Missing File

[mattspeer01]

I have Windows 8.1 and was attempting to delete a folder from my MP3 directory on my computer. The folder is still showing up in my MP3 folder and will open (with nothing in it) when I double-click it. If I try to delete it again, Windows tells me the folder is not found. I can't seem to make it disappear from my MP3 folder. Going to properties for the folder just shows everything as invalid/non-existent.

Is there any way to get rid of a folder that doesn't exist but still shows up for some reason?

 

[ViRGE]

To get the obvious out of the way, what happens after you reboot?

 

[mattspeer01]

Nothing changes after a reboot

 

[Matt1970]

Try renaming the folder and then deleting it.

 

[mattspeer01]

I tried that, but it also doesn't work because it says the folder can't be found.

 

[Ketchup]

Windows 7 will do this to me from time to time, but a reboot usually fixes it. I wonder if removing the thumbnails through Disk Cleanup would fix this?

 

[mattspeer01]

I just tried disk cleanup and it didn't work. It didn't give me the option for thumbnails, just recycle bin and user files. This is annoying...seems like a simple thing to fix, yet I can't get it to go away.

 

[ninaholic37]

Is there any way to get rid of a folder that doesn't exist but still shows up for some reason?

If it isn't in a protected area, I'm guessing you could make a bootable USB stick with Linux on it, then boot into that, mount your hard drive, and delete the folder from it's file manager. Under certain circumstances Windows might just recreate the folder during startup, but I don't think that is the case here.

If it's in C:\Users\#yourname# somewhere (or some other area with a lock icon), and you're hellbent on deleting it, you can try creating a new user account with the same rank, then log into the new profile (or an existing admin account) then delete your original profile entirely (which should get rid of the folder as well). That will also delete all your program settings and mp3 files and everything else specifically linked to that profile unless you back everything up somewhere else though.

 

[CRCSUX]

Maybe try MoveFile http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897556

Allows you to schedule move and delete commands for the next reboot.

 

[denis280]

What if you try a sfc /scannow.wont hurt

 

[mattspeer01]

I have tried all these suggestions, still no luck.

 

[corkyg]

Try creating that folder - same name, same place. If it truly does not exist, the folder should be created. Then delete it.

 

[mattspeer01]

Try creating that folder - same name, same place. If it truly does not exist, the folder should be created. Then delete it.

That was one of the first things I tried. It ends up showing two of the exact same folder on the drive, one which is normal and I can modify and the other which doesn't exist.

 

[Sheep221]

save all other contents of its parent folder(where your current unlucky folder is located) and delete that one, you will get rid of it forever

 

[mattspeer01]

save all other contents of its parent folder(where your current unlucky folder is located) and delete that one, you will get rid of it forever

I thought this would work for sure, but it won't let me delete the parent folder because it can't find the unlucky folder within it.

 

[CRCSUX]

Use a windows cd and boot into recovery console. Try delete from there if you can see it.

 

[Sheep221]

I thought this would work for sure, but it won't let me delete the parent folder because it can't find the unlucky folder within it.

Than disk checking and defragmentation will allow you to delete it. (not sure if these tools are included in w8)

 

[VirtualLarry]

use a command prompt, do a "DIR /X" (I think that's it - to show 8.3 names. Then delete it with the 8.3 name.

 

[mattspeer01]

Still no luck with any of these suggestions. Since it is on my HDD with all my data, rather than my SSD with my OS/Programs, I am thinking of formatting the HDD as a last resort.