deleting "ghost" files

G

Guest

Define: files that are shown in file lists or desktop, but have a size of
ZERO bytes.
Any action on the file causes an "unable to read file from source".

I have allready checked to see if these are read only...they are not.
Cannot rename, move or deleted.

Files orginated from an internet download of some PDF files that were packed
in a ZIPPED folder.

One other note: syntax of file name is: FILENAME.zip. (notice the extra
"." at the end?)

Any help on how to delte these would be great.
 
D

DanS

"=?Utf-8?B?QnJpYW4gdGhlIFNwYXJ0eSBmYW4=?=" <Brian the Sparty
(e-mail address removed)> wrote in
Define: files that are shown in file lists or desktop, but have a
size of ZERO bytes.
Any action on the file causes an "unable to read file from source".

I have allready checked to see if these are read only...they are not.
Cannot rename, move or deleted.

Files orginated from an internet download of some PDF files that were
packed in a ZIPPED folder.

One other note: syntax of file name is: FILENAME.zip. (notice the
extra "." at the end?)

Any help on how to delte these would be great.

Yes. You can go to a CMD prompt, and then CD to the folders in which
these files are located. Now, do a DIR /X in the folder and look in the
column second from the right. That column shows the files 8.3 format
name. If they are not in use, they can most likely be deleted from there
using the DEL command with the 8.3 filename.

DanS
 
B

Brian A.

Brian the Sparty fan said:
Define: files that are shown in file lists or desktop, but have a size
of
ZERO bytes.
Any action on the file causes an "unable to read file from source".

I have allready checked to see if these are read only...they are not.
Cannot rename, move or deleted.

Even after a reboot? If so and if the other suggestions don't bring joy:

Right click the IE icon on the Desktop.
Click Properties > General tab > Delete Files button.
Put a check in "Delete all offline content".
Click Ok > Ok.

Open Explorer.
Expand the tree to C:\Documents and Settings\Your User Name dir\Local
Settings\Temp
Select all in the Right pane and delete.

Expand to C:\Windows\Prefetch
Select all in the Right pane and delete.

Reboot and see if the file is now ready to be beheaded.

Empty the trash.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
G

Guest

DanS: deleting the 8dot3 file worked. Nuked them right off of my desktop.
Thank-you so very much for making up for Microsoft's shortcomings.

Thanks to Harry and Brian A. as well for their ideas.

Cheers
 
D

DanS

DanS: deleting the 8dot3 file worked. Nuked them right off of my
desktop. Thank-you so very much for making up for Microsoft's
shortcomings.

Thanks to Harry and Brian A. as well for their ideas.

Cheers

I'm just glas I could help. Every once in a while that happens.

Regards,

DanS





<SNIP>
 

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