Cannot delete folder

  • Thread starter Thread starter joe
  • Start date Start date
J

joe

I have a problem deleting a folder in XP home. I got a
strange message in a Corel application telling me that
the folder had been 'renamed'. I exited the program and
now want to delete the folder but get the following error
message -
"Error deleting file or folder"
"Cannot delete file : Cannot read from the source file or
disk"

When I look at the properties of the folder ... the
following is what I am shown
Name .... blank
Type of file ... blank
Location ... shows correctly
Size ... 0 bytes
Size on disk ... 0 bytes
created... blank
Modified... blank
Accessed ... blank
(blank meaning that there is no entry)

I have tried booting to safe mode and still no success.
I have run Scandisk and still cannot delete the folder.
I don't have this problem with any other file or folder.0

Any suggestions?
Thanks
Joe
 
Hi Joe. I get this message all the time with XP Pro. If
it's not one file, it's another that I can't delete or
rename. I went through the same things you did below,
but then I finally found the trick:

=> Go to the DOS prompt and rename the file/folder from
there! (You don't even have to reboot into DOS mode -
just open a Command Prompt window and do it from whatever
session you're in at the time.)

=> Once you have renamed the file or folder, XP "forgets"
what it is and you can now delete it from your system.

I'd really love to know if there is some "viewer" out
there that lets you know what "owns" (or locks) a file
according to the O/S that prevents you from deleting it,
but I've tried all sorts of Process viewers and I can't
figure it out.

Good Luck.

Paul.
 
Hi Paul and thanks for your suggestion. Unfortunately
when I try to rename the folder ... I get the following
error
'The system cannot find the file specified'

Any other ideas ?

Thanks
Joe
 
Hi Paul and thanks for your reply. I did try as you
suggested ... but alas in my case, I wasn't allowed to
rename the folder.

Some more info that might help. I have managed to
isolate the upper level folder which contains the 'test'
folder. I renamed and moved all important
information .... leaving the upper level folder
containing only the test folder. I can rename and move
the upper level folder, BUT not delete it.
I get the following message -

"Error deleting test : cannot find the specified file
Make sure that you specify the correct path and file name"

So it seems that XP has got confused about the 'test'
folder and it's path. As you can read below, the
attributes of the folder look very strange.
Remember that this issue occurred when I was using a
Corel application and received a cryptic message that the
test folder had been renamed.

Any further suggestions?
Thanks again
Joe


-----Original Message-----
Click to expand...
Hi Joe. I get this message all the time with XP Pro. If
it's not one file, it's another that I can't delete or
rename. I went through the same things you did below,
but then I finally found the trick:

=> Go to the DOS prompt and rename the file/folder from
there! (You don't even have to reboot into DOS mode -
just open a Command Prompt window and do it from whatever
session you're in at the time.)

=> Once you have renamed the file or folder, XP "forgets"
what it is and you can now delete it from your system.

I'd really love to know if there is some "viewer" out
there that lets you know what "owns" (or locks) a file
according to the O/S that prevents you from deleting it,
but I've tried all sorts of Process viewers and I can't
figure it out.

Good Luck.
Paul.
 
Hi again Paul, After 'frigging about' for some time, I
have managed to remove the folder. In the end (to be
honest) I don't know exactly what made the difference.

I did move the upper level folder about (which now only
contained the 'test' folder) and then tried 'RD/S' from
the command prompt..... I was very surprised that it
worked this time.

Thanks again for your help
Joe
 
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