Cannot delete 0 byte file

[ForestSpirit]

I downloaded some zip files of icons. No viruses were detected. Windows XP
sees zip files as compressed folders. Inside some of the zips was an html
shortcut to a web page, Xicons.com. I saved the icons and deleted the
shortcuts since I'm not sure whether that is a safe site.

There are two temporary directories under Local Settings that contain
reference to xicons.com and the zip files the xicons.com shortcuts were in.
In each one is a 0 kb file called Xicons.com. When I try to delete the
files, Windows says cannot delete file: cannot read from the source file or
disk. Windows won't let me change file attributes for them either. No
problems with the hard drive to my knowledge, and everything in Windows is
fine.

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 1
for 0986_smilies.zip\Xicons.com

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 1
for 1095_scratvhfiles.zip\Xicons.com

I tried checkdisk with repair options hoping that might help, but they are
still there and refuse to be deleted.

In Win9x, I would boot with a startup disk, navigate to those directories,
and try to change file attributes. That doesn't work in XP because the XP
startup disk can't see Drive C since it's NTFS. (I only use the startup disk
for the DOS version of Norton Ghost, which can see NTFS.)

Is there any way to delete these xicons.com files and the temporary zip file
placeholders they are in, or will they forever be stuck there until the next
time I reformat? Will they be a problem the next time I defrag the drive?
Will it hurt anything to leave them there?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Start/run cmd, then CD to the \temp directory. From there, use RD /s /q
<target> to delete the folder and contents.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[ForestSpirit]

Thanks. I did as you said, but it did not work. After bringing up the
command screen, I used cd to get here.

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp

Then I typed the following.

RD /s /q 1095_scratchfiles.zip
The system cannot find the file specified.

RD /s /q 1095_scratchfiles.zip/Scratch Files
Parameter format not correct - "Scratch"

RD /s /q 1095_scratchfiles.zip/Scratch Files/xicons.com
Parameter format not correct - "Scratch"

RD /s /q 0986_xsmilies.zip
The system cannot find the file specified.

RD /s /q 0986_xsmilies.zip/X-SMILIES
Invalid switch "X-SMILIES"

RD /s /q 0986_xsmilies.zip/X-SMILIES\xicons.com
Invalid switch "X-SMILIES"

Am I using the correct syntax? I verified the correct spelling of each
directory and file. Why won't these delete? Winzip, Winrar and 7zip don't
see any files in the zip files, so the extract command is not available.
They do not see that 0 byte file. Windows doesn't seem to either, yet here
it remains.

It's like Windows is holding onto a placeholder for the xicons.com file that
was deleted a long time ago, unless this file is indeed somehow malicious. I
can't delete the Temp directory these are in because there are other things
in there: Cookies, History, and Temporary Internet Files. Windows probably
will not let those be deleted. Are there any things to try in the registry?

I really wish I could use a startup disk to try this, but it won't work if
the startup disk can't see the NTFS drive as drive C. Are there any files I
could add to the XP startup disk to get read and write access to my NTFS
drives? Any other ideas for deleting these temporary zip directories and the
xicons.com files?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi ForestSpirit,

How about RD /s /q *.*

What you have is a sub folder with the invalid data. As to your other
question, you can use something from sysinternals.com to read an NTFS drive
from a boot floppy, but for write privileges you need the pay-for version.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[ForestSpirit]

Thanks. I did as you said, but it did not work. After bringing up the
command screen, I used cd to get here.

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp

Then I typed the following.

RD /s /q 1095_scratchfiles.zip
The system cannot find the file specified.

RD /s /q 1095_scratchfiles.zip/Scratch Files
Parameter format not correct - "Scratch"

RD /s /q 1095_scratchfiles.zip/Scratch Files/xicons.com
Parameter format not correct - "Scratch"

RD /s /q 0986_xsmilies.zip
The system cannot find the file specified.

RD /s /q 0986_xsmilies.zip/X-SMILIES
Invalid switch "X-SMILIES"

RD /s /q 0986_xsmilies.zip/X-SMILIES\xicons.com
Invalid switch "X-SMILIES"

Am I using the correct syntax? I verified the correct spelling of each
directory and file. Why won't these delete? Winzip, Winrar and 7zip don't
see any files in the zip files, so the extract command is not available.
They do not see that 0 byte file. Windows doesn't seem to either, yet here
it remains.

