Cannot delete fonts to reinstall

[Dan]

I have inherited a system from a coworker that recently left the company. I
have discovered that there are a number of fonts in the C:\WINDOWS\Fonts
folder that are 0KB in size. I want to delete them so I can install a good
copy of those fonts that I have on another system. However, the system won't
let me delete the font files. I have tried Unlocker and GiPo@MoveOnBoot, and
I've hunted on Google for help on this problem without success.

How do I delete those bad font files?

 

[John John]

I have inherited a system from a coworker that recently left the company. I
have discovered that there are a number of fonts in the C:\WINDOWS\Fonts
folder that are 0KB in size. I want to delete them so I can install a good
copy of those fonts that I have on another system. However, the system won't
let me delete the font files. I have tried Unlocker and GiPo@MoveOnBoot, and
I've hunted on Google for help on this problem without success.

How do I delete those bad font files?

Are you logged on as an Administrator?

John

 

[Dan]

Yes, I am logged in as Administrator.

Are you logged on as an Administrator?

John

 

[John John]

I suppose that if you can't delete them you can't move them either?

Did you check to make sure that you have proper NTFS permissions on the
folder and its contents (child objects)?

John

 

[Dan]

I can't delete or move them. I try to install over them in the Control Panel
Font installer, but it says to delete them first.

I assume I have proper NTFS permissions for the Fonts folder and the font
files, but you better tell me how to check the permissions and what they
should be. I can view all hidden, system files in Explorer, including file
extensions.

 

[John John]

I assume that you are using XP Pro? Right click on the folder then
click on "Properties" and look at the Security Tab. Make sure that you
as a user or that the administrator group is specifically granted full
control on the folder and its contents.

If using XP Home you can use the CACLS command at a Command Prompt:

cacls %windir%\fonts

or

cacls C:\WINDOWS\Fonts

To learn more or to interpret the results of the CACLS command just go
to Microsoft's web site and do a search on the command.

John

 

[Dan]

I am using Win XP Pro.

When I click on C:\WINDOWS\Fonts and choose Properties, I don't have a
security tab. However, on the system I normally use (which is also Win XP
Pro), I do have a security tab for this same folder. What makes the
difference? How do I get a security tab on the Fonts folder on the other
system?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Dan]

I just unchecked "Use simple file sharing" in Control Panel Folder options,
and now I get a security tab on the C:\WINDOWS\Fonts folder. It shows that
Administrators have full permissions.

But I still can't delete the font file that I want to delete.

 

[John John]

The CACLS command also works with XP Pro, you can use it to check
permissions.

Is the machine joined to a domain? If yes it should have Simplified
File Sharing already disabled, if the computer is in a Workgroup then
Simplified Sharing is enabled by default. When Simple File Sharing is
enabled the Security Tabs are unavailable, disable it and see if you can
verify the security settings.

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421/en-us

How to disable simplified sharing and set permissions on a shared folder
in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307874/

John

 

[Dan]

The machine is connected to a workgroup.

I disabled Simple File Sharing and was able to display the Security tab on
the Fonts folder. It has full permissions, but I still cannot delete one or
more font files.

Dan

 

[John John]

What exact message are you getting when you try to delete the fonts? I
am beginning to think that file corruption is preventing their deletion.
Can you make a test to see if you can copy/move other non zero size
fonts out of the folder, or do they all show the same symptoms? If you
can move other fonts (be sure to return core operating system fonts back
to the fonts folder) then running a chkdsk on the drive may fix things.
Be warned that there is *always* a risk of data loss when you run
chkdsk, make sure that user files are properly backed up before you
proceed. Running chkdsk may take a long time, do not interrupt a chkdsk
in progress!

If you cannot move anything out of the folder then you can try deleting
the fonts under context of the System Account. I don't know if this has
been patched (I can't test right now) but you can try it and see if it
still works:

Using the AT command you can schedule a task and it will open under
context of the System Account, with the elevated System Account
privileges you can do just about anything that you want. Schedule a
Command Prompt session and during that session you will have nearly
unlimited powers over anything on the computer. To start a command
prompt under the System Account open a command prompt and issue this
command:

at xx:xx /interactive cmd.exe /k

xx:xx is the time that the command will run, in the 24 hr format, 10 PM
is 22:00. Set it one minute or two later than the current time and then
wait for the new command prompt to open, then navigate to the folder and
use the del command on the stubborn fonts. If the System account can't
delete the files then a chkdsk will be in order.

If the above command has been "patched" you can use Assarbad's RunAsSys
tool to launch a command session with System Account privileges.
http://assarbad.net/en/stuff/temp Be careful with this tool, do not
leave it hanging around on any computer after you are done. A
discontented or malicious user, or a clueless person can do great damage
with the tool, to avoid misuse it is best to remove it from the computer
after you are done.

John

 

[Nightowl]

The machine is connected to a workgroup.

I disabled Simple File Sharing and was able to display the Security tab on
the Fonts folder. It has full permissions, but I still cannot delete one or
more font files.

Dan, I recently had the same problem with one stubborn font file;
whenever I tried to delete it I would get an "Access denied" message.

I had tried Unlocker (as I know you have) and deleting in a Command
window, but what finally worked for me was using Unlocker *on* the
command line. It found no handles but offered to delete the file for me,
and it went. Worth a try?

In a Command window, navigate to the folder where you have Unlocker
installed then type "Unlocker.exe -h" (without the quotes) to see all
the options.

Hope this helps -- let us know how it goes.

 

[Niteowl]

I'm coming late to this thread, but have a very similar problem,

I'm a partime computer tech for small middle school, I recently upgraded a
software program, to the same folder, then went in to clear away leftover
folders(tech support suggestions) when I found I could not delete one
particular folder, error was "cannot delete foldername, Directory is not
empty", the software tech people were not able to help me with this issue
and suggested it was a windows problem, google search found lots of others
with same problem, tried many solutions, none worked.

The empty folder on a partition (T (renamed "testone") and it will not let
me delete it. I can rename it, and I can move it around on the T:
partition, but can't move it off that partition. I hvae moved it to the
root postition. (T:\testone) I have folder options to "show all hidden
files", and I already had simple file sharing disabled. I have this unit on
a simple "workgroup" network, no domains.

I have tried cmd prompt to remove the directory, though I'm not positive I
used correct syntax or am aware of all options, I tried unhiding with
command prompt "attrib -r -h -s t:\testone",
tried "del foldername", also tried "rd foldername", and "redir foldername",
nada.
I have gone to safe mode, same error and corrupt folder bubble popup on
systray.
I have used Unlocker, (found no handle, offered to delete anyway, was
unsuccessful)
I have taken ownership of the folder using an administrative profile, though
I did not try going into the Adminstrator profile on bootup.I do get a
baloon popup sometimes saying this is a corrupt folder and to run chkdsk,
which I have also done, no joy.

This is a template machine and I'm setting it up to create an image for the
rest of the computer lab. It would be nice to have it cleaned up.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
niteowl