Ghost folder in start menu

S

see.cher

I have a folder in my start menu that I can't delete (it is empty).
I also cannot find the name "ACT! 2005" in the registry.
When I right click on it I get no menu as I do with other folders and
shortcuts.

This is its path
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\ACT! 2005
When I try to delete it from there is says it can't read from the
source file or disk

How do I get rid of it?????????

Any ideas to help me.
 
S

see.cher

why would you think that would help??

WINDOWS is not doing what it is suppost to do.
I.E., letting me delete it. It can't read it.
has nothing to do with ACT! other than that is where it originally
came from.
 
M

Malke

why would you think that would help??

WINDOWS is not doing what it is suppost to do.
I.E., letting me delete it. It can't read it.
has nothing to do with ACT! other than that is where it originally
came from.
Click to expand...

Mr. Vogel suggested you check out ACT!'s tech support site because it is
apparent that the ACT! uninstaller did not work correctly. Another
workaround is to reinstall ACT! and then uninstall it.

Malke
 
S

see.cher

Well, I have discovered that the "!" is creating the other problem
that I had where I could not rearrange the ACT! 7 folder on the start
menu and have it stay there. I deleted the "!" and now it stays where
I put it - not an ACT issue since I put the "!" in the name.

I didn't uninstall ACT 2005. I renamed the folders that it was in but
can't get rid of the folder. My question is WHY can't I delete it. It
may be because of the "!" in it also. Again nothing to do with ACT
itself. So how do I get to it to delete it???????????

It is like windows is seeing it as a corrupt file/folder name and
can't read it. I think Kelly had a fix for something like that on the
site but I have not been able to find it again.
 
M

Malke

Well, I have discovered that the "!" is creating the other problem
that I had where I could not rearrange the ACT! 7 folder on the start
menu and have it stay there. I deleted the "!" and now it stays where
I put it - not an ACT issue since I put the "!" in the name.

I didn't uninstall ACT 2005. I renamed the folders that it was in but
can't get rid of the folder. My question is WHY can't I delete it. It
may be because of the "!" in it also. Again nothing to do with ACT
itself. So how do I get to it to delete it???????????

It is like windows is seeing it as a corrupt file/folder name and
can't read it. I think Kelly had a fix for something like that on the
site but I have not been able to find it again.
Click to expand...

Try deleting from the command prompt and put the file name in quotes,
like: del "ACT!" [enter]

There are symbols that are used for special purposes in operating
systems, like @ and ! that should not be used in file names. Windows is
not the only operating system with these restrictions.

Malke
 
S

see.cher

SOMEHOW, I must have confused everybody.

The ACT! 2005 folder is empty.
there is no ACT 2005 OR ACT 7 process running.
Any Act 7 or 2005 shortcuts are in the ACT 7 folder
Without the "!" I have no problem with the ACT 7 folder.
I cannot do anything with the ACT! 2005 folder.
I can't delete it.
I can't rename it.
I can't do a right click and get a menu.
 
B

Bob I

On the Start Button, R-click, Open All users, Programs, Delete it there?
Barring that, at the command prompt, go to the same location, Rename
"Act 7" to "Bact 7", then delete "Act*"
 
S

see.cher

Thanks-

BUT nothing works.
When I try to delete or rename it via CMD it acts like it completes
the task but nothing changes.
del *act* returns with no message but it is still there
del "act! 2005" returns with >> cannot find the file
 
K

Kelly

Can't Delete a File or Folder in XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_d.htm#del

You Cannot Delete a File or a Folder:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=kb;en-us;Q320081

WipeDir: http://www.skaro.net/wipedir/

WhoLockMe Explorer Extension v1.04 beta (NT-Win2K-XP)
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/

Inuse.exe: File-In-Use Replace Utility
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/existing/inuse-o.asp

How to replace in-use files at Windows restart
http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...port/kb/articles/q181/3/45.asp&NoWebContent=1

Troubleshooting, Removing and/or Cleaning Add or Remove Programs
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_a.htm#addremove


--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
 
S

see.cher

Thanks Kelly

I tried everything - the answer is always CANNOT READ FROM THE SOURCE
FILE OR FOLDER

I can create a file or folder in the ACT! 2005 folder.
I can delete the file or folder I created.
I cannot move, rename, delete, or change attributes of ACT! 2005
I get the same reason CANNOT READ FROM THE SOURCE FILE OR FOLDER
I ran CHKDSK /F - everything was fine.
apparently the system knows it is there, there is no sharing
violation, there is no permission violation
How can it create and delete a file and folder inside ACT! 2005 and
not be able to read from it when asked to do something with the actual
folder??????????
 
S

see.cher

Correction
The actual error message it
CANNOT .......... FILE: CANNOT READ FROM THE SOURCE FILE OR DISK
.......... = rename, move, delete
 
S

see.cher

One more note
I have a GHOST image of that drive on another physical drive and I get
the same results.
 
J

Jim Byrd

Hi Cher - Just to supplement the resources Kelly listed for you - I think
the one you might need is Delete Invalid Files, but try them all:

Sometimes you will find files which you are unable to delete because they
are in use. 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.
 
S

see.cher

Thank You TOO

BUT NOTHING is working.
The DELINVFILE program shows the folder in the listing but when I
double click it it says it can't find it. If I tell it to delete it,
it says it will delete the parent folder.
The folder is not in use nor does it have permissions I can't access.
None of the errors given indicate either,
It is always that it can't find the folder even though it is showing
it to me.

FRUSTRATION - I guess it will stay there till I reformat the drive.
 

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