Can't Remove Very Long File Path

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chris B
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Chris B

I am running Windows XP Professional Media Center Edition. I moved some
many folders and files from my old PC. Apparently I moved a folder which
has a very long chain of folders finally to the end which is another folder
and an image file. I have tried to delete this item and am denied because
the name is too long. I have gone to the end and tried to start backwards
without success. This might not be a problem except my Freedom antivirus
(provided by my cable service) can't scan this folder chain. Any ideas on
how I can delete this mess.

Thanks.

Chris.
 
I am running Windows XP Professional Media Center Edition. I moved some
many folders and files from my old PC. Apparently I moved a folder which
has a very long chain of folders finally to the end which is another folder
and an image file. I have tried to delete this item and am denied because
the name is too long. I have gone to the end and tried to start backwards
without success. This might not be a problem except my Freedom antivirus
(provided by my cable service) can't scan this folder chain. Any ideas on
how I can delete this mess.

Thanks.

Chris.
Click to expand...

Try going half-way through the chain of folders, than right-click the next folder and copy &
paste it to the root of the drive.
 
Chris B said:
I am running Windows XP Professional Media Center Edition. I moved some
many folders and files from my old PC. Apparently I moved a folder which
has a very long chain of folders finally to the end which is another folder
and an image file. I have tried to delete this item and am denied because
the name is too long. I have gone to the end and tried to start backwards
without success. This might not be a problem except my Freedom antivirus
(provided by my cable service) can't scan this folder chain. Any ideas on
how I can delete this mess.

Thanks.

Chris.
Click to expand...

Not really sure whether you want to delete just the file or an entire
"folder" subtree.

Easiest way is to use DOS methods, which are unforgiving.

Start>Run CMD.EXE

This will take you to what is commonly called the "DOS Prompt"

If you need to acces another drive, type

d:

(where d is the drive letter)

Next you need to navigate to the directory containing the file or the
directory ABOVE that which you wish to delete.

cd "d:\path name\to\some\destination\directory"

will do that. Possibly best to take it in small chunks:

cd "d:\path name"
cd to
cd some\destination
cd directory

Note that if the destination directory's name contains some characters
(especially space and "&") then you need to enclose the directory name in
quotes. You can omit the quotes if the directory name contains only
(roughly) a..z or 0..9.

When you get to your destination directory,

DEL "filename"

to delete the file or

RD /s "unwanted"

from "d:\path name\to\some\destination\directory" to delete "d:\path
name\to\some\destination\directory\unwanted"

Note that the command "RD /s" will remove the nominated directory, all files
it contains and all subdirectories.

type EXIT to exit from the evil black screen.

HTH

....Bill
 
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