Cannot delete 0 Byte File

[Natash]

I have a 0 byte file that is in my pictures and I cannot delete/copy/cut it. It's been on my computer for a few years and I've tried to do a lot to get rid of it. The original picture is long gone. When I attempt to open the file, there is no program on my system that can open it. Help please?

 

[UsernameIssues]

Welcome to the Seven Forums.

Since you have tried lots of things - anything that we suggest will most likely be something that you have already tried.

The first thing that I would try is to make sure that the filing system is healthy via CHKDSK. See these two links:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/96938-check-disk-chkdsk-read-event-viewer-log.html

Then try this check:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

You can also try Unlocker. Make sure to uncheck any junk that it wants to install.



Once Unlocker is installed, right-click on the file that you want to delete and select Unlocker from the context menu.

 

[Johnthefast]

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/89677-cannot-delete-0-byte-file-desktop-2.html


Bunch of solutions for this issue on that page.
the main one that worked for me was
navigating to the directory in an elevated command prompt
EXAMPLE
CD C:\users\(username)\downloads
then typing dir /x to find the 'short' file name of the corrupted file Example: Fairyt~2 was mine
then typing del (shortname)
EXAMPLE

The trick is to delete the file using its short name. To discover the short name,
open a command line window, and type DIR /X. This will show you two names for the
zero byte file--the normal one and a "short name" that consists of the first 6
letters of the file name, a tilde (~), and a number. Now use DEL with the short
name.

 

[Mumio]

Thank you so much!!! I was ready to pull my hair out over two files I couldn't get rid of and your solution worked perfectly!!

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/89677-cannot-delete-0-byte-file-desktop-2.html


Bunch of solutions for this issue on that page.
the main one that worked for me was
navigating to the directory in an elevated command prompt
EXAMPLE
CD C:\users\(username)\downloads
then typing dir /x to find the 'short' file name of the corrupted file Example: Fairyt~2 was mine
then typing del (shortname)
EXAMPLE

The trick is to delete the file using its short name. To discover the short name,
open a command line window, and type DIR /X. This will show you two names for the
zero byte file--the normal one and a "short name" that consists of the first 6
letters of the file name, a tilde (~), and a number. Now use DEL with the short
name.