Solved windows explorer shows folders/files that do not exist

[ldickens]

Windows explorer shows folders/files (example: C:\Windows.old) that I wish to delete.When I try to delete them, I get message: "Could not find this item. This is no longer located in C:\. Verify item's location and try again.

How do I get rid of them?

 

[Brink]

Hello Larry,

See if refreshing (F5) the window will remove it if it's just a ghost folder/file.

If not, then restart the computer to see if it's still there afterwards.

If still not, then see if you may be able to use the free program Unlocker to remove it.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[ldickens]

Tried F5...restart...CCleaner...no good.

Downloaded "Unlocker" per suggestion - Brink

Worked beautifully! Great program...looks like it can solve several problems I have seen crop up.

Thank you Brink!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[BJEvS]

CHROME blocks UNLOCKER as malicious and/or phishing software

This is for member Brink,

When I try to install UNBLOCKER, CHROME blocks it as malicious and/or phishing software. I've attached a screen print from CHROME pop-up.

Do you know why? Is there another freeware product that you know of to use? There are a few CHROME bookmarks folders in my IE favorites folder I cannot delete.

Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello BJEvS,

It's a false positive. Unlocker is a safe program to use if downloaded from the source link I posted above.

 

[BJEvS]

Thanks Brink,

That's the link I used. I'll take your word and select "dismiss". Maybe I'll contact my CHROME support friend in India, but it would be comforting to now why this false positive occurred. Any hints?

 

[Brink]

Most likely it's because it's an .exe file that's not digitally signed. That usually get's flagged by default.

 

[BJEvS]

Well to get around it I have to remove the box checked in CHROME SETTINGS "Show advanced settings", under Privacy section "Enable phishing and malware protection". I thought I could just select "Dismiss". But UNLOCKER does not show installed in CP > Programs and Features.

This seems like ignoring a fail-safe function.

I'm sure you've used it without noticing any problems. And Norton's installed antivirus software, plus using their URL checker, neither found it as a threat.

Bugs me still though. That's why I'll contact CHROME. If I find out it is otherwise a problem and specifically blocked, I'll inform you and the forum here.

Carry on and thanks.

 

[Brink]

I look forward to hearing what they say.

 

[Callender]

Chrome Malware Alert

It's not unusual to get false positive alerts when downloading files using Chrome.

Quote from SecurityXploded:

Recently Chrome has introduced new feature (also called 'Safe Browsing') to alert you on malicious internet downloads. However due to faulty implementation, this feature often mark good files as malicious and block you from downloading it. On top of that, this annoying feature is useless as most of us already have antivirus on our system to get rid of those malicious files.

 

[BJEvS]

Finished the install and set phishing and malware protection rechecked in CHROME SETTINGS.

I have a suspicion as to perhaps why CHROME may have blocked this software, if they specified it specifically (not sure if the have some database, etc. to do this type of block).

As with many of these so called "free" products, the install piggy-backs other software into the install. If you miss the "skip" option, you get it all. Who knows how safe the other stuff?

I get why this is done - pays the bills. But if you say it's free, then stop these surreptitious installs. Do free software as a community service, not as a backdoor to get funding. Many of these free products do this and it is wrong because some installers might miss this SKIP method to reject piggy-backed software. Or as some installs do, use a CUSTOM install to reject, but the "normal" install has "Recommended", like many are used to seeing with Windows, etc. Misleading as I see it.

Maybe its the residual 60's hippie that inspires me to comment.

FYI: It did its work with a few exceptions. Could not unlock/delete 2 folders. Have to see of a reboot clears them. They still show in Windows, but only if I do a "back arrow"; there is no Favorites Bar folder - gone from the main Favorites folder - don't get this issue?! However, IE shows the 2 folders in its browser Favorites Bar. Like these are still known by some part of Windows. Perhaps the author of UNLOCKER, Cedrick Collomb, et al, knows of this issue.

BJEvS

PS. I just noticed the comparison list of other products that also perform UNLOCKER's function(s).