Why does Windows refuse to delete a user folder?

Roger at CCCC · 27th October 2004

A utility program that I was using created a folder inside My Pictures and now I can't delete it. I don't think there is a virus or other system abnormality, but I do think that the folder name has an illegal character in the name itself. I can enter and use the folder, but when I try to right click on the folder name and then try to delete it, I get the error message: "Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk." If I try to rename the folder, then I get the message: "Cannot rename file: Cannot read from the source file or disk." But if I select Open after a right click, the system functions normally. I did notice when another utility program tried to copy files within this folder, an error message indicated a blank space after the last character of the folder name and before the backslash in the front of the file name. That suggests to me that the folder name itself has a bad character at the end of it. So how do I delete this folder with an apparently bad character in the folder name? Thanks for any suggestions.

Paul · 28th October 2004

Login under the Administrator login, as your login profile which I presume you were in when you loaded the utility is probably locking this folder.

Check in the task manager under processes that the utility programme isn't running as this will probably lock the deletion. Best to uninstall the utility programme correctly though. But you could End Task from within the processed tab. Carefull not to end task needed processes though!

Try booting into safe mode and then delete the folder.

Roger at CCCC · 28th October 2004

Thanks Paul for your response. However, nothing works. I rebooted the system and am quite sure that the utility program is not now running. Also, I rebooted in safe mode, tried the deletion and got the same error message. I continue to think that the problem is that the folder name itself has a bad character in it and this is why the system will not delete it. I would appreciate any further suggestions.

surferdude2 · 28th October 2004

Try using MoveOnBoot. It's freeware and can handle a wide variety of stubborn files and folders. It marks them for deletion and does the job when you reboot. That get around most of the XP system objections.

After installing it, open the program and when you get the screen that allows you to type the name of the file or folder in, just drag the folder to that screen and the rest is a cake walk.

Edit: Don't be misled by the context menu that it integrates into the system via the right-click on any file. It is only available when clicking on files and not on folders. That causes some people to think that the program doesn't work on folders. That's not true. You just have to do them the way I mentioned above.

**bg9208** · 28th October 2004

H had a similar problem deleting a folder which had appeared unasked in a sub file to docs settings, administrator. Remembering my early windows days, I downloaded a trial copy of Fastlynx which is a file transfer programme which has the added benefit of showing all files including system and hidden and letting you delete the hijacking files. Used with care, it is a very useful tool. Not what is was designed for I'm sure and a bit like knocking a nail in with a screwdriver but it does the job.

Brian Owen

Roger at CCCC · 28th October 2004

Thanks for both responses, although neither suggestion worked. Both MoveOnBoot and FastLynx gave the same message "The system cannot find the file specified...."

However, what DID work was to use the RMDIR /S command in the DOS window to remove the folder that contained the problem subfolder. I did that and the whole thing disappeared. Then I did a CHKDSK to check the directory structure and everything seemed to be OK.

So the problem is solved. Thanks for your attention !!!

surferdude2 · 29th October 2004

hmm... That's strange since you would have to be removing the directory named "My Pictures" since that's the one that contained the "undeletable" folder. Is that what actually happened? Won't you be needing the "My Pictures" folder or is that not a problem. Perhaps it was recreated.

I thought it was a System folder and protected by XP so as to not let it be deleted.

In any case, MoveOn Boot should have been able to delete the same folder that you did. Your results fly in the face of common logic. You were able to delete a folder that was either system locked or otherwise protected and a program that was designed to do that couldn't.

All's well that end well I suppose but it's often hard to make sense out of XP and its ways. Thanks for the update.

Best regards.

Roger at CCCC · 29th October 2004

Actually, I did NOT try to remove "My Pictures" with MoveOnBoot. I only tried to use MoveOnBoot to remove the problem folder itself, and gave up using MoveOnBoot when it didn't work there. In any event, the system has not complained about what I did so far. And I tend not to use the system supplied folders for anything anyway just because I'm not quite sure about their characteristics, so, no, it's not a problem for me to remove "My Pictures."

Michelle · 29th October 2004

Go to the command prompt in the start menu and type CHKDSK /F.
The system will usually tell you that the action will take place on reboot.
Once the chkdsk is run, the file ACL (access control list) is reset and you should be able to change file / folder properties or delete the file / folder.
NOTE: Some viruses, and programs will relock the files by setting gargage in the ACL soon after booting, so be quick.
M.

surferdude2 · 30th October 2004

Michelle, I have never heard of that concept before. I'll be interested to see if anyone is able to use it with good results. I can't imagine how I could test it otherwise but in the mean time I'll add it to my list of methods for these stubborn files. Thanks for your input.

Quote:

1.) Try it in Safe Mode first.

2.) Next, see if you can rename the file so that you change the extension to something that will release it from whatever has it locked; use .txt for example. Then try manipulating it afterward. If it works, then you can change the name back if you just wanted it moved.

3.) If no joy, get MoveOnBoot . Install it. It's a small freeware program that has the power to Delete, Copy, or Rename a file or group of files when you reboot and it's inactive. There are several ways to use it, here are some examples:
Run it to do the copy first to the folder of your choice and then run it again to do a delete if you wish. OR run it and rename the file and you may be able to manipulate it as you please with drag/drop etc. Then you can rename it with the right click and you'll be set. Try different methods as you prefer depending on your goal. It works on Folders as well as files but only by using the drag/drop into the main program screen.

4.) If still no joy, try taking ownership of the file. To do that follow the instructions given here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...en-us%3B308421

5.) If still no joy, create a new administrator account and log off your present account and log into it. Then try moving the file onto the desktop of this new account. Then log off and go back to your original account. That may get the file to an inactive state so you can manipulate it from the new location while logged to the old identity. If you just want to delete it, then delete the old account and all files that it contains.

6.) If still no joy, run Task Manager and do an "End Process" on explorer.exe. The Desktop shell will disappear. This usually releases most problem files from whatever has a grasp on them. You'll have to use the toolbar menu of Task Manager to do your work and when you're finished, you can use the File > New Task(run) to start explorer.exe back up again and get the Desktop shell running again. If you run into difficulty getting explorer.exe back up, just click Shutdown > Restart and you'll get it all back.

Note:

On Windows NT/2000/XP:
Open Windows Task Manager. Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC and click the Processes tab.
In the list of running programs, select EXPLORER.EXE.
Right-click EXPLORER.EXE and click End Process Tree.

On Windows 9x/ME:
Download and install a third-party process viewer like Process Explorer.
Run process viewer,
In the list of running programs, select and terminate the process EXPLORER.EXE.
Close the process viewer.

7.) Run a "Process Detector" software that will give some information on what program has the data that you need to manipulate locked and disable it.

8.) If you have a FAT32 file storage system, boot to a dos boot disk and you can use ordinary dos commands to manipulate the files or folders.

9.) If you have a NTFS file storage system, boot to the install CD and invoke the Recovery Console. Use the command line mode provided to delete the file.

10.) Go to the command prompt in the start menu and type CHKDSK /F.
The system will usually tell you that the action will take place on reboot.
Once the chkdsk is run, the file ACL (access control list) is reset and you should be able to change file / folder properties or delete the file / folder.
NOTE: Some viruses, and programs will relock the files by setting gargage in the ACL soon after booting, so be quick.

Note. I'll stop short of recommending that you use a 3rd party tool to convert your system from NTFS to FAT32 in order to be able to manipulate files from a dos prompt but it IS worth mentioning in passing for EXTREME cases.