Can't Delete This File (>)

[BoomerM3]

Somehow I ended up with a file named '>' Yes the name is just the
greater than symbol. I don't know how it got there, since it can't be a
legal file name. It is nested in a directory about four levels deep.

Now, I can't delete it. I tried from Explorer and the Command window.
No matter what, it gives me a strange error (like name too long,
illegal name, etc). Naturally I can't delete the directories either.

Anyone know how to get rid if the file?

peter

 

[S.Sengupta]

Did you try in safe mode?
regards,
ssg MS-MVP

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

Somehow I ended up with a file named '>' Yes the name is just the
greater than symbol. I don't know how it got there, since it can't be
a legal file name. It is nested in a directory about four levels deep.

Now, I can't delete it. I tried from Explorer and the Command window.

Sure, you can delete that file at the command prompt (Start > Run: CMD).
Move all important files and folders out of that tree and delete either
the file using "DEL *." or the folder using "RD <folder>" (w/o quotes).
Type "DEL /?" and "RD /?" for more information.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP]

Somehow I ended up with a file named '>' Yes the name is just the
greater than symbol. I don't know how it got there, since it can't be a
legal file name. It is nested in a directory about four levels deep.

Now, I can't delete it. I tried from Explorer and the Command window.
No matter what, it gives me a strange error (like name too long,
illegal name, etc). Naturally I can't delete the directories either.

Anyone know how to get rid if the file?

peter

Can you rename it?

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Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
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http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

 

[BoomerM3]

window.

Sure, you can delete that file at the command prompt (Start > Run: CMD).
Move all important files and folders out of that tree and delete either
the file using "DEL *." or the folder using "RD <folder>" (w/o quotes).
Type "DEL /?" and "RD /?" for more information.

Not that easy.
I can't remove the directory 'cause it's not empty.
Del *. takes no action.
Del *.* results in "filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is
incorrect."

This is all caused by the fact that the ">" is a special character
which used to be used (DOS) to redirect commands.

Other ideas?

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

Not that easy.
I can't remove the directory 'cause it's not empty.

This shouldn't be a problem. You may want to move important files and
subfolders to a temporary folder using the Windows Explorer. When done,
recreate the deleted folder and move those files and subfolders back
to the original location.

This is all caused by the fact that the ">" is a special character
which used to be used (DOS) to redirect commands.

Correct, that's the "DOS pipe" character.

 

[Paul]

RD /s will delete a folder even with data in it.

 

[BoomerM3]

Somehow I ended up with a file named '>' Yes the name is just the
greater than symbol. I don't know how it got there, since it can't be a
legal file name. It is nested in a directory about four levels deep.

Now, I can't delete it. I tried from Explorer and the Command window.
No matter what, it gives me a strange error (like name too long,
illegal name, etc). Naturally I can't delete the directories either.

Anyone know how to get rid if the file?

peter

Thanks for all suggestions. Same problem.

If I go into the directory and try to rename or delete (regardless of
syntax) I get 'filename, directory, or syntax is incorrect'.

If I leave the directory and try to remove the directory, I get a
directory not empty error.

Yes, the '>' is a redirect symbol. That's why all these commands fail!
I was looking for another approach - short of reformatting my drive.

Alternatives?

peter

 

[BoomerM3]

This is what I got:
rd oxark5a7 /s
oxark5a7, Are you sure (Y/N)? y
oxark5a7\> - The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is
incorrect.

peter

 

[BoomerM3]

This is what I got:
rd oxark5a7 /s
oxark5a7, Are you sure (Y/N)? y
oxark5a7\> - The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is
incorrect.

peter

 

[Yves Leclerc]

How about:

del ">" ???????

Thanks for all suggestions. Same problem.

If I go into the directory and try to rename or delete (regardless of
syntax) I get 'filename, directory, or syntax is incorrect'.

If I leave the directory and try to remove the directory, I get a
directory not empty error.

Yes, the '>' is a redirect symbol. That's why all these commands fail!
I was looking for another approach - short of reformatting my drive.

Alternatives?

peter

 

[Yves Leclerc]

Using the Quote marks indicate that the filename is using the long name
structure. It seems to not give me an error in my XP.

 

[BoomerM3]

No error, but no action taken. Thanks.

 

[Jim Byrd]

Hi Boomer - Sometimes you will find files which you are unable to delete
because they are in use. I believe that Delete Invalid File, below is what
you need, but try them all.

A program called Copylock, here,
http://noeld.com/programs.asp?cat=misc#CopyLock can aid in the process of
"replacing, moving, renaming or deleting one or many files which are
currently in use (e.g. system files like comctl32.dll, or virus/trojan
files.)"

Another is Killbox, here: http://www.downloads.subratam.org/KillBox.zip

A third which is a bit different but often useful is Delete Invalid File,
here: http://www.purgeie.com/delinv.htm which handles invalid/UNC
file/folder name deleting, rather than the in use problem.


--
Please respond in the same thread.
Regards, Jim Byrd, MS-MVP



In

 

[BoomerM3]

Hi Boomer - Sometimes you will find files which you are unable to delete
because they are in use. I believe that Delete Invalid File, below is what
you need, but try them all.

A program called Copylock, here,
http://noeld.com/programs.asp?cat=misc#CopyLock can aid in the process of
"replacing, moving, renaming or deleting one or many files which are
currently in use (e.g. system files like comctl32.dll, or virus/trojan
files.)"

Another is Killbox, here: http://www.downloads.subratam.org/KillBox.zip

A third which is a bit different but often useful is Delete Invalid File,
here: http://www.purgeie.com/delinv.htm which handles invalid/UNC
file/folder name deleting, rather than the in use problem.

These programs fail with a similar error.

peter

 

[Jim Byrd]

Hi Boomer - Take a look here, particularly 5 and 6. These approaches
sometimes work.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320081

--
Please respond in the same thread.
Regards, Jim Byrd, MS-MVP



In

 

[Plato]

This is all caused by the fact that the ">" is a special character
which used to be used (DOS) to redirect commands.

When using the del command, try using a ? in place of the >

eg if the filename is filena>e.ext

try

del filena?e.ext

 

[Kris Shaw]

No error, but no action taken. Thanks.

Hello,

Try taking a look at this KB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320081

Kris

 

[Stan Brown]

Somehow I ended up with a file named '>' Yes the name is just the
greater than symbol. I don't know how it got there, since it can't be a
legal file name. It is nested in a directory about four levels deep.

Now, I can't delete it. I tried from Explorer and the Command window.
No matter what, it gives me a strange error (like name too long,
illegal name, etc). Naturally I can't delete the directories either.

Anyone know how to get rid if the file?

Open a command prompt, navigate to the directory in question, type
erase ? /p
This will tell the command prompt to delete every file with a one-
character name, but only after prompting you file by file and
receiving your permission.

(I haven't tested the specific case of a file named >, but in the
past this technique has worked for other files with illegal names.)

 

[Stan Brown]

Correct, that's the "DOS pipe" character.

Output redirection, actually. The | is the pipe character.