etc, etc). If you find you can't delete folder abc123 you open up procexp, do a search for "abc123" and it will tell you what process is using that folder. You might be able to close or kill that process (but don't kill it if the process is called winlogon ...)

[cookie_monster]

Yep the Sysinternals suite is one of my faves used it for ages.

[ChrisH]

I have just had some troublesome folders (deeply nested) and files that didn't seem to exist etc. I tried a few software options but didn't want to install any on the server which some required to "Clean at bootup". In the end I shared the folder above them, connected to the share from an Ubuntu VM and deleted them. Guess what............. They just deleted with no complaints!

[srochford]

I have just had some troublesome folders (deeply nested) and files that didn't seem to exist etc. I tried a few software options but didn't want to install any on the server which some required to "Clean at bootup". In the end I shared the folder above them, connected to the share from an Ubuntu VM and deleted them. Guess what............. They just deleted with no complaints!

 

This can happen when the path is too long - the user who created it probably had a drive mapped at the same sort of level as you and had no problems but working directly on the server you have a longer path (eg d:\home\username\folder1\folder2\f3\f4 but they see n:\folder1\folder2\f3\f4)

 

When you do the mapping you get that shorter path and it all works. Another way to get round that is to start at the bottom and work up (so instead of trying to delete folder1, you delete f4, then f3 and so on up)

 

Finally (at last - why does he never shut up!!!) you can use subst on the server (subst q: d:\home\username or whatever) and you can also net use on the server (net use q: \\server\home\username) - no need for a VM or other external machine.

[ICTSM]

This happens here too with our little darlings trying to flummox the system.

 

Open a command prompt and CD to the penultimate directory in the path...then do a dir/x command to obtain the DOS name of the folder. Type 'RD DOSfoldername'.

 

Then 'CD ..' and do the same...until you have removed all the folders.

 

No special tools required.

[Dos_Box]

I have just had some troublesome folders (deeply nested) and files that didn't seem to exist etc. I tried a few software options but didn't want to install any on the server which some required to "Clean at bootup". In the end I shared the folder above them, connected to the share from an Ubuntu VM and deleted them. Guess what............. They just deleted with no complaints!

 

I have found that Vista and W7 do this rather well to. Simply share the root drive\folder and then delte the miscreant from afar. No idea why some don't want to delete although I have often found that RIS\WDS images the hardest to remove.

[ChrisH]

I tried a few of the mentioned methods but didn't get any joy. I went down to the last folder and tried to delete from there but that didn't work either. I will take note of the others I didn't try for next time though.

[Arthur]

There is an easier way to do this. At the Command Prompt, type a \\?\ before the file or folder path. This will allow you to delete paths up to 32,000 characters long.

 

Examples

rd /s /q "\\?\C:\Documents and Settings\User\Desktop\Annoying Folder."

del "\\?\C:\Temp\Stuff\Another Annoying Folder."

 

Your folder doesn't end with a dot does it? Windows doesn't like these at all it seems, although the method above will let you delete pretty much any folder.

Edited August 5, 2009 by Arthur

[cookie_monster]

I did try the del "\\?\C:\ method but it just reported that the folder wasn't there.

[mac_shinobi]

I did try the del "\\?\C:\ method but it just reported that the folder wasn't there.

 

cut and paste the folder so its on the root of the C drive or somewhere where the path is shorter and then try and delete.

[cookie_monster]

Its sorted now using that app remember, but it couldn't be moved I tried that.

[ZeroHour]

Just a vampire post but I had the similar issue and unlocker worked a treat.

 

Cheers