Unable to delete

[Pop]

XP Pro, NTFS, Ext USB 160Gig HD; used for backup staging
Backups/files were created by Powerquest (Symantec) DataKeeper.

I have two paths I cannot delete because the last file in each
path returns an error message about name length or corrupted.
Additionally, the overall Free Space is incorrect.

I've run disk health and chkdsk on the volume; no problems found.

I've tried to delete from:
-- windows
-- Safe Mode
-- Command Prompt
-- Booted Command prompt
-- A Deltree prog I pulled out of archive.

I've also tried to:
Move, copy, open and rename the file; it cannot be done, though
doing so does not return an error message.

The path to the file in each case is ridiculously long and
does not exist on the main drives. It's SO long it has to be
pasted rather than typed in; I tried! It almost looks like some
filenames got twisted around into a path; several of the
directories are xx.xx.xx format, and they are empty directories.
Explorer sees them fine so they're "real" as far as the OS is
concerned.

Any advice or similar experiences? Or should I just forget about
it and go ahead and do a format? I've recovered all but 44 Gig
of the data so it wouldn't kill me to reformat.

TIA,

Pop

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Pop,

From the command prompt, use "RD /s /q <directory_path>" (without the quotes
of course).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Pop]

Hi Rick,

BTDT, as they say. I've made -some- headway, but ... I knew/know
about the S/D switches; problem is, RD can't/couldn't work. I
didn't come back with any more additions/clarifications because
of the lack of interest or ability of folks to offer
suggestions - which is great: I'd rather have no answer than a
silly answer <g>.

I know a little of your rep, so I will try to add a couple of
details since it's still not a "done" issue. Here's what's up so
far, and yes, I know I'm sometimes my own worst enemy; ain't we
all?

-- There turned out to be many, many MORE hidden folders, files
and even entire paths! Thanks to PowerDesk I was able to
copy/paste most of the paths that were visible from windows into
the Command Prompt to help with the typing. One of the paths I
ended up with actually occupied 5 full-screen width lines!
-- I also discovered some filename:filename:file.ext names in
the process. Near as I can tell, and it was pure coincidence I
figured that out from a previous Windows Properties question I
asked (right here, I think), those were ADS channels. Not
positive of that, but the same procedure for finding the ADS
files made them visible for me, too, so I ass-u-me they were ADS
(Alternate Data Streams). ADS is old stuff, but it was new to
me.

After a LOT of experimentation I finally happened on an empirical
procedure that would let me get rid of -most-, not all of them.
Basically, it involved:
-- Using Explorer to find the end of the path (no other way).
-- Pop to Prompt and paste the path in. Use ATTRIB, DIR and CD
to find the "real" end of the path. I even tried Deltree a few
times at intermediate points in the paths with no results.
-- Start using DEL and RD to remove the files and then the
directories, one at a time ONLY. RD /s /d would fail to remove a
directory EVERY time, so it had to be done one at a time.
-- Eventually I reached the top of the path, and RD worked
there, too.
NOW, back to windows, because Explorer STILL saw the same path it
saw before, evern after doing a Cold, Powered Down Boot!.
-- Similar to the DOS procedure, start at the end of the path
and back up one at a time, deleting files and removing the
folder, same as I did in the Commant prompt. Even in Explorer,
more than one (say, just the two last folders) folder at a time
could NOT be removed without an error message (filename too long
or corrupted).
-- Anyway, work my way back up to the top, and the path was
gone to Windows, AND to the Command prompt. AND, the space
occupied seemed to return and then some.
There were three paths like that: After this operation was
completed, I'd recovered all but about a Gig of space.

And that's where I am. I've formatted the drive from the Command
Prompt, Safe Mode, and standard windows mode - just like when it
was 80 Gig used, that last reported Gig used refuses to go away.
I don't understand how used space is surviving an NTFS format.
Chkdsk reports no bad sectors, BTW. Disk Health reports as fine,
no errors. Same with read/write tests, etc..
Hmm, I wonder if a FAT format, then an NTFS format...?

Since this is a system rebuild, I still need to get a full backup
accomplished, so I'm using the drive, and it seems to be OK but
.... something isn't right, so there must be a "gotcha" sitting
there just waiting.
Thinking about a system counter problem, I grabbed Partition
Magic (which I did NOT use on the subject external drive),
created anothe drive, fiddled with it, filled it with backup
files, and then manually deleted everything no problem. So, the
OS itself -seems- OK.

I understand you can't see what's going on from there, so if that
doesn't trip any memory processes that might help, that's fine -
just thought I'd throw this out in case it makes a spark for
anyone. I have a question in to ACOMdata, but they're not
bothering to respond - yet. There's nothign remotely similar to
this in thier FAQs, so I doubt I'll get a useful response, but I
had to ask.

A case of virtual beer to whoever helps solve this one!

I'm also looking for a freebie disk editor that'll let me get at
the MBR and signature areas if anyone knows of one. Maybe if I
manually zeroed out the tables or something...? I'm going back
to the problem as soon as I get the backup done and DVDs burned.
Can't allow a backup drive I don't trust!

Pop

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Pop,

I'd remove the partition, not just format it, then create a new one from the
resulting free space.

On the last item, try mbrwork from www.terabyteunlimited.com in the free
utilities.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org