Folders Hang and Refuse Deletion

In Netscape 7.2 (but was same problem before upgrading), one folder hangs (hour glass) when I try to click on it. I believe this started when I inadvertently had two folders with the same name. I now have several such folders from attempts to rename and then delete, some of which worked. Some didn't. Is there a way to successfully delete them?

Also is there a way to repair or recover email messages inside a problem folder?

 

I ran into ( created ) this problem a long time ago and for the same reason.

The only way I got anything done was to make sure that any program that may be using the folder ( or files within it ) was shut down. And also had to make sure that they did not restart if Windows was, At least not until I got things fixed up.

It is still that way in Windows. If a file within the folder is being used by a running program it cannot be deleted.

BillyBob

 

Questions like yours come up in some newsgroup or daily. In fact, when the question comes up, it obvious that the user does not know the profile location .
All your personal data, bookmarks and mail, among other is located in your profile, and rarely, if ever the Hard Drive files/folders disappear. This is to protect the user from random, and improper treatment.
Since there is no information provided. "One folder" does not tell me anything, but nothing is lost if all the manipulations were done within the program, and not the hard drive. At this stage of the game, after establishing that all is well on the Hard Drive, I would create a new profile . But, it does not work if the user does what is thought to make sense. One has to work according to rules.
Please, read up the two articles.

 

brenda,

How did you manage to name two folders with the same name? In trying to recreate your problem, Netscape 7.2 will not allow me to name two files with the same name. I get a prompt that there is already a file by that name, and to choose another...

At any rate, yes, you can retrieve messages from the problem folders. First, and most importantly, backup/copy your Mail Folder before starting the edit.

With Netscape closed:
Open Windows Explorer and navigate to your Mail Account Folder
Open the problem folder and highlight the entire contents of the file
Right Click, and select: "Copy "

Next:
Open a folder which isn't problematic, or to which you want to copy the messages
Scroll to the bottom of the page
Leave one blank space
Now, Right Click and select: "Paste "

When you open Netscape, the messages from the problem folder will appear in the folder you selected.

If you were successful, then close Netscape, open Windows Explorer, and delete the problem folder. Once you have everything in order in your Mail, then make a backup of your entire Profiles folder.

Ramona