how to delete 'undeleteable' folder?

[none]

Had a situation where an invalid folder was created. The folder looked like an ASCII ATL-1 symbol. This is a multiboot system ... could not delete it in XP or W2K, had to use DOS scandisk, which deleted the folder.

An invalid folder (or file) has been created on occasion before so the question is, what utility can be used to delete an invalid folder in an NT OS?

Thanks

 

[Bickford Shmeckler]

Google for unlocker
Had a situation where an invalid folder was created. The folder looked like
an ASCII ATL-1 symbol. This is a multiboot system ... could not delete it in
XP or W2K, had to use DOS scandisk, which deleted the folder.

An invalid folder (or file) has been created on occasion before so the
question is, what utility can be used to delete an invalid folder in an NT
OS?

Thanks

 

[none]

Brickford, I have unlocker (love it), been using it for a while. Tried to
delete with it; says operation was successful but it did NOT delete the
folder :-(

Any other utilities?

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]]

Brickford, I have unlocker (love it), been using it for a while. Tried to

delete with it; says operation was successful but it did NOT delete the
folder :-(

Any other utilities?

If unlocker deleted it and it reappeared or did not "delete", this is
often due to virus/trojan/malware behavior. Use Process Explorer or
some other such tool and see what locked file is hiding in that
folder.

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

 

[Bickford Shmeckler]

Why didn't you say so in your first post?

: Brickford, I have unlocker (love it), been using it for a while. Tried to
: delete with it; says operation was successful but it did NOT delete the
: folder :-(
:
: Any other utilities?
: ---
: : > Google for unlocker
: > : > Had a situation where an invalid folder was created. The folder looked
: like
: > an ASCII ATL-1 symbol. This is a multiboot system ... could not delete
it
: in
: > XP or W2K, had to use DOS scandisk, which deleted the folder.
: >
: > An invalid folder (or file) has been created on occasion before so the
: > question is, what utility can be used to delete an invalid folder in an
NT
: > OS?
: >
: > Thanks
: >
: >
:
:

 

[none]

If unlocker deleted it and it reappeared or did not "delete", this is
often due to virus/trojan/malware behavior. Use Process Explorer or
some other such tool and see what locked file is hiding in that
folder.

I'd scanned for viruses etc. but found none. Don't believe it was caused by
malware or anything like that because it was created when using XXCOPY with
a foul command line (I forgot to add double quotes for a LFN path). Thus,
the funky folder was created by XXCOPY, but because it had a character name
of ASCII 'ALT-1' nothing but a DOS utility could delete it.

So back to the original question; is there an NT utility (or scheme) out
there to delete these 'hard to delete' folders or filenames (Unlocker didn't
work)? Not everybody has DOS readily available or the knowledge of how to
use DOS utilities!

BTW, there was no indication this was a folder 'in use' or 'open' (locked);
I believe it was SOOO hard to delete because it used a lower character ASCII
(which looks like a small rectangular non-filled smiley face).

 

[Badger]

An alternate idea,
The folder may be set up as read only.
Right click CMD.EXE and select Run as Administrator,
Type CD\ and hit enter to drop you into the Root directory,
Type ATTRIB -S -H -R (name of directory) *.*/S and hit enter,
Then try to delete it.
Had a situation where an invalid folder was created. The folder looked like an ASCII ATL-1 symbol. This is a multiboot system ... could not delete it in XP or W2K, had to use DOS scandisk, which deleted the folder.

An invalid folder (or file) has been created on occasion before so the question is, what utility can be used to delete an invalid folder in an NT OS?

Thanks

 

[none]

Badger, the directory has already been deleted. My post was to fine a utility which can run in an NT OS for -future- use.

With regards to your idea; tried going to a CMD window but could not type the directory name on a command line. When I hit 'ATL-1' on the KB an ^A appeared, which is not the name of the directory, so I was stumped.
---
An alternate idea,
The folder may be set up as read only.
Right click CMD.EXE and select Run as Administrator,
Type CD\ and hit enter to drop you into the Root directory,
Type ATTRIB -S -H -R (name of directory) *.*/S and hit enter,
Then try to delete it.
Had a situation where an invalid folder was created. The folder looked like an ASCII ATL-1 symbol. This is a multiboot system ... could not delete it in XP or W2K, had to use DOS scandisk, which deleted the folder.

An invalid folder (or file) has been created on occasion before so the question is, what utility can be used to delete an invalid folder in an NT OS?

Thanks

 

[mm]

Had a situation where an invalid folder was created. The folder looked like an ASCII ATL-1 symbol. This is a multiboot system ... could not delete it in XP or W2K, had to use DOS scandisk, which deleted the folder.

An invalid folder (or file) has been created on occasion before so the question is, what utility can be used to delete an invalid folder in an NT OS?

Thanks

Your lines go off the right edge of the screen!


If you have multiboot, boot into the other os and delete from there.

You may need to change the attributes from R-ead only, H=idden,
S-ystem, like Badger said.

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]]

I'd scanned for viruses etc. but found none. Don't believe it was caused by
malware or anything like that because it was created when using XXCOPY with
a foul command line (I forgot to add double quotes for a LFN path). Thus,
the funky folder was created by XXCOPY, but because it had a character name
of ASCII 'ALT-1' nothing but a DOS utility could delete it.

So back to the original question; is there an NT utility (or scheme) out
there to delete these 'hard to delete' folders or filenames (Unlocker didn't
work)? Not everybody has DOS readily available or the knowledge of how to
use DOS utilities!

BTW, there was no indication this was a folder 'in use' or 'open' (locked);
I believe it was SOOO hard to delete because it used a lower character ASCII
(which looks like a small rectangular non-filled smiley face).

Have you already tried seeing if it is a ownership issue or
permissions issue?

The only thing I'd suggest if unlocker can't get the job done is to
grab yourself a copy of System Rescue CD, mount your NTFS drive (it's
pretty easy even if you've never used Linux), and blow it away that
way. Brute force never fails. Let me know how that goes.

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]