Corrupted files (file name too long): How to fix or delete?

[Guest]

I download various cases in Word format from a legal database. When I save
the file to my computer, I copy the case name and paste it in as the file
name. Occasionally, the file name sometimes contains too many characters.
This results in some sort of file corruption. I cannot open the file, change
its name or properties, or even delete the file. When I use "file open" in
Word and go to the appropriate folder, the file does not even appear. (The
file does appear in the Windows navigator, but again, I cannot change or
delete the file).

How do I fix or delete these files?

 

[LC Killingbeck]

I download various cases in Word format from a legal database. When I
save the file to my computer, I copy the case name and paste it in as
the file name. Occasionally, the file name sometimes contains too
many characters. This results in some sort of file corruption. I
cannot open the file, change its name or properties, or even delete
the file. When I use "file open" in Word and go to the appropriate
folder, the file does not even appear. (The file does appear in the
Windows navigator, but again, I cannot change or delete the file).

How do I fix or delete these files?

It's been years since I last had one of those "impossible" files that
could not be deleted. This worked for me (going from long-ago memory).
Go into the DOS command prompt (or whatever is equivalent - you did
not say what OS you are using) and into the proper directory. Then
see if you can list that file, and that file only, using the DIR
command with one of the wildcard symbols (* and ?). If you can, then
do a RENAME of that same file (using the same wildcard symbols) to
something valid, or do a DELETE to erase it. Be careful with the
wildcards! If there is more than one file that matches, they will all
be affected!

If that does not work, and no one gives a workable response, you might
even try moving all of the other files to another directory, then doing
a DELETE *.* to delete all files, and moving all the other files back.
Make SURE you know what you are doing if going this way, and that there
are not any hidden/system/etc. undisplayed special files left. Misuse can
do some serious damage to the operation of the computer, if essential
files are deleted.

Good luck!

Lynn Killingbeck

 

[LC Killingbeck]

I download various cases in Word format from a legal database. When I
save the file to my computer, I copy the case name and paste it in as
the file name. Occasionally, the file name sometimes contains too
many characters. This results in some sort of file corruption. I
cannot open the file, change its name or properties, or even delete
the file. When I use "file open" in Word and go to the appropriate
folder, the file does not even appear. (The file does appear in the
Windows navigator, but again, I cannot change or delete the file).

How do I fix or delete these files?

Couple more ideas.

(1) Can you drag-and-drop the file onto the RecycleBin on the Desktop? If
so, then File - EmptyRecycleBin might get rid of it. At least it will
be out of your main folder, even if it won't Empty.

(2) If you can drag-and-drop the file, but it won't empty from the
recycle bin, make a temporary folder, drag-and-drop the unwanted file
there, and then delete that temporary folder and all its contents.

Much less likely to do damage than misuse of wildcard deletions via DOS.
(Been there! Done that!) Never tried either idea, but just might work.

If none of this works, ask again a some newsgroup related to your OS.
This is an OS problem, not a Word one, and you'll need help from
people with that OS expertise. I don't follow any such groups.

Lynn Killingbeck