Dir mistakenly moved?

markg2 · 24 Apr 2010

I seem to have inadvertently moved a directory. The directory name is $WINDOWS.~Q. I'd like to know where the thing belongs so that I move it.

Mark

Tews · 24 Apr 2010

Have you tried doing a system restore to a time before you moved it?

markg2 · 24 Apr 2010

I run a new Acronis image every night on my Win7 and Connie's XP so that is surely a (last) option. The process involves a couple of hours. I was hoping that I could just stick the thing back where it (more or less) belonged. It surely doesn't belong under my manufactured dir for FF WEBE backups!

Do you know if Win7 is smart enough to look elsewhere for files it needs if those files are not where they properly lives?

Mark

not so gray matter · 24 Apr 2010

Did you install Windows 7 as an upgrade to a previous system? If you did, this is probably a remnant of that installation. Most people find the folder in the C:\ directory. If you'd like to replace it you can do that, but if you've had no ill effects with it moved, you may as well delete it as it's probably a large directory. There are likely more files with this odd naming scheme. Here's a way to delete them:

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/6685/...i-delete-them/

More on it in steps #17 & 18 of this tutorial:

Repair Install

markg2 · 24 Apr 2010

I did upgrade from Vista and read your link. Thanks.

Unfortunately the fix isn't fixing the problem. I ran Disk Cleanup being sure to check the box for the upgrade files. The directory stayed put. I then moved the dir from where I had mistakenly stuck it earlier to C:\$Windows.Q and again ran Disk Cleanup.

Now, although the dir is still there, a simple right click Delete does not recognize the dir. I get a windows error saying (paraphrased) 'Could not find this item. This is no longer located in C:\. Verify the item's location and try again.

I rebooted the computer but explorer reports the same message.

This morning I downloaded unlocker. I ran the program from explorer on the dir, released two processes which did not make a difference. I then Cut the dir and pasted same to a flash drive. The paste was successful but the source remained. I then dragged the dir to the same SSD location after first deleting the prior instance on the SSD and this was successful. The dir is no longer on C: I am pleased to report.

Mark