Cannot delete file named "CAFESLKT."

[Rick]

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Version 2002 Service Pack 2


There's a file on my hard drive named "CAEFSLKT." No extension but followed
by a "." so perhaps there's invisible character(s) in the extension. 0 KB in
size.

It's a System, Hidden file but only revealed as such with the command window
command "attrib". It's dated a few months ago and the date has no
significance to me. It's not when I installed Windows XP or can remember
having done any updates. I don't know the file's origin. If I Google
"CAEFSLKT" nothing is returned.

I can move the file and have moved it to C:\Folder\



If I try to delete the file I receive the following error:

"Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk."



If I right click the file and select "Properties" the "Read-only" and
"Hidden" boxes are NOT checked. If I check either of them and click "Apply"
I receive the following error:

An error occurred applying attributes to the file:

C:\FOLDER\CAFESLKT.

The system cannot find the file specified.



Using "attrib *.*" in a command window the file is shown as:

SH C:\FOLDER\CAFESLKT.



If I try to remove the system attribute with "attrib *.* -s" I receive the
following error:

Not resetting hidden file - C:\FOLDER\ CAFESLKT.



If I try to remove the hidden attribute with "attrib *.* -h" I receive the
following error:

Not resetting system file - C:\FOLDER\ CAFESLKT.



If I try to remove both the hidden and system attributes with "attrib
*.* -h -s " (or -s -h) I receive the following error:

Unable to change attribute - C:\FOLDER\ CAFESLKT.



Delete *.* or Erase *.* return no error but do not delete the file.



I want to delete this annoying file but can't seem to affect it in any way.
Can anyone provide a solution?

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Try...

del \\?\C:\FOLDER\CAFESLKT

or try

del "\\?\C:\FOLDER\CAFESLKT"

Does CAFESLKT have a leading space?

Then try...

del \\?\C:\FOLDER\ CAFESLKT

or try

del "\\?\C:\FOLDER\ CAFESLKT"

Or does CAFESLKT have a trailing space?

Then try...

del "\\?\C:\FOLDER\CAFESLKT "

Or open a command prompt, type:
cd C:\FOLDER
Hit Enter.
Then type:

del "\\?\

Then drag the CAFESLKT file into the command prompt from C:\FOLDER so that
the command prompt types the name for you. Add the final quotation mark and
hit Enter.


Cannot delete file Cannot read from the source file or disk

You cannot delete a file or a folder on an NTFS file system volume
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320081

How to locate and correct disk space problems on NTFS volumes in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315688

How to Remove Files with Reserved Names in Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/120716

How to Remove Files with Reserved Names in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315226

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Rick]

ccleaner.com seems to think it's going to delete the file but doesn't touch
it. Tried to delete the entire folder containing the file but it won't
delete either. What the heck is going on here I wonder?
Rick

 

[Rick]

Hey nass,

Thanks so VERY much for taking such an interest in my quest. I truly
appreciate what you have done for me and can finally report SUCCESS!!!
Please read on...

I do not have Ad-Ware, Ad-Watch or Spybot installed on my computer. I rely
on Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (updated monthly), my hardware
firewall, and Norton Anti-Virus 2005 (updated weekly) for protection. I
hope this is considered adequate protection.

It made NO difference if I tried to delete the file (or remove the hidden
and system attributes) in a Command (DOS) Window using the standard file
name structure (C:\FOLDER\CAEFSLKT.), wildcard structure (C:\FOLDER\*.*), or
UNC structure (\\?\C:\FOLDER\CAEFSLKT.). The error message is the same:
"Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk." or "Unable
to change attribute". With quotes, without quotes, every possible
combination you could think of.

Disabling "Use Simple File Sharing" and repeating all the above had NO
effect.

Setting folder's Property Permissions to Full Control and repeating all the
above had NO effect.

Taking Ownership of the file and folder and repeating all the above had NO
effect as it appeared I already had ownership.

CCleaner.com (although it appears to be a very useful tool) had NO effect on
the folder or file.

I considered the file's appearance maybe a result of a corruption in the
NTFS FAT or whatever NTFS uses that's comparable to a FAT. But executing
CHKDSK several times had NO effect and the all the above attempts returned
the same results.

!!! HOWEVER !!!, DelinvFile deleted the file instantly on my first attempt
via Short Name. I'm certain my attempts using Short Name syntax were
exactly correct and I'm also certain my attempts using UNC syntax were
exactly correct. I even used wild card character with UNC syntax.

*** But now the file is in my Recycle Bin and won't remove when I "Empty the
Recycle Bin" ***
NO - NO - NO I'M JUST KIDDING. I COULDN'T RESIST AFTER ALL WE'VE BEEN
THROUGH. I believe the file is gone forever and hopefully will never
reappear again like a persistent wart. If it does, however, I know just
what to do that takes about 5 seconds and all thanks to you!

QUESTION > Should I leave "Use Simple File Sharing" in the advanced settings
for folder options DISABLED or ENABLE it as Windows recommends?

Thanks again VERY MUCH for resolving this extremely difficult and (although
not a performance diminishing) very annoying and puzzling problem.

Cheers,
Rick

P.S. What does "HTH" mean? Goggle doesn't seem to know or it's too deep
within the list to find.
===================================================================

 

[Ayush]

Replied to [Rick]s message :

P.S. What does "HTH" mean? Goggle doesn't seem to know or it's too deep
within the list to find.
===================================================================

Hope This Helps


HTH

→ Ayush [ Good Luck ]

 

[Guest]

Hi Rick,
Glad to help and thanks for the feedback and thanks to Ayushman for clear my
Abreviation for ( Hope This Help ), as I'm using the Awful Usenet to reply
and not always Cut and Paste from a Troubleshooting documents I find it hard
to Write full sentence sometimes, still not excuse though <g>.
Yes it is better to Revert back to the Earlier settings as which we done is
to loose a little bit things to allow you to have a full control on that file
to be able to delete it, so it is wise to revert back as recommended by MS
Article.

About your Security, I will not depend on MS Removal Tool to clear the mess
from the cookies left by websites try to download these free tools, but don't
run Spybot S&D in Tea timer mode !:

http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php
http://www.safer-networking.org ; for Spybot S&D

Download them and Update there definitions, I think Ad-aware every 15 days
and Spybot may be the same or every 10 days and they will clean the spyware
left or not captured by Norton as Norton is Anti-Virus not Anti-spyware.
HTH <g>
Regards,
Happy Christmas to you and all.
Best wishes,
nass