Can't delete folders, Windows 10

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arcon

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#260264 18-Nov-2019 12:50

Windows 10 Pro, I have some folders from a client which I can't delete. Tried opening elevated prompt and doing del/f and rmdir, both say "can't find the specified file or folder". Folders are there lol... trying to rename the folders it says they are open in another program... don't think so because I killed explorer process before doing prompt commands. There are no files in the folders... trying to uncheck "read only" on the folder properties throws an error saying the system couldn't find the specified file ???

Any suggestions?

timmmay

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#2355686 18-Nov-2019 12:55

Safe mode? Sometimes if it's deeply nested it helps to reduce the folder and file names before you delete them. I run into this sometimes too, I have a thread about it from a year or two ago.

Oblivian

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#2355691 18-Nov-2019 13:02

Are they on the desktop per chance? And can you create new folders at the location. But not rename /delete them?

We had a raft of machines at a site do closer to what I describe. Had to go registry, nuke some fairly core folder properties and re-import them. Turns out it was some sort of update that changed the way explorer handled folders.

Solution 3 sorted it (restart required as load-on-start settings)

https://appuals.com/fix-cant-rename-folder-on-windows-10/

1101

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#2355701 18-Nov-2019 13:17

Ive had this , often , when copying/backing up files to another PC

Often its things like files/folders with path/filename too long , or a few files needing you to change ownership , or a file/sub-folder that Win simply doesnt like .
Use a filemanager (eg total commander) with option to view all files to see whats actually in there

arcon

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#2355705 18-Nov-2019 13:24

Oblivian:

Are they on the desktop per chance? And can you create new folders at the location. But not rename /delete them?

We had a raft of machines at a site do closer to what I describe. Had to go registry, nuke some fairly core folder properties and re-import them. Turns out it was some sort of update that changed the way explorer handled folders.

Solution 3 sorted it (restart required as load-on-start settings)

https://appuals.com/fix-cant-rename-folder-on-windows-10/

Not on desktop. I can create files/folders at the location. Its recurring folders all empty. Some really weird behavior in the deepest folder, If I make a text file and drag it into the deepest folder, it just creates a copy of that folder, but the txt file disappears lol. Then if I delete one of the folders (can only delete one), the txt file reappears inside the undeletable folder. :/

Does running that registry link cause any other noticeable changes in the system..?

arcon

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#2355709 18-Nov-2019 13:30

Also three's an error on the Security tab on folder properties says info missing or unavailable

Lias

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#2355717 18-Nov-2019 13:40

I had this the other day with an invalid folder name (it ended with a period, which the file system supports but the Windows shell/UI does not)

Couldn't delete it, rename it, etc. Solution was to use 7-zip's file manager to move the contents out and then nuke it.

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Oblivian

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#2355878 18-Nov-2019 16:06

OK that sounds more like a possible NTFS failure. Either the accounts with R/W (like system and onwer and so on) have likely gone awol. Or were too restrictive to start with.

Might need to go down the icacls road. Which can be a dangerous one...

https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/take-ownership-of-file-or-folder/

Or, stick it in a linux box and kiss it goodbye :)

arcon

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#2356915 18-Nov-2019 18:53

FIXED! It appears there was a leading space in some of the folders names... dunno how they got there lol. the only solution I found was:

rd [absolute path] " folder\"