It's like Windows is holding onto a placeholder for the xicons.com file that
was deleted a long time ago, unless this file is indeed somehow malicious. I
can't delete the Temp directory these are in because there are other things
in there: Cookies, History, and Temporary Internet Files. Windows probably
will not let those be deleted. Are there any things to try in the registry?

I really wish I could use a startup disk to try this, but it won't work if
the startup disk can't see the NTFS drive as drive C. Are there any files I
could add to the XP startup disk to get read and write access to my NTFS
drives? Any other ideas for deleting these temporary zip directories and the
xicons.com files?

 

[NoStop]

I downloaded some zip files of icons. No viruses were detected.
OK

Windows XP sees zip files as compressed folders.

So what? They're still zip (archived/compressed) files. Just because XP
"sees" their contents, doesn't take away from the fact the zip files is
just an individual file.

Inside some of the zips was an html
shortcut to a web page, Xicons.com. I saved the icons and deleted the
shortcuts since I'm not sure whether that is a safe site.

Well, you've already been to that site to download the files. Why are you
worried now that the site might not be safe?

There are two temporary directories under Local Settings that contain
reference to xicons.com and the zip files the xicons.com shortcuts were
in. In each one is a 0 kb file called Xicons.com. When I try to delete the
files, Windows says cannot delete file: cannot read from the source file
or disk. Windows won't let me change file attributes for them either. No
problems with the hard drive to my knowledge, and everything in Windows is
fine.

When you try to delete what? The zip file or it's contents? If a zip file
has a file that is 0 bytes in size within it, then obviously it doesn't
hold that file. So how would you expect to delete it if it isn't there?

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory
1 for 0986_smilies.zip\Xicons.com

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory
1 for 1095_scratvhfiles.zip\Xicons.com

Still can't understand your problem. Why not just delete
1095_scratvhfiles.zip if you don't want it in a temp directory?

I tried checkdisk with repair options hoping that might help, but they are
still there and refuse to be deleted.

Why would checkdisk (whatever that is) repair a zip file that doesn't look
to be broken in the first place?

In Win9x, I would boot with a startup disk, navigate to those directories,
and try to change file attributes. That doesn't work in XP because the XP
startup disk can't see Drive C since it's NTFS. (I only use the startup
disk for the DOS version of Norton Ghost, which can see NTFS.)

Are the zip files not writeable? Why do you want to change its attribute?

Is there any way to delete these xicons.com files and the temporary zip
file placeholders they are in, or will they forever be stuck there until
the next time I reformat? Will they be a problem the next time I defrag
the drive? Will it hurt anything to leave them there?

Just delete the file(s). I don't understand what your problem is or what you
think your problem is?

 

[AxMan]

Prehaps some people can't "READ? Or maybe being a smart A%# comes
natural to them?

 

[ForestSpirit]

Prehaps some people can't "READ? Or maybe being a smart A%# comes natural
to them?

I can read. I do not understand your comment. I never claimed to be smart.
That's why I'm here asking for help. Or was that comment aimed at someone
else?

That is incorrect. The site I downloaded them from was different.
http://interfacelift.com/icons-win/

Direct download link for scratchfiles.zip
http://interfacelift.com/icons-win/downloads/1095_scratchfiles.zip

Direct download link for X-smilies.zip
http://interfacelift.com/icons-win/downloads/0986_xsmilies.zip

Both

If a zip file
If it isn't there, why do these temporary directories exist, and why can't
they be deleted?

It will not delete.

They won't delete. That's the problem.

 

[AxMan]

I can read. I do not understand your comment. I never claimed to be smart.
That's why I'm here asking for help. Or was that comment aimed at someone
else?

ForestSpirit,
That was not directed at you. It WAS directed at "NoStop".

 

[Fake]

Hi,

If you cannot delete a 0 byte file (or any other file either for that matter),
a way to go around the problem that have worked for me is moving away files
you might wanna keep somewhere else only leaving the troublesome file left in
the directory.

Then from a MS-DOS prompt use the "DEL" command and delete the whole directory
and everything left in it (just like chopping of a branch from a tree so to speak).
You can then recreate the directory (if you like) and move back any files again
in it if needed.

For info about how to use the "DEL" command, use DEL /?
and you get info about the syntax et cetera.


Regards

/Kenneth