can't delete folder?

W

wheat66

In Windows Explorer, I have a folder which I can't open or
delete; Explorer keeps giving me "Access is Denied"
messages. When I enter Properties for this folder I see
the Read-Only box is checked, but it is grayed-out. All
attempts to remove that check fail. The "Hidden" box is
not checked.

I tried going into MS-DOS and doing a CD \foldername
command but I get "Access is denied" messages there as
well. I also can't figure out how to use the Attrib DOS
command to help (does that work on folders or just files?).

thanks for any help.
 
M

MGGP

What is the name of the folder ? Some folders are
protected, like the folder Program Files . . .

ATTRIB -R foldername should remove the readonly attribute
from the command prompt for non-System folders.

It's possible that the folder is damaged, or that it is
the result of spyware or a virus.

Do you have anti-virus and anti-spyware software running ?
Do you use a Firewall ? Have you done all of the Windows
Critical Updates ?

See these sites for more help.
THE PARASITE FIGHT QUICK FIX PROTOCOL
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

THE PARASITE FIGHT
Finding, Removing & Protecting Yourself From Scumware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Bugs, Glitches & Stuffups
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm

Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive
software
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-
US;827315#appliesto

Spyware and Deceptive Software
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/twc/privacy/spyware.mspx?
gssnb=1

What you should know about spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/security/articles/spyware.asp

Good Luck !
 
P

Peter Scott

Anything greyed out cannot be altered. Sounds like a system directory, i.e.
C:Windows, the various Favorites directories etc. So in that case you
shouldn't be deleting it.
 
W

wheat66

Thanks for the responses. I checked everything out you
guys mentioned and the only relevant link seemed to be the
MS Knowledge Base article 308421. That required me to
boot to safe mode and change the ownership of the folder.
After that is done, and while still in safe mode, I couldn
then rename, open or delete this troublesome folder, if I
wanted.

When I then boot up normally, it's as if the safe mode
changes had no effect and the "Access Denied" problem is
still there.

There are no System files or folders involved here. Also,
it seems to me the grayed out Read-Only checked box is
irrelevant here since all folders have that feature.

I'd appreciate any further help.
 

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