err msg: "Can't delete "foldername", Directory is not empty"

[Niteowl]

Hi all,

I posted this as a reply in another older thread, but can't seem to find it,
so I'm doing it again as a New Post, sorry for the redundancy.

XP Pro SP2, all major updates except Internet v7. Still have v6 with all
updates.

I'm a part time computer tech for small middle school, I recently upgraded a
software program, to the same folder as previous installation, then went in
to clear away leftover folders(tech support suggestion) when I found I
could not delete one particular folder, error was "cannot delete foldername,
Directory is not empty", the software tech people were not able to help me
with this issue and suggested it was a windows problem, google search found
lots of others with same problem, tried many solutions, none worked.

The empty folder on a partition (T (renamed "testone") was a subfolder of
the DataStorage folder (I was able to delete all other content and
subfolders), and it will not let me delete it. I can rename it, and I can
move it around on the T: partition, but can't move it off that partition. I
have moved it to the root postition. (T:\testone) I have folder options to
"show all hidden files", and I already had simple file sharing disabled. I
have this unit on a simple "workgroup" network, no domains. When I check
the properties of this folder the "Read Only" is checked, and will not hold
being unchecked. I uncheck it, click apply, but next time I open
properties, it's set to Read Only again. ??

I have tried cmd prompt to remove the directory
I tried unhiding with command prompt "attrib -r -h -s t:\testone", tried
"del foldername", also
tried "rd foldername", and "redir foldername", nada.
I have gone to safe mode (gui and command line), same error and corrupt
folder bubble popup on systray.
I have used Unlocker, (found no handle, offered to delete anyway, was
unsuccessful)
I have taken ownership of the folder using an administrative profile, though
I did not try going into the Adminstrator profile on bootup.
I do get a baloon popup sometimes saying this is a corrupt folder and to run
chkdsk, which I have also done, no joy.

This is a template machine and I'm setting it up to create an image for the
rest of the computer lab. It would be nice to have it cleaned up.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
niteowl

 

[nass]

Hi all,

I posted this as a reply in another older thread, but can't seem to find it,
so I'm doing it again as a New Post, sorry for the redundancy.

XP Pro SP2, all major updates except Internet v7. Still have v6 with all
updates.

I'm a part time computer tech for small middle school, I recently upgraded a
software program, to the same folder as previous installation, then went in
to clear away leftover folders(tech support suggestion) when I found I
could not delete one particular folder, error was "cannot delete foldername,
Directory is not empty", the software tech people were not able to help me
with this issue and suggested it was a windows problem, google search found
lots of others with same problem, tried many solutions, none worked.

The empty folder on a partition (T (renamed "testone") was a subfolder of
the DataStorage folder (I was able to delete all other content and
subfolders), and it will not let me delete it. I can rename it, and I can
move it around on the T: partition, but can't move it off that partition. I
have moved it to the root postition. (T:\testone) I have folder options to
"show all hidden files", and I already had simple file sharing disabled. I
have this unit on a simple "workgroup" network, no domains. When I check
the properties of this folder the "Read Only" is checked, and will not hold
being unchecked. I uncheck it, click apply, but next time I open
properties, it's set to Read Only again. ??

I have tried cmd prompt to remove the directory
I tried unhiding with command prompt "attrib -r -h -s t:\testone", tried
"del foldername", also
tried "rd foldername", and "redir foldername", nada.
I have gone to safe mode (gui and command line), same error and corrupt
folder bubble popup on systray.
I have used Unlocker, (found no handle, offered to delete anyway, was
unsuccessful)
I have taken ownership of the folder using an administrative profile, though
I did not try going into the Adminstrator profile on bootup.
I do get a baloon popup sometimes saying this is a corrupt folder and to run
chkdsk, which I have also done, no joy.

This is a template machine and I'm setting it up to create an image for the
rest of the computer lab. It would be nice to have it cleaned up.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
niteowl

Assuming you done all of this with Admin privileges!.
Try to create a file and save it to that Folder, but have a full control to
that file and Reboot then try to delete, does it work?.

Did you make sure this machine clean from malware and Viruses?.
Run disk clean up and Defrag in safe mode then attempt the deletion!.
Use the Crap cleaner to delete.
http://www.ccleaner.com
I think the above tool has the option to delete on Boot up?.

Please read about the next two tools and then proceed with removal:
Download OTMoveIt.exe
http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/oldtimer/OTMoveIt.exe

Download to your Desktop FixPolicies.exe:
http://downloads.malwareremoval.com/BillCastner\FixPolicies.exe
HTH.
nass

 

[HeyBub]

Hi all,

I posted this as a reply in another older thread, but can't seem to
find it, so I'm doing it again as a New Post, sorry for the
redundancy.
XP Pro SP2, all major updates except Internet v7. Still have v6 with
all updates.

