Re: Cannot delete files

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: R. C. White (RCWhite_at_msn.com)
Date: 02/05/04 

Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2004 16:34:11 -0600

Hi, Steel.

There HAS to be an 8.3 filename! (I think. I'm an accountant, not a techie
or CS expert, but I've spent years prowling around in HD directories, a byte
at a time. Of course, that was in FAT; I never learned much about NTFS.)

SFN is a slight misnomer in that even a 3-letter filename can be illegal if
it contains an illegal character, even a space. In such case, the system
will automatically generate a legal filename that does not include the
illegal character. Dir /x will show those legal filenames in a column
before the LFNs. For instance, when you ask for Dir /x in the Root of a
WinXP volume, you should get a listing that includes the folder "Program
Files". In a column between the file size and "Program Files", you should
see "PROGRA~1". If you then type "rd progra~1", it will tell you Access
Denied. But, if you add the /s switch, it will ask, "Are you sure (Y/N)?"
I've not been brave enough to tell it Yes on THIS folder, but on just about
any other, it will wipe out the whole tree.

Your first post said:
>contain illeagal characters for example "W
>NOD.EE"

When I use Ctrl+F3 to see the actual content of your post, that quote
translates to:
"W
>N=17O=12D.E=18E"

In Windows Explorer, I created a New folder named "N?O?D.E?E". (The
characters don't look quite the same in this email font; I used the Alt key
+ the Num pad keys to create them.) Then I went to the "DOS" window and
typed Dir /x. The LFN on that line looked weird (a still different set of
characters), but the SFN was "NOD~1.EE". When I typed rd N?O?D.E?E, using
the Alt+key combos, I got the same error message you did ("...syntax is
incorrect"). But when I typed rd nod~1.ee, that folder was erased and did
not appear in the next Dir.

Try the Dir /x command again, looking for the SFN column between the file
size and the LFN. Many of the SFNs will probably include the ~ character,
and they will probably be in ALL CAPS. Use those SFNs with the Del command
to delete a file or RD <SFN> to delete a folder.

RC 

-- 
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
rc@corridor.net
Microsoft Windows MVP
<anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:b05701c3ec24$d818af20$a001280a@phx.gbl...
sorry mate this doesn't appear to work
it seems there r no SFN to any of the files
and when i try to delete the whole directory using its
SFN it returns "the filename, directory name, or volume
label syntax is incorrect
>-----Original Message-----
>Hi, Steel.
>
>In the "DOS" window, use the Dir command with /x, the
switch that reveals
>the SFN (Short File Name, also known as the 8.3
filename).  Then use del
><SFN> to delete individual files, or rd <SFN> /s to
remove the entire
>directory tree, including all files and folders.
Deltree is not available
>in WinXP, but the /s switch with rd does just about the
same thing.
>
>As usual in a "DOS" window, type any command followed
by /? to see a
>mini-help file listing all the switches available with
that command.  For
>example:  Dir /?
>
>RC
>
>"Steel" <thesteelman@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:a97901c3ebcb$ea27a120$a401280a@phx.gbl...
>I have two folders on my system which contain files, when
>i try to delete them xp return with "Cannot delete
>file:Cannot read from source file or disk". These files
>contain illeagal characters for example "W
>NOD.EE",also when ever i use a virus scan the
>scan freezes and goes over and over the same file, I've
>tried to delete these files from MSDOS prompt with del
>deltree rm, but to no avial. even tried copying them to
>another drive....doesn't work
>Please help
>Steel

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