Cannot delete folder

G

Guest

In attempting to remove an empty deleted folder from the recycle bin, I got
this message: "Cannot delete [FolderName]: directory is not empty."

I restored the folder, and now I cannot even get it back to the recycle bin
by deleting it. I can, however, rename and move it, and get it to the recycle
bin by placing another folder inside it and then deleting it. But...when I
try to empty the recycle bin, I get almost the same message: "Cannot delete
Dc1: directory is not empty."

The folder shows a size of 0 bytes. I have also tried deleting it from the
command prompt, and it just gives me the "Directory is not empty" message.
 
W

Will Denny

Hi

Try this:

Go to a Command Prompt and change to that folder. Then run the following
command:

dir /a/s

Do you see any files in the folder then?

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups
 
G

Guest

Already tried it. Nothing there.

Will Denny said:
Hi

Try this:

Go to a Command Prompt and change to that folder. Then run the following
command:

dir /a/s

Do you see any files in the folder then?

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

Brian said:
In attempting to remove an empty deleted folder from the recycle bin, I
got
this message: "Cannot delete [FolderName]: directory is not empty."

I restored the folder, and now I cannot even get it back to the recycle
bin
by deleting it. I can, however, rename and move it, and get it to the
recycle
bin by placing another folder inside it and then deleting it. But...when I
try to empty the recycle bin, I get almost the same message: "Cannot
delete
Dc1: directory is not empty."

The folder shows a size of 0 bytes. I have also tried deleting it from the
command prompt, and it just gives me the "Directory is not empty" message.
 
W

Will Denny

Hi

Have you cleared any attributes that are attached to the folder and then
tried to delete it?

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

Brian said:
Already tried it. Nothing there.

Will Denny said:
Hi

Try this:

Go to a Command Prompt and change to that folder. Then run the following
command:

dir /a/s

Do you see any files in the folder then?

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

Brian said:
In attempting to remove an empty deleted folder from the recycle bin, I
got
this message: "Cannot delete [FolderName]: directory is not empty."

I restored the folder, and now I cannot even get it back to the recycle
bin
by deleting it. I can, however, rename and move it, and get it to the
recycle
bin by placing another folder inside it and then deleting it.
But...when I
try to empty the recycle bin, I get almost the same message: "Cannot
delete
Dc1: directory is not empty."

The folder shows a size of 0 bytes. I have also tried deleting it from
the
command prompt, and it just gives me the "Directory is not empty"
message.
 
G

Guest

I tried this to no avail: attrib -h -r [foldername] /s

Interestingly, I moved the bad folder to a shared folder & connected via the
network, and I now see two files in there: tcptest.exe (33K) and wbemtest.exe
(154K) . Maybe something left over from a trojan/virus-removal?

When I copy the folder, it copies without these two files. When I copy an
empty folder of the same name over this folder, it appears to work, but the
two files are left there (I can still see them only across the network). I
cannot copy the folder across the network, though.

Will Denny said:
Hi

Have you cleared any attributes that are attached to the folder and then
tried to delete it?

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

Brian said:
Already tried it. Nothing there.

Will Denny said:
Hi

Try this:

Go to a Command Prompt and change to that folder. Then run the following
command:

dir /a/s

Do you see any files in the folder then?

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

In attempting to remove an empty deleted folder from the recycle bin, I
got
this message: "Cannot delete [FolderName]: directory is not empty."

I restored the folder, and now I cannot even get it back to the recycle
bin
by deleting it. I can, however, rename and move it, and get it to the
recycle
bin by placing another folder inside it and then deleting it.
But...when I
try to empty the recycle bin, I get almost the same message: "Cannot
delete
Dc1: directory is not empty."

The folder shows a size of 0 bytes. I have also tried deleting it from
the
command prompt, and it just gives me the "Directory is not empty"
message.
 
G

Guest

Also, when I try to compress the folder (just another thing I tried in the
process), Windows tells me it cannot be done because the folder is empty.

Will Denny said:
Hi

Have you cleared any attributes that are attached to the folder and then
tried to delete it?

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

Brian said:
Already tried it. Nothing there.

Will Denny said:
Hi

Try this:

Go to a Command Prompt and change to that folder. Then run the following
command:

dir /a/s

Do you see any files in the folder then?

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

In attempting to remove an empty deleted folder from the recycle bin, I
got
this message: "Cannot delete [FolderName]: directory is not empty."

I restored the folder, and now I cannot even get it back to the recycle
bin
by deleting it. I can, however, rename and move it, and get it to the
recycle
bin by placing another folder inside it and then deleting it.
But...when I
try to empty the recycle bin, I get almost the same message: "Cannot
delete
Dc1: directory is not empty."

The folder shows a size of 0 bytes. I have also tried deleting it from
the
command prompt, and it just gives me the "Directory is not empty"
message.
 
G

Guest

I found a solution - on a whim. I created a new user profile, logged on as
that user, and moved the folder to that user's Docs folder. Both files now
appeared in the folder and were able to be deleted, along with the folder.

I don't know what happened, but I guess all's well that ends well.

Thanks.

Will Denny said:
Hi

Have you cleared any attributes that are attached to the folder and then
tried to delete it?

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

Brian said:
Already tried it. Nothing there.

Will Denny said:
Hi

Try this:

Go to a Command Prompt and change to that folder. Then run the following
command:

dir /a/s

Do you see any files in the folder then?

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

In attempting to remove an empty deleted folder from the recycle bin, I
got
this message: "Cannot delete [FolderName]: directory is not empty."

I restored the folder, and now I cannot even get it back to the recycle
bin
by deleting it. I can, however, rename and move it, and get it to the
recycle
bin by placing another folder inside it and then deleting it.
But...when I
try to empty the recycle bin, I get almost the same message: "Cannot
delete
Dc1: directory is not empty."

The folder shows a size of 0 bytes. I have also tried deleting it from
the
command prompt, and it just gives me the "Directory is not empty"
message.
 
T

Thomas Jespersen

Interestingly, I moved the bad folder to a shared folder & connected via the
network, and I now see two files in there: tcptest.exe (33K) and wbemtest.exe
(154K) . Maybe something left over from a trojan/virus-removal?

I tried to search for the filenames and found this:
http://forums.techguy.org/security/373124-aurora-windows-help.html

Try to scan and clean your system with a virusscanner and a spyware
cleaner:

Spybot S&D:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/

AVG Free:
http://free.grisoft.com/

Lavasoft ADaware:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
 

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