Cannot remove folder the directory is not empty

[Rory Jakes]

I have tried to delete (remove) 3 empty folders from my SanDisk flash
memory disk to no avail. I have used cmd.exe and tried rd and rmdir
with /s and /q switches - did not work. I can create or delete other
directories, but not these 3. I can rename them. I can move them to to
other locations. But I CANNOT remove them. I have tried a couple
shareware programs and those did not work. I can right-click and
select properties. There are no files in any of the folders. One
folder is a sub-folder of another folder. I cannot remove either one.
A third folder is by itself. Can't remove him either.

Thank you,
Rory Jakes
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Bill James]

Why not just format and be done with them?

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

Windows VBScript Utilities » www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips » www.billsway.com/notes_public/

 

[Rory Jakes]

Why not just format and be done with them?

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

Windows VBScript Utilities www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips www.billsway.com/notes public/

I tried the two web sites:

www.billsway.com/vbspage/ - Script deleted temp files on my hard
drive, but this is not what I need. I need to remove 3 directories
from my SanDisk flash drive.

www.billsway.com/notes public/ - I get a "The page cannot be found"

Please help.

Rory Jakes
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Rock]

I tried the two web sites:

www.billsway.com/vbspage/ - Script deleted temp files on my hard
drive, but this is not what I need. I need to remove 3 directories
from my SanDisk flash drive.

www.billsway.com/notes public/ - I get a "The page cannot be found"

Please help.

Rory Jakes
(e-mail address removed)

As Bill James said, just reformat the drive.

 

[Rory Jakes]

Why not just format and be done with them?

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

Windows VBScript Utilities www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips www.billsway.com/notes public/

I found the solution! I went to support.microsoft.com at following:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320081

I read everything carefully and tried the following:

1. I moved all the bad directories under one main directory (called
Unable_To_Delete).

2. Navigated to a DOS prompt Start-Run-cmd.

3. I ran chkdsk. The /f switch (fixes) and the /v is verbose and
prints everything to screen.

4. From a cmd prompt I typed: chkdsk <drive name> /f /v

5. I removed the Unable_To_Delete folder and all corrupted folders as
follows: rmdir <dir name> /s /q

It worked! Hope I can help someone else here!

Rory Jakes
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Bill James]

How could that KB article could possible have anything to do with folders on your flash drive? The article is "You cannot delete a file or a folder on an NTFS file system volume", and AFAIK in is not possible to have a NTSF file system on a flash drive.

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

Windows VBScript Utilities » www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips » www.billsway.com/notes_public/

 

[Bill James]

You seem to not understand that any links provided in a signature block have nothing to do with the specific question -- it's a preset signature that is appended to every post.

Did you not understand about formatting the flash drive?

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

Windows VBScript Utilities » www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips » www.billsway.com/notes_public/

 

[CanadaHelpdesk]

THanks.. and wow

First off Thanks Rory for posting the KB article you found, so many times people find solutions and then never post them, forgetting that with windows, if one person has an issue usually a million do. That solution works great for the directory not empty error on any disk in windows XP, apparently Bill refused to get off his "format the disk!" solution.

Secondly, Bill, do YOU NOT UNDERSTAND that some people may be new to forums, and when they see a link in someones reply they think that might be a suggested website to go to.. and also, you might want to take a look at that Oh-so-obvious signature of yours... the link for your xp tweaks site stops after the notes, so the "_public" doesnt have the a_href around it. There is no need for you to be a jerk, obviously Rory didn't want to format the disk.

 

[AngelinaZatex]

http://longpathtool.com/