Windows 7 - unable to delete folder in start menu

hiya, installed a program and have moved the app to the start menu but the folder it installed cannot be deleted. when going into programdata/microsoft/windows/startmenu/programs and trying to delete it it gives the error;

could not find this item, verify the items location and try again

despite this it is always there, every reboot. ive tried taking ownership of the file (i have a menu option to do this) and everything else i can think of it still gives the error!

its pedantic but i do want to get rid of it. it has done this on two computers. any assistance would be appreciated, cheers

Sounds like it is not really there, but the system thinks it is...

~Lordbob

See if this works. Right click on icon. Go to preveious versions, if one exists. Replaces the one that is giving you problems it may work.

no previous versions...

Have you tried deleting it directly from the Start Menu, rather than going to Program Data? What file manager are you using...Windows Explorer? Rather than going to the path that you mentioned, have you tried going to the Start Menu path for your username in users? Or the same logged into Administrator?

yes yes, first things i tried, so yea its a mystery...

can anyone assist with this problem ??

Safe mode? Boot another OS and try it? Boot off a floppy supporting NTFS, or a WinPE disc, or a linux LiveCD and delete it?

Really what I'm getting at is...

1)Try Safe mode

2)Try any other outside source that can access the disc
-Another Win install first then try non-win releated ways (to bypass security)

Try this path copy and paste it into the run dialog C:\Users\JohnSmith\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs replace JohnSmith with your username (you may have to show hidden files and folders. And read this it's really quite helpful Svrops.com - Windows Vista Junction Points

tried safe mode, no good

and of course thats the first thing i tried, opened in windows explorer..
and its under C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs, not my user profile data

so has anyone got any suggestions, registry, anything....