0 byte file/multiple duplicate folders/cannot delete file

  • Thread starter Thread starter David Pulkinen
  • Start date Start date
D

David Pulkinen

I've run accross .PDF file that I'm unable to delete,
rename, move, or do anything to, at all. Originally the
file was only one sub folder deep, but now that folder
has been repeated probably close to 3 dozen times....
ie smith/smith/smith/smith/smith/smith/filename.pdf
All of the smith folders show 0 bytes/however the .pdf
file shows 4222 kb when viewed in windows explorer using
the detail view - however, if you view the properties of
the .pdf file, the file name is blank, and the size shows
0 bytes. I've tried everything I can think of to get rid
of this file, even deleting the highest folder in the
chain that shows any bytes at all (says access denied),
to no avail. I recently burned a CD that had these
folders on it...I'm assuming something is corrupted...
I've also run the error checking tool on the C drive:It
found no problems... Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated.
Oh, I'm running Win XP Home Edition, Custom XP 2400 CPU,
512 DDR SDRAM, 80GB HD with 35 GB Free...
 
David Pulkinen said:
I've run accross .PDF file that I'm unable to delete,
rename, move, or do anything to, at all. Originally the
file was only one sub folder deep, but now that folder
has been repeated probably close to 3 dozen times....
ie smith/smith/smith/smith/smith/smith/filename.pdf
All of the smith folders show 0 bytes/however the .pdf
file shows 4222 kb when viewed in windows explorer using
the detail view - however, if you view the properties of
the .pdf file, the file name is blank, and the size shows
0 bytes. I've tried everything I can think of to get rid
of this file, even deleting the highest folder in the
chain that shows any bytes at all (says access denied),
to no avail. I recently burned a CD that had these
folders on it...I'm assuming something is corrupted...
I've also run the error checking tool on the C drive:It
found no problems... Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated.
Oh, I'm running Win XP Home Edition, Custom XP 2400 CPU,
512 DDR SDRAM, 80GB HD with 35 GB Free...
Click to expand...

You very likely have an unknown program with a handle on that file.
Try starting in safe mode where many startup programs are not loaded
and see if you can delete it. When you restart in normal mode, you
might get an error such as "Program was unable to locate filename."
which will tell you the name of the program using the file. Startup
file usually run from the Startup folder, from a Run entry in the
Registry or as Service.

Occasionally Acrobat fails to close after you open a file or print
to Acrobat Distiller printer. It will leave a lot of files in the
temporary folder.
 
Back
Top