Directories/Files that can't be deleted

[donerb]

I am having a problem with several directories that refuse to be deleted.
The following situation occurs in two different partitions:

D:\Dir1\Dir2\Dir3...\DIR8\ (each offending directory is listed in CAPS in Explorer)

Upon clicking on the Dir8 in Explorer, I receive the error:

D:\Dir1\Dir2\Dir3...\DIR8\ refers ti a location that is unavailable. It could be on a hard
drive on this computer, or a network. Check to make sure that the disk is properly inserted,
or that you are connected to the Internet or your network and try again. If it still cannot
be located, the information might have been moved to a different location.

Microsoft Knowledge Base reports a problem similar to this when creating a folder
called 'Desktop' on your Desktop and provides a workaround. Unfortunately, that
workaround does not adress my situation. Scankdisk, chkdsk, and norton are no
help thus far. Short of reformating the drive, is there any way to delete these
offending directories?

And a freebie: What is the highest rated memory that an Athlon XP (133/266) system
can handle? I know it is prescribed PC2100, but for obsolescence sake, is there a
higher rated memory I can buy for use in this current and Athlon-based systems?

Thanks,
Don

 

[Limey6413]

When I have a file or Dir that windows refuses to delete, I open a command prompt window and do it manually the old way... DELTREE baby.

 

[eklass]

reboto and try.. if no workee, boot to safe mode and try... still no workee, boot off windows disc into dos prompt... still no workee? format c: | echo y

 

[Smilin]

couple things to try:

Try deleting by short-name. Do a "Dir /x" to see the short names.
Try using "rd /s" or "deltree" to delete the whole tree from the top.

Question though:
I assume these directories aren't actually called "dir1" etc. Are there any illegal filenames used? Names with trailing spaces, illegal characters or reserved words (like com1, lpt1 etc)??
If so I've got another hack that might help, lemme know.


For your bonus question:
You can put even PC3500 in that thing if you want...As long as it's DDR it will be backwards compatible. If you buy any more memory you do NOT want to get any more pc2100. You won't be able to use it in your next box. DO checkout some of the lower latency stuff though. Some good CAS2 memory can help your system speed a lot in certain apps.

 

[donerb]

Forgot I posted this! (oooops)

Followup:

The offending directories still exist. Some are deep-level, others are only 2nd or 3rd level.

An explicit example:

F:\!!NEW SONGS (Unsorted)\MOBY

rmdir /s returns: The system cannot find the path specified.

Now, this directory, and the other directories like it, did NOT start life as an all caps
directory. They ended up this way after attempting to move files and the copy/move
crapping out in mid-process (or perhaps at the very end). As I mentioned, no disk tools
are helping right now.

Rebooting to command prompts doesn't help either, unfortunately. Looks like I
may need to move data to a second drive and reformat, but what a pain in the
a** for just a few directories!

 

[Smilin]

I assume you tried my above fix and it didn't work.

Now try this one:

rd /s \\.\C:\path (space after the "rd" and after the "/s", no others)

substitute your drive letter and path in the above...keep the syntax correct otherwise though..I know it's wierd but it bypasses reserved-word and illegal filename checks. If you have a trailing space in the folder name you'll have to enclose the name in quotes and include the trailing spaces.

See MS kbase areticle Q120716 for more info.

Also you should probably run a chkdsk /f before you begin to make sure you don't have any problems in your disk structure.

 

[dnoyeb]

I had this problem. It was files. I could move them somewhat, but not delete them. I reformatted...