Solved Internet Explorer 9 - Favorites snag

[kwil]

Hello...
I'm running Win7 (64-bit) with Internet Explorer 9.
I've been cleaning up my Favorites list, deleting no longer needed entries.
However, one stubbornly refuses to go. I'd created a folder to place the entries in and the entries themselves have deleted but left me with an empty folder I cannot delete.
All I get is a window saying 'cannot be found at this location'. I tried going into Users>My Name>Favorites>then trying deletion from there.
But no joy....
Also tried renaming with a view to deletion...but IE wouldn't let me rename...same window as above.
All this is more of an irritation than anything else but I feel I must be missing something simple...and want to know what to do in order to update my own 'knowledge base'.
Anyone know if I can 'forcibly' delete this annoyance?
Many thanks

 

[quickdraw2011]

Welcome back to Sevenforums!

Boot into Safe Mode and try to remove.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/69585-safe-mode.html?ltr=S

QuickDraw

 

[kwil]

Hi quickdraw....thanks for taking time to reply.
Went into Safe Mode>Users>Favorites>still no joy. Folder just refuses to budge.
Now this is really going to annoy me till I find out what's going on!
Any other ideas?

Regards

 

[quickdraw2011]

OK, what is the folder name, and it's location?

Are you trying to remove a protected file, or Service that is currently running?

 

[kwil]

Hi quickdraw...
The folder name is 'NEW COMPUTER PURCHASE'
At 'Users>Favorites': right clicking folder>Properties gives location as: C:\Users\My Name\Favorites.

Trying to delete it brings up a window saying: ''no longer located' here!

I don't see how the folder can be 'protected' or how this attempt at deletion can be affecting a service that is running. Anyway of checking this?

In Safe Mode: I also tried dragging folder to Trash bin....no luck.

I'm stumped..

 

[quickdraw2011]

I edited my earlier comments. I was tired and about ready for bed. Moving on.

Did you try using a registry cleaner to remove it.

Download CCleaner, update, scan and fix. Online help link, bottom left corner of program.

CCleaner - Download.com

 

[kwil]

Hi quickdraw....appreciate your patience and time on this little irritation. Hope you're all bright and bush-tailed now!
Don't know about you, but I do like to find out things like why this damn folder isn't deleting. It's empty, so there really should be no problem.

Already have CCleaner, run it regularly...In 'Applications', all Internet Explorer options ticked....Doesn't remove the offending folder.

I also tried going into Command Prompt: C:Users\My Name\dir to see if I could remove it from there
It lists 'Favorites' but I can't dig down into the Favorites folder to get at 'NEW COMPUTER PURCHASE'....GRRR!

I also right-clicked the folder>Properties>Security tab to check if it's being inadvertently 'shared'.
I got a window stating: 'the requested security information is either unavailable or can't be displayed'...double grrr!
So, square one looms again!
Any further suggestions?
Many thanks

 

[quickdraw2011]

Yeah, this is a difficult one. Is it also listed in the Favorite's Bar? If so, try deleting from there.

 

[kwil]

Hi quickdraw...listed but doesn't delete from there either...oh dear, oh dear...

 

[A Guy]

Hello kwil, looks like you lost your helper

Try this:

Start> In search box type cmd> Right click on cmd.exe in results above and choose Run as administrator

In command prompt type

CD "C:\Users\(your user name here)\Favorites\NEW COMPUTER PURCHASE"

Enter

Now type

RMDIR /S "C:\Users\(your user name here)\Favorites\NEW COMPUTER PURCHASE"

Enter

Type Y for yes when prompted if you really want to do it.

Let us know if that got it

A Guy

 

[kwil]

Hi 'A Guy'....
Thanks for the reply. Looked too promising to be true.
Got to the Yes/No part with fingers crossed...but result: 'couldn't find the file specified'

Regards

 

[A Guy]

I can only assume that the folder in favorites points elsewhere, but where? You might try d/l Everything, and do a search for that file name. It's a puzzler. A Guy

 

[kwil]

Thanks again, 'A Guy'
I have a similar piece of search software, but I downloaded 'Everything' and ran it...
All it came up with was the location of the offending folder....Same place as always: in Favorites etc....
All this really is small stuff I know, but now it's more academic exercise than anything else...
Got to be some way of getting round this...and possibly helping others with similar Favorites deletion problems...

Maybe someone else has a solution?

Regards

 

[A Guy]

Let's try to see if CMD sees it as being in Favorites

Open an advanced command prompt as above> Type

cd /d %USERPROFILE%\Favorites

Enter

Then type

dir/ad

Enter

Does the offending folder still show? If so, type

attrib /s /d NEW COMPUTER PURCHASE

Enter

See if cmd says it is in Favorites. If so...I'm not giving up, it's just a thinker...

It's possible that you could download a linux distro, like Knoppix, and burn it to a cd. Then run the live cd to navigate to the favorites folder and see if you can delete it outside of windows. Although the issue isn't a file that windows won't let you delete, but one that windows doesn't see as existing.

A Guy

 

[kwil]

Hi Guy
After, 'dir/ad': offending folder still shows in Favorites
After 'attrib' etc, info showing: 'Parameter format not correct'
I tried a few times, double-checking spelling etc, but still getting the above, so could progress no further....grrr!

Regards

 

[A Guy]

If you put the correct spaces in attrib /s /d NEW COMPUTER PURCHASE, then command cannot find the location. I will ask the Gurus if anyone has any other ideas. A Guy

 

[profdlp]

I've read through the thread twice (and I'm surprised none of the things you have tried worked - they are good suggestions), so sorry if I missed this.

If you haven't tried any of these, they are quick and easy (and hopefully worth a shot):

1) Try making a new folder and dragging the troublemaker into it, then see if you can delete the new folder (and hopefully its contents). I know this is Internet Explorer, but this is an old trick which sometimes works in Windows Explorer.

2) Try putting a new shortcut in the stubborn folder and see if that makes any difference.

3) Export all your favorites, then try to delete the main favorites folder. Recreate it, then import, then cross your fingers.

 

[kwil]

Hi profdlp...thanks for the input
Tried 1 & 2...no luck
Exporting - IE9 'Help' states:
Click the Favorites button, click the arrow next to the Add to Favorites button, and then click Import and Export.
There is NO arrow my 'next to Add To Favorites'...so no menu selection.

I tried 'attrib' as above etc again adding 'del NEW COMPUTER PURCHASE'....didn't work.

Tried creating a folder of same name in Firefox & Chrome, then exporting it to IE in the hope it would try and replace original folder. Again, no joy!

Just a passing thought: can IE9 be deleted then re-created?

Anyway, the puzzle lives on....maybe I'll just forget it and stick to Firefox...

Regards

 

[profdlp]

How about running a Disk Check? If something is still showing up as "there" but can't be found, that might do it.

 

[A Guy]

You can remove IE9 if you installed it. That is, if it didn't come preinstalled. You will then revert to IE8, and can update to IE9 again.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/112121-internet-explorer-9-uninstall.html

A Guy