How do you delete a file that doesn't exists? Windows (Naturally)

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cemster

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Okay here is my new experience about nondeletable files....

There are few types of files that creeping up in Windows computers that you can not delete..
1. The classic one: The name is too long to delete or move or change the name etcetera. These are relatively very easy. You just shorten the names basically.
2. The 'Can not delete the file' one or the other reason...
3. This is new for me and the weirdest of them all: The folder is there and files inside but when you try to delete it it says "The system can not find the file!"

So it doesn't exists as far as OS is concern! Yet it sits there and strangely enough you can change the name of this non existent folder!!!

I couldn't find a solution for this last one that actually works...

[strike]The Unlocker does not work at all, not anymore. With windows 8.1 64 bit anyway...[/strike]

My experience with Unlocker was true it didn't work on anything I throw at it except this one! On this occasion it DID work!!!

So sorry for misleading info....
 
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cemster

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Thank you Hellfire..

You links did help. The second one suggested to delete the folder in Dos mode to use RMDIR command but with Dir /q/s..
Which gives list of 'Short names' and then delete the folder with the first command using the shorten name...

Which worked on file on desktop. But I had the same one in a 8TB HDD and strangely enough I could not get the short name on that disk so I couldn't erase it!
But then the first link suggested Unlocker and apparently that solved that problem which gave me courage to try it even though Unlocker did not work on any occasion with Win 8.1 before. And you know what it did work!

By the way nothing else that was suggested on both links did not erased the file in 8TB HDD...

Thank you
 
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cemster

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Yes they are all gone. Two methods. The first one was deleted from desktop with command prompt. But On the 8 TB disk drive, because I couldn't get directory with short names, that method failed. In that instance I rediscovered the Unlocker. :)

The two strange things is that the Unlocker didn't help me with windows 8.1 with any other problem but this one and where all the other methods or applications failed.
The second strange thing is the was the nondeletable folder behaved. It allowed being moved in the same disk drive, it allowed name change but no delete or moving out of the disk drive...

Is there any explanation to that? I am doubtful...

Anyways thanks again..
 
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Hellfire13

Hellfire13

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to put it in perspective...



From: cemster

Sent on: August 20, 2016 10:41 AM
Hi, you have no idea how much I am looking forward to resolve the issue but incidentally I have not being able to do so due to other earthly pressing issues that paralyzed me in every possible way...

And now on top of it I have a whole another issue that took the priority among the emergencies I am dealing with... (suspense music here)

as yesterday I am commissioned to write 10 minutes soundtrack to a little documentary which seemingly would take course to a feature documentary, so I am told!

But now all of a sudden... well right after a 64 bit OS update that is, all of my audio drivers decide to not function at all and evidently it is going to be very hard to write music for a film in a Beethoven mode...

Anyways, I just wanted to let you know where I am at and taking the opportunity to thank you for your attitude. That's the way I think.
I will resolve that issue for my own sanity anyway... It's the life in the way at the moment...

Better late than never... Right ;)

cheers
C
 
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cemster

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cheers Hellfire

But due to the works station etiquette :) I do not have roll back set up...

And Actually I am not sure if the win update is the responsible for this at all.. It was a wild and educated guess but nevr the less it was a guess...

And now MY UPS have blown a battery part or something so I have no power as we speak. Not on my WS anyway...

I will as soon as my UPS back, attempt to upgrade Bios and all the mobo stuff and we shall see what it is... I hope...

Thank you...
 
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cemster

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Hey there, so I got the fried UPS replacement and did all all-around Bios update and all the mobo stuff, nothing changes.


I do have a clone disk as I mentioned before and I booted up to see if I could get those HDD drivers and other audio drivers that might be missing...
I couldn't make any difference.

It bums me out that the clone is not in an admirable status, so I wish I could find a way to replace my Device Driver data with the clone's data...

So now I am wondering what if I update the clone disk for windows and what not and than find a way to replace registry, would that work? I wonder... I said that!
 
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Hellfire13

Hellfire13

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well...initially u never mentioned it is a workstation...rules changes there dramatically...
this topic started somewhere else and eventually rolled off to a different sector...
it ll be better if u do a clean legit installation and we take issues along case by case...


also ""So now I am wondering what if I update the clone disk for windows and what not and than find a way to replace registry, would that work?"...
can u elaborate on that pls???
 
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cemster

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I agree but to my defense I wasn't steering it to the new direction, but end up stumbling in it anyway... :)

I moved on to a new system and setting it up with Roll Back! So no more "where the crazy bird go?" or "how to get back to the normal!?" type of questions regarding the WINDOWZz ,hopefully will stay away from me... :no:

But here is a little info about the original question of this post:

I managed to create a nondeletable file all by my self...
Here is how it happened:

I took a picture of the screen. and it didn't opened in a editing program that I wanted to use. So I opened it with Paint! And try to convert save as, stuff like that. At one point I changed the designated application to open one of those saved image files to another application. And Nothing worked so I tried to DELETE it! There it was "can not find the file blah blah!"...

So I changed to the original back the file's Master application in this case; 'Paint' , And Voila the file was erasable again...
But of course this is one scenario that this thing might happen. I am afraid there many freaky versions out there...

cheers

 
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cemster

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Okay So it seems like I might have found THE PERFECT SOLUTION! Which takes care of all related problems..

Yes! It is an applcation: LockHUmter a free 32/64 tool.
It is a right click on the file and from drop down menu you choose "What's locking this file"

Pretty nifty...
 
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