Unable to Delete Empty Folders; Tried many fixes

[Humdinger]

I have a folder with subfolders that I have been totally unable to delete. The folders all have 0 bytes of data in them. I can rename them, move them, etc. but cannot delete them. The folders are unique in that their names are in blue print instead of black as are all other folders on the hard drive. They are "read only" files and Properties says I have full administative rights over them, yet they do not respond to any attempt to remove the read only setting. If I try to delete them, I get a "file not found in this location" notification from Windows. If I open a command prompt and manually try to detele them using the DOS command language, I still get the "file not found" response. I've tried Malwarebytes' file assasin, and other similar type programs. If I try to use the Windows open box to tell File Assasin where the file is, the file shows on the directory list but cannot be entered into the "open file" box for it to be identified by File Assasin. This folder was obviously affected by the Windows software security updates downloaded automatically by my computer on 11/22/10 shortly after upgrading my operating system to Windows 7 from Vista. I even tried the Security Fix recommended for KB980408, which was supposed to make some registry entry changes. Still can't remove these folders. How annoying! Help! None of the third party file removal freeware is able to work on these folders because they can't find them even though they're there.

 

[richc46]

Try unlocker
for 32 bit
http://www.filehippo.com/download_unlocker/

This is also a good read
http://winhlp.com/node/39

 

[Humdinger]

Unlocker worked where everything else I tried did not. Thank you Rich. My only issue was that Unlocker forces the user to accept the Bing Toolbar in your browser or installation stops. Unlocker did remove the unwanted folders. I had to go to the control panel uninstall programs in order to then remove the Bing Toolbar from my browser.

 

[richc46]

Thanks for the kind words, rep, and telling me that I have helped. Glad to be here for you.

 

[richc46]

I think that there was a choice for the toolbar, but its gone now. Good luck