WIN2K File Removal Problem

jArgHA

OK I've got a Windows 2000 box with a particular directory I want to remove. When I try to SHIFT-DELETE the folder, I get the

"Cannot delete [filename] : Cannot find the specified file.
Make sure you specify the correct path and filename."

error. The files in the folder are obviously corrupt, I cannot rename them, move them or delete them.

Does anyone have any tips on removing a corrupt folder without reformatting the whole drive ?

Cheers
jAH

hussey

did you try it in dos??

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

hussey

sorry

I had a similar problem a while ago
so i booted up using a resue disk
went in to c: and did a delete from there

tribble

Try scandisc - should find and repair the damage allowing you to delete the folder...

b

java

Make sure the files or folder arent read only in properties

jArgHA

Thanks for the responses,

I have tried to remove the folder in dos, but there's about 15 subfolders, some with blank names (folder called ' ') which dos will not recognize.

Does anyone know what 'Disk Clenup' and 'Disk Defragmenter' are used for in Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools ?

Slán,
jAH

milltown

If so, deltree the folder and it will take everything inside with it.

MarVeL

You probably are already the owner but if not try taking ownership of the files/folder. That may do the trick.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

milltown

Get her!

theciscokid

deltree is a powerful ally,

but try ctrl+alt+del, and look for a corresponding process that could be ended which will allow you to delete the folder,

also go to run, type regedit , then highlight the computer icon,

press ctrl+f , type similar search strings to look for, ex. name of folder or maybe some contents then delete them all,

should work everytime

GUI

if its ntfs ..
ntfs chdisk scan will remove it if it is a corrupt directory

it verifies indexes and sectors they point to

spongebob

But y'all, IF it is a normally hidden system directory such as \system32\drivers then there is a backup in the \dllcache directory which cannot be deleted.

in addition if you DO appear to delete them from \system32\drivers they mysteriously come back again.... from dllcache of course.

if not a system directory then chkdsk /f /r at the dos command should deal with the issue (during your next reboot)

M

Ruaidhri

get your hands on a bootdisk ( a *nix one with NTFS support)
use what ever delete tool they have on the disk. good luck with it

jArgHA

Milltown was along the right lines with the 'deltree' command. This command does not exist on Windows 2000 Server however, but the equiavlent would be the 'rd' command.

Simply running
>RD /S /Q <Drive:>\FolderName

Removed the folder, all of it's subdirectories and files within those subdirectories - it's easy when u know how !

Thanks for all the help lads,
jAH