I'm a part time computer tech for small middle school, I recently
upgraded a software program, to the same folder as previous
installation, then went in to clear away leftover folders(tech
support suggestion) when I found I could not delete one particular
folder, error was "cannot delete foldername, Directory is not empty",
the software tech people were not able to help me with this issue and
suggested it was a windows problem, google search found lots of
others with same problem, tried many solutions, none worked.

An observation: The "read only" flag in the folder's properties page is
meaningless. All folders are marked "read only." This cannot be changed but
has no effect on anything.

A solution along the lines of "If life gives you lemons..." Change the
folder's name to TMP (or TEMP) and add that name to the System path
(removing the one with the same name already there).

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Slight correction.

The "read only" flag in the folder's properties page is meaningless.

*** Correct.

All folders are marked "read only."

*** Not correct.

This cannot be changed.

*** Not correct.

but has no effect on anything.

*** Correct.

 

[Jim]

Slight correction.

*** Correct.

*** Not correct.

*** Not correct.

*** Correct.

Which folders are not marked "read only"? And, why?
I haven't found any on my systems, but I certainly have not made an
extensive search for such folders.
Jim

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Which folders are not marked "read only"? And, why?
I haven't found any on my systems, but I certainly have not made an
extensive search for such folders.
Jim

Here is a listing of the folders I have on my drive C:\ -
--d----- Documents and Settings
--d--hr- MSOCache
--d----- My Download Files
--d----- MYOB105
--d----- Program Files
--d-sh-- Recycled
--d-sh-- RECYCLER
--d-sh-- System Volume Information
--d----- WINDOWS

While the folders on your machine may look different, the listing shows
that folders do not need to have the read-only attribute set and that
the attribute can be turned on and off.

 

[Niteowl]

Assuming you done all of this with Admin privileges!.
Yes

Try to create a file and save it to that Folder, but have a full control
to
that file and Reboot then try to delete, does it work?.

tried this, didn't work

Did you make sure this machine clean from malware and Viruses?.

yes, it's clean

Run disk clean up and Defrag in safe mode then attempt the deletion!.

yes, cleaned system, used Perfect Disk to defrag. 3x's

Use the Crap cleaner to delete.
http://www.ccleaner.com
I think the above tool has the option to delete on Boot up?.

I will try this, this morning.

Please read about the next two tools and then proceed with removal:
Download OTMoveIt.exe
http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/oldtimer/OTMoveIt.exe

Download to your Desktop FixPolicies.exe:
http://downloads.malwareremoval.com/BillCastner\FixPolicies.exe
HTH.

me too.

 

[Niteowl]

An observation: The "read only" flag in the folder's properties page is
meaningless. All folders are marked "read only." This cannot be changed
but has no effect on anything.

A solution along the lines of "If life gives you lemons..." Change the
folder's name to TMP (or TEMP) and add that name to the System path
(removing the one with the same name already there).

Where do I do this in XP? I don't believe there is a "temp" folder on that
partition, but I'll find out.

niteowl

 

[Tim Slattery]

An observation: The "read only" flag in the folder's properties page is
meaningless. All folders are marked "read only." This cannot be changed but
has no effect on anything.

Not exactly. The "read-only" box in the folder's property page is a
shortcut. You can use it to set or clear the read-only attribute for
*all* files within the folder. When the box appears you see it in a
neutral state: neither checked or unchecked. (This is the third state
of a three-state checkbox.) Clicking on it will check or clear it,
depending on how many times you click it. Folders do not have a
read-only attribute.

 

[Niteowl]

An observation: The "read only" flag in the folder's properties page is
meaningless. All folders are marked "read only." This cannot be changed
but has no effect on anything.

A solution along the lines of "If life gives you lemons..." Change the
folder's name to TMP (or TEMP) and add that name to the System path
(removing the one with the same name already there).

I thought this might be a solution, but after "everything else" failed, I
tried it. I was able to "copy" a small .log file into that folder, though
it did not display. When I tried to copy the same file again, I got the
window that said the file already existed and did I want to overwrite, I
said yes, but still it did not show up.
I kept getting errors about the folder being corrupt and to run chkdsk.
(which I did several times)
I didn't think a "temp" folder that I couldn't see nor act upon was not a
good idea in the long run.

I finally had to give up as this was a template machine for a computer lab
that needs to be running again by Monday. I moved all content out of the
partition, then formatted, then moved everything back in. This corrected
the problem.

I realize this may not be a viable solution for most, but this particular
partition was dedicated to one program, and the partition was only 5 gigs...
I messed with this for over 3 days and just had to find some resolution.

I tried all suggested remedies, several programs, taking ownership by an
adminstrator, renaming, putting files in and trying then to delete them,
....... none worked.

I will keep tabs on this kind of problem, as I'm sure it will come up
again...

Thanks for all the suggestions.

niteowl