Deleted files still showing

[DaiB]

On several occasions I've deleted files/folders and then found later that they are still showing in the Library or even the true folder. When I go to delete them again Windows says it can't find them - obviously because I deleted them! This looks like a serious Win7 bug. I've never hit this problem with XP and it means I just can't trust an explorer window to tell me the truth. A Chkdsk shows no filing system errors. This is a full Win 7 release on a new Dell PC.

 

[richc46]

Did you boot the computer, since the delete?

 

[Darryl Licht]

On several occasions I've deleted files/folders and then found later that they are still showing in the Library or even the true folder. When I go to delete them again Windows says it can't find them - obviously because I deleted them! This looks like a serious Win7 bug. I've never hit this problem with XP and it means I just can't trust an explorer window to tell me the truth. A Chkdsk shows no filing system errors. This is a full Win 7 release on a new Dell PC.

Strange Indeed... was Win7 preinstalled on this Dell, or did you upgrade/install it? 32 or 64 bit? If not provided by Dell, where did you get your Win7?

The only time I have observed this was if there was something in that folder that couldnt be deleted... What effect does a reboot have on these ghost files and folders?

PS - your specs list the following soundcard: mohterborad .... Ive never heard of that brand! LOL!:roflmao:

 

[CassieFWinTeam]

Are these files/folders that you have created? If they were created by someone else, you may not have permission to delete them and you will need to ask the owner of the files to delete. Read more about User Account Control and gaining permissions here: What is User Account Control?. You also cannot delete a file (or the folder that contains it) if the file is currently open in another program. Make sure that the file isn't open in any program, and then try to delete the file or folder again.

If they are files created by you, I wonder if the simple reboot that Rich suggested will solve the problem. Good luck and keep us updated!

Cheers,
Cassandra
Microsoft Windows Outreach team

 

[DaiB]

Thanks for the various replies. My system uses Win 7 as installed by Dell and all the files have been created by me either on the new PC or on the old XP PC and Windows Transfer used to move them over. As Windows tells me it can't find them when I try to delete them a second time indicates that Windows did indeed flag them as deleted. I will try a re-boot next time but XP never needed this; it always erased all evidence of a file to the user when deleted.

PS I'll try and correct 'Mhoterborad'! Yes, my sound card is part of the main board.

 

[richc46]

TY for the infrmation, try to keep up posted.

 

[rasputino]

This is an example:
I deleted the first one, but it didn't disappear, and I created the second one with the same name...

 

[UnderJonathan]

This is an example:
I deleted the first one, but it didn't disappear, and I created the second one with the same name...

Very strange, would you mind giving your system specs so we can help you better?

 

[Jacee]

See if FCleaner will clean them FCleaner - Home

FCleaner v1.3.1.621
- New feature 'Clean up deleted items from Windows Recycle Bin according to days automatically'
- New feature to show detailed analyzing/cleaning report of Windows Recycle Bin
- Improved the cleaners for Windows Recycle Bin
- Add new entries 'lbl_RecycleBin', 'lbl_RecycleBin2' and 'msg_RecycleBinEx' to language file
- Some other small tweaks

Ps ... don't mess with the registry using this program!

 

[mjf]

It can't hurt to run
sfc /scannow
from an elevated command prompt.

 

[UnderJonathan]

It can't hurt to run
sfc /scannow
from an elevated command prompt.

Just thought it would be nice to add a link, here's a guide on How to Open an Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 7

 

[HammerHead]

Check Disk

I would right click the disk in explorer and click properties and then click tools and schedule a disk check at next boot. I would then reboot.

Ignore, I see you have already done this.

 

[steve70611]

This is so bizarre. I am having the same issue. I am new here. I will try to provide all the information I have. I have a New Dell XPS 15Z, running Windows 7 Home Premium, Intel Core I7-2640m CPU @ 2.80 GHz, 8GB Memory. I love this machine except for this 1 very strange thing. I will take pictures and download them to my computer. I then transfer them from my laptop to an external hard drive. I usually just cut and paste but sometimes I will also copy and then delete. I will reboot my laptop. When I do a picture search, there are all the pictures for a while. I cannot open them or delete them again as it says WPV can’t find them. I see the picture as I search. This happens a lot. Eventually they go away but there are some pictures that when I delete them, I need them deleted right away!! Is this an indexing issue? I appreciate any help you can provide. Thank you

 

[mgp1964]

steve70611, you may want to start a new post as this is a extremly old one.
That said, it sounds like to me that what you are finding are the files that get put in the trash basket, if you delete a file it goes into the recycle folder and if you were to do a search for those files they would show up but you would not be able to open them because they are in the recycle bin, I hope that makes sense to you.
But you can change the way the recycle bin works and choose to have it delete files when deleted instead of being sent to the recycle bin.

 

[TryingToHelp]

Found a solution on another forum. The problem has something to do with using the sharing wizard for folders.

Find your folder options (type Folder Options in the Window's start button (bottom left of the task bar...you can probably get to it with Control Panel but this is fast). Click the View tab. Find Use Sharing Wizard and deselect it.

 

[tpanc13]

Found a solution on another forum. The problem has something to do with using the sharing wizard for folders.

Find your folder options (type Folder Options in the Window's start button (bottom left of the task bar...you can probably get to it with Control Panel but this is fast). Click the View tab. Find Use Sharing Wizard and deselect it.

Seriously. I have been fighting this for quite a while and had to turn it on (already had if off to see if it fixed my problem -- NOT) to finally see the file deleted disappear from explorer list without a refresh (F5)! Specifically:
I create a test.doc file in MY Documents folder. Could delete it, but it always continued to show in explorer file list until F5 refresh. Now, please note: my access to this was through LIBRARIES->Documents->test.doc. This always failed and required F5. However, if I accessed through User-> My Documents -> test.doc it WOULD disappear from explorer file list. I also originally had other issues with the access through LIBRARIES, such as, rename would not show new name until F5, EDIT (MSFT WORD) test.doc would show temp file ~test.doc until F5. As before, these problems only showed when looking at the list via LIBRARIES. The temp file showing was resolved when I changed Folder Options to NOT show hidden files. All the other problems essentially were resolved by turning off INDEXING (COMPUTER, RC drive, Properties, General Tab, uncheck "Allow...indexing.." The DELETE problem remained after this because I had the "Use Sharing..." OFF. When I checked it on, DELETEs now worked.

In summary, my solution to the DELETE, RENAME, MOVE was to STOP INDEXING. All other attempts at numerous sites were useless.I am on Windows 7 by the way.

 

[James1947]

I have a similar problem.

I was transferring a file between directories and cancelled the transfer.

I now have a file showing in the old directory when using Windows Explorer [WE] which cannot be deleted.

I have re-booted, run a chkdsk(sp) and no joy.

I cannot even delete the directory. (probably as WE cannot find the file in the directory to flag as deleted)

The directory was created by DownloadHelper in Firefox.

 

[andrew129260]

Try unlocker. It will delete any stuck file.

UNLOCKER 1.9.2 BY CEDRICK 'NITCH' COLLOMB

 

[UsernameIssues]

Unlocker is a good option here - just watch out for the junk that it tries to install.

 

[James1947]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I ran CClean, SuperAntispyware, MalwareBytes and Eset, with no change. At least I know it is not virus related.

I re-installed Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit software last night and this morning the file deleted properly.

I am a mod on another (unrelated) forum so appreciate the time taken by the forum to resolve these issues.