Help - Error Deleting File or Folder....

[JS]

I cannot delete a folder in WinXP Pro that I created earlier today. No
matter what I try (safe mode, close tasks, file deleting utilities, etc.) I
get the following message:

Cannot find the specified file. Make sure you specify the correct path and
file name.

I also did a thorough check disk and that didn't help. I suspect the
problem is because of the folder names being too long and/or the file naming
I gave the folder (xy-xx, etc.)?

In any case, could someone help me to get rid of this folder? It's not
really doing any harm, I just don't like to have things like this hanging
around...

Thanks for any help.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi JS,

See this from MVP Kelly:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_d.htm#del

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[JS]

Thanks for the link, but I have NO idea what that article is talking
about....I'm not a dos kinda guy and don't follow that at all.

Any other ideas?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi JS,

Time to learn. Which instructions are you having trouble with?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[JS]

Well, I was able to "learn" somewhat. I actually deleted a bunch of files
@cmd prompt (VRO and MPG) in one of the subfolders I'm having problems with.
I had to change to short names in dos to see the folders.

Anyway, now it seems I am left with just a few folders that I think are
empty, but I still cannot delete them (same error as originally posted).
Here's what I see in dos at the following location:

C:\Documents and Settings\JS\My Documents\Test

12/10/2004 3:22pm <DIR> .
12/10/2004 3:22pm <DIR> ..
12/11/2004 12:27pm <DIR> MYBOYS~1 My Boys 2004 - Skateboarding, etc.
0 File(s) 0 bytes
2 Dir(s) 21,700,104,192 bytes free

If I go further into the MYBOYS~1 dir, then I see this:
12/11/2004 12:27pm <DIR> .
12/11/2004 12:27pm <DIR> ..
12/11/2004 12:37pm <DIR> Sources
0 File(s) 0 bytes
3 Dir(s) 21,712,097,280 bytes free

Then this:
12/11/2004 12:37pm <DIR> .
12/11/2004 12:37pm <DIR> ..
12/11/2004 12:38pm <DIR> Menus
0 File(s) 0 bytes
3 Dir(s) 21,700,694,016 bytes free

Then this:
12/11/2004 12:38pm <DIR> .
12/11/2004 12:38pm <DIR> ..
0 File(s) 0 bytes
2 Dir(s) 21,700,104,192 bytes free

Basically, I just want to get rid of EVERYTHING in the "TEST" folder
including all subfolders and any files....but I keep getting the cannot find
specified file error, etc.

Any help from here would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi JS,

At this point, you should use the RD command to remove the contents of the
directory.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[JS]

Thanks for sticking with me.

That's the command I have had no luck with. I just tried again several
times and get 3 errors about can't find the file specified (hit Y each time)
and then an error about can't find path specified....

The folder I want to delete is in the My Documents folder (can't move it).
The path is:

c:\Documents and Settings\JS\My Documents\Expense --> expense contains the
problem folders and I want to delete the whole thing.

So, I tried RD /S c:\Documents and Settings\JS\My Documents\Expense

rmdir c:\Documents and Settings\JS\My Documents\Expense

rmdir c:\Documents and Settings\JS\My Documents\Expense /s

All with no luck.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Like this:

RD /s /q c:\Documents and Settings\JS\My Documents\Expense

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[JS]

Once I found the correct information, it took me all of 10 seconds to "fix"
my problem. The advice given here was truly incomplete (being kind), as
well as that of the link given for kellys corner.

I had spent literally HOURS trying to follow to the letter the advice given,
but nothing worked. All it took was for me to FINALLY find some complete,
helpful information while searching the web.

The rd and del commands require QUOTES to work properly - at least for me.
So, for my example posted below, I simply added the quotes to those paths
and both the del and rd functions worked very quickly. Problem gone.

I only wish this information was published for those of us who don't live
for dos....

Example: rd C:\Documents and Settings\JS\My Documents\Test /s ---> never
worked

rd "C:\Documents and Settings\JS\My Documents\Test" --> worked like a charm

del C:\Documents and Settings\JS\My Documents\Test ---> never worked

del "C:\Documents and Settings\JS\My Documents\Test" --> worked like a charm