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Windows 7: Need help deleting a non-existent file

03 Jan 2011  
Skinkybob

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
4 posts
 
 
Need help deleting a non-existent file

I've got two files on my hard drive that I cannot get rid of. I deleted them at some point, but they left behind this "ghost" file that can't be deleted because the item cannot be found. When I go to properties, it says that the file type is "File (.)" and it opens with "Windows Shell Common Dll". The files are 0 bytes. I've tried everything I can think of to get rid of the files and nothing works.

My System SpecsSystem Spec

03 Jan 2011  
bmcdevitt

Windows 7 pro 64 bit
125 posts
 
 

what are these files you are trying to get rid of?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
03 Jan 2011  
Skinkybob

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
4 posts
 
 

That's the thing... they are just "nothing". Initially they were .rar files, but now they're just these empty placeholders that serve no purpose and can not be moved, changed, or deleted.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
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03 Jan 2011  
bmcdevitt

Windows 7 pro 64 bit
125 posts
 
 

have you tried any 3rd party uninstalling programs?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
03 Jan 2011  
mitchell65

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
3,920 posts
Cornwall UK
 
 

What is the path to these files? What is the actual file name. You say they are just nothing but clearly you can see them so they must say something! From your first post it sounds like these files may be system files so perhaps your original deletion has caused a problem. Why did you delete them in the first place?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
03 Jan 2011  
Skinkybob

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
4 posts
 
 

They are the remnants of a compressed .rar file that contained a show I was downloading for my brother. They are located in my "Videos" folder and I deleted them because I was finished with them. The file names are:

Avengers.Earths.Mightiest.Heroes.S01E01.Breakout.Part.1.HDTV.DivX-CP-www.gudz.org.1.
Avengers.Earths.Mightiest.Heroes.S01E01.Breakout.Part.1.HDTV.DivX-CP-www.gudz.org.2.

Those are the full file names, extensions and everything. They've been this way for months now. I deleted them, and then one day I check and there they are... except they aren't .rar files anymore. They are just "." files. And the computer won't delete them because it cannot find the file to delete.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
03 Jan 2011  
Skinkybob

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
4 posts
 
 

I've tried deleting them through Command Prompt and I've run CCleaner and Lockhunter to no avail.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
03 Jan 2011  
Golden

Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 (x64)
9,922 posts
South Australia
 
 

Hi,

You could try this, but be careful that you do not delete any critical system files. You use this at your own risk.

FileASSASSIN: Malwarebytes

Regards,
Golden
My System SpecsSystem Spec
03 Jan 2011  
mitchell65

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
3,920 posts
Cornwall UK
 
 

The original file names were :
Avengers.Earths.Mightiest.Heroes.S01E01.Breakout.Part.1.HDTV.DivX-CP-www.gudz.org.1.avi
Avengers.Earths.Mightiest.Heroes.S01E01.Breakout.Part.1.HDTV.DivX-CP-www.gudz.org.2.avi

Try renaming the files back to the original. Just add avi at the end. Then try deleting them.
If that doesn't work try renaming them Sample1.avi and Sample2.avi then try deleting!
EDIT Another thought!
Perhaps we are in the realm of the file name being too long, just a thought.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
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