Can not delete folder HELP am going mad !!

Heh this is a troublesome one.

There are some programs on the net that will delete the file, but you can try a couple of things yourself.

1) Simply rename the file to a single character name. Then try to delete.
2) Try renaming folders that are in the path if you can to one character names (but don't rename any system folders like "user" of course). Try to delete.
3) Got this from the net:
Another option is deleting the files from the cmd prompt.
Start > Run > "cmd" Enter.
cd to the folder one level up from the one that contains the files that won't delete, and use the rd command like "rd /s /q folderwithbadfilenames" Enter
4) Look for a utility on the net. There are several, some for pay and some suspecious looking :P I can't give advice on a good one.
5) Write a program in c or something to delete the pathname...

The crux of the problem (and it's dissapointing that it's still there) is that NTFS can handle pathnames that are 4096 characters olng but windows explorer can only handle names that are 256 chars or shorter

So programs can handle them fine but as a user through explorer this can happen...

I had a folder I couldn't delete.
I booted into the safe mode and was able to delete it.

Hello Chris, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You might see if you may be able to use the free program Unlocker to delete the folder.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Well the rd command I got from the net, but lets say the path was "C:\one\two\three\file.ext"
You would open a command prompt at "C:\one\two" (Or "cd" to that folder)
Then type the command "rd /s /q three" and it will delete the "three" folder and all files in it.

Now this is assuming that the folder "three" is expendable :)

Info on the rd command:
MS-DOS rd and rmdir command help

and

Folder - Delete from Command Prompt

I do not know if this works myself though...

The file manager in 7-zip will delete everything, it is much more powerful than explorer or many other file managers.

Explorer has some severe limitations.

7-Zip

<http://www.7-zip.org/>

32 and 64 BIT freeware.

Regards....Mike Connor

Hi,

You could try resetting all folders to see if it helps...



I've seen many issues with folders not deleting until a refresh (F5) is performed and it has helped. Your issue sounds very similar in the fact that...

1, You may have already deleted the folder and Windows folder view has broken and needs resetting
2, When the folder view is broken deleted folders will still show. There'll be no error with the 1st delete but every delete after


OS