Can't Remove Explorer File Table Entry

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Guest

Hi Follow Programmer,

I'm running Win 2000 and Win XP. On each, I can't delete an entry from the file system table.

On the Win 2000 system, I have an empty directory. The directory summary listing is : 0 File and 0 bytes. But when I try to delete the directory -- I get an error: "The directory is not empty." and the deletion process is aborted.

On the Win XP system, I have a file that will not delete. When I try to delete it -- nothing happens and no error message appears.

Can you tell me what utility or application will remove these entries ??

Thanks for your time and effort,

King
 
King Coffee said:
Hi Follow Programmer,

I'm running Win 2000 and Win XP. On each, I can't delete an entry from the file system table.

On the Win 2000 system, I have an empty directory. The directory summary
Click to expand...
listing is : 0 File and 0 bytes. But when I try to delete the directory -- I
get an error: "The directory is not empty." and the deletion process is
aborted.
On the Win XP system, I have a file that will not delete. When I try to
Click to expand...
delete it -- nothing happens and no error message appears.
Can you tell me what utility or application will remove these entries ??

Thanks for your time and effort,

King
Click to expand...

First, rule out potential disk structure problems by booting your Windows CD
(if necessary) and entering into the Recovery Console. Use chkdsk /R
command, go have dinner and it might be done when you get back (it's like an
old "thourough" scandisk test, takes forever). Type exit to get out of
the Recovery Console, boot into safe mode (F8 key taps while booting).

Run windows explorer (Start | Run | explorer | OK) and configure it to show
ALL files. Find the folder or file, but highlight some other one. Then
right-click the one you want to delete (don't highlight it before you right
click it) and choose to delete it. If it won't then assure that the account
is listed in the Security section of the Properties for that file and that
it has full administrative privileges; add the account if necessary. If it
still won't then clear the event viewer entries and try the same exact
delete attempt procedure again, then after the error examine event viewer
entries for a clue as to why the error and post it back to this forum (try
to be detailed), and also state the exact filename and path causing the
problem.
 
The procedure you gave (Use chkdsk /R, and delete the files in safe mode) worked for Win 2000.

I also ran "chkdsk /R" on my Windows XP Home system... but I did not go to windows safe mode to delete the file.

The file was originally added, by an e-mail virus, to a subdirectory in my "My Document" folder. The program name is: "Star Wars II Movie Full Downloader.exe". Explorer thinks that a file exist. When I passover the file name -- an explorer control window states: Date Created: 7/9/2004 8:00 PM, Size: 104 KB. But when I go to File|Property I get the following info:

Type of File: <blank entry>
Location: <blank entry>
size: 0
size on disk: 0
Created: <blank entry>
Modified: <blank entry>
Accessed: <blank entry>

When I try to delete it... nothings happens. When I try to rename it... the system just beeps. When I examine the event viewer log... there are no new entries as a result of the delete/rename process.

I have full system administrator privileges and can delete other files in that folder. I think the file does not exist, but explorer is confused.

Thanks for helping me with one of two problems -- we're half way there.

King
 
Hi again,

I was told to go to web page: support.microsoft.com/?id=320081
there I learned you can't delete a file... if the path-file name is nested to deep. So I moved the directory up a level. As a result, I was able to delete the file.

Thanks

King
 
Hi, King Coffee
Thanks for that http://support.microsoft.com/?id=320081 link; it and its
own links are very informative (and went into my collection of tips!) It
will be of benefit quite often in this forum, I'm sure. Very good detective
work on your part. :)

Don't you just admire those script kiddies that cause such problems? Such a
perverted waste of good talent, too, and with today's increasing legal
repercussions a severe risk for the abuser of never again being able to use
that base talent in a legitimate income producing manner: branded for life
with no possibility of parole.

King Coffee said:
Hi again,

I was told to go to web page: support.microsoft.com/?id=320081
there I learned you can't delete a file... if the path-file name is nested
Click to expand...
to deep. So I moved the directory up a level. As a result, I was able to
delete the file.
Thanks

King
Click to expand...
my "My Document" folder. The program name is: "Star Wars II Movie Full
Downloader.exe". Explorer thinks that a file exist. When I passover the file
name -- an explorer control window states: Date Created: 7/9/2004 8:00 PM,
Size: 104 KB. But when I go to File|Property I get the following info:the system just beeps. When I examine the event viewer log... there are no
new entries as a result of the delete/rename process.
 
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