Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (
More info?)
Hi, Mike.
You're welcome. And thanks for the report back. It should help others with
the same problem who might be reading this thread.
RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
rc@corridor.net
Microsoft Windows MVP
"mg" <mg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:93336FF9-7A28-4245-8E18-A28A37BC27D3@microsoft.com...
> Mr. White,
>
> wow, I did not know that about the quotes around a file name in dos.
> Thanks
> that solves a myriad of problems for me. MusicMatch is working fine now.
>
> Mike
>
> "R. C. White" wrote:
>
>> Hi, Mike.
>>
>> I hope that reinstalling MusicMatch will let you uninstall it.
>>
>> In the "DOS" window, if you want to work with a folder name or any
>> filename
>> or path that includes a space character (such as Program Files), you must
>> enclose the entire pathname in quotes. For example: cd "C:\Program
>> Files"
>> or rd "C:\Program Files\MusicMatch" /s
>>
>> Another trick with cd is to use a wildcard. For example, cd pro* will
>> usually get you into Program Files without the quotes (unless you have
>> another foldername starting with pro). But the wildcard does not work
>> this
>> way with some commands; dir pro* would only produce a directory showing
>> Program Files and any other file/foldername starting with pro.
>>
>> File "attributes" include Archive, System, Hidden and Read-Only. Use the
>> "DOS" command attrib /? to see details. But the /s switch causes the rd
>> command to ignore attributes, deleting files and folders with any or all
>> of
>> these attributes set. As you can see, as with most powerful commands, it
>> can be very dangerous if you slip up and delete more than you intended.
>>
>> Attributes have nothing to do with a message that a file is in use. Any
>> file, including one with no attributes set, can be in use by a running
>> program, and WinXP will usually refuse the command to delete such a file
>> until it is no longer in use. Booting into Safe Mode often allows us to
>> delete files that otherwise would be used by programs set to run at
>> Startup.
>>
>> RC
>>
>> "mg" <mg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:B6AC707A-65E7-4E11-B308-D17EA97E5F0B@microsoft.com...
>> > Dear Mr. White,
>> >
>> > Thank you for your reply. You gave me a number of ways to solve my
>> > problem,
>> > some of which I have tried.
>> >
>> > On the matter of going to the dos window, I did that but was unable to
>> > change the directory using the chdir and cd commands to the Program
>> > Files
>> > directory. I tried every combination of that name but to no avail.
>> >
>> > Actually I was attempting to re-install the program when I was informed
>> > that
>> > installation could not proceed because files in the old directory were
>> > proteted or in use. I did all I know to change attributes and to
>> > prevent
>> > the
>> > files from loading, etc. Still no success.
>> >
>> > Finally I changed the name of the sub-directory within the Program
>> > Files
>> > directory that held the program, which is MUSICMATCH, and then
>> > installed
>> > the
>> > program anew. Now I will try to delete the old, renamed directory in
>> > safe
>> > mode as suggest by another kind colleague in this group.
>> >
>> > Thank you for your advice.
>> >
>> > Mike Good
>> >
>> > "R. C. White" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Hi, Mike.
>> >>
>> >> Sometimes we can uninstall an uninstallable program if we install it
>> >> again,
>> >> then uninstall it. Installing it again (into the same location, if
>> >> possible) lets the uninstaller rebuilt its database. The program's
>> >> own
>> >> uninstall utility (or Add/Remove Programs) then can find the data it
>> >> needs
>> >> to uninstall.
>> >>
>> >> If you mention the name of the program, someone here might recognize
>> >> it
>> >> and
>> >> know about its quirks.
>> >>
>> >> > How do I force the deletion of all files
>> >> > in a folder regardless of their attributes?
>> >>
>> >> One way is to open a "DOS" window and use the Remove Directory command
>> >> with
>> >> the /s switch to include all files and subdirectories. This, of
>> >> course,
>> >> does NOT clean up the Registry or delete any related files in other
>> >> directories. But, if you are sure you want to do this, then navigate
>> >> to
>> >> the
>> >> parent of the directory and enter: rd <foldername> /s
>> >>
>> >> RC
>> >>
>> >> "Mike Good" <Mike Good@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:5EF29038-9960-44E8-BC6D-785E0E9CF85D@microsoft.com...
>> >> >I have a folder filled with all the elements of a program including
>> >> >sub
>> >> > folders, lots of .dll files and many others. I must delete it to
>> >> > reinstall
>> >> > it. There is no uninstall program and it does not appear in the
>> >> > list
>> >> > of
>> >> > prgrams on the remove/alter menu. How do I force the deletion of
>> >> > all
>> >> > files
>> >> > in a folder regardless of their attributes?
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