Need help with an undeletable folder.

[flomtl]

So on my external hardrive i have a folder which is empty, but it cannot be deleted. Ive had this problem with other stuff but never a folder. When i click on it (to highlight) it freezes, and that folder menu gets the (Not Responding), then if i wait very long eventually it will be highlighted. If i try to double click it to open it i get this error message "folder is not accessible. The request could not be performed becasue of an I/O device error. . Ive tried to delete it using various programs that claim to delete undeletable folders however none of them worked, its not that big a deal because i can work around it, but i cannot create partitions (using acronis) on that drive because it always get stuck when checking that piece. I seem to remember getting some error message with something like chskd (dont remeber the order of the letters but it was something like that).

o and when i try to delete it just using the delete button, first it freezes for a while, then i get the preparing to delete screen, with the little animation of files going to the recycling. and then eventually it tells me it cant be deleted.

anyone have any tips on how i can get rid of this annoyance?

i hope this post is in the right place if not im very sorry i didnt know where to put it so i figured windows was general enough:D

Thanks for the help
Florian weibel

[JJ 3000]

We need more info

List as much about your computer as possible. This includes operating system (what version of Windows you are using), service packs, computer make/model, RAM, hard drive, sound and video cards, current adware/spyware/virus programs being used on a regular basis, do you have a "real" Windows CD, etc.

[flomtl]

windows xp service pack2. imb thinkpad T60 (laptop) . sound and video card i dont know, ram 512mb. virus program Avast!.

anything i forgot?

[Broni]

Download, and install Unlocker: http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/
It'll install under right click menu.

Open Windows Explorer.
Navigate to "stubborn folder".

Right click on "stubborn folder". Click Unlocker
Select Delete from drop-down menu:



Click OK.
"stubborn folder" will refuse to be deleted, but Unlocker will give you an option to delete on reboot:



Click Yes.
Restart computer.

[flomtl]

i did that, and it told me it would delete it on the reboot. but it didnt.

tried again just in case. Same thing happens. it takes really long for the program to tell me that it cannot be deleted. then it asks me if i want to delete on boot. I say yes. Once again, nothing happens. File is still there.

[iamtonsoffun247]

When you right click the folder, what options are you given?

[flomtl]

it takes a long time for the right click menu to open. but im given all the regular options. as i would if i was rightclicking on any icon. (send to, delete, unlock, scan, compress, etc...)

[Broni]

Did you try to delete it through Command Prompt?

[flomtl]

how would that be done? i forget the command to delete it.

[flomtl]

and i dont think that works for external hardrive? or dont know how to do it for external...

[Broni]

Use deltree command.
For instance, your external drive is D, and the stubborn folder is located in "some_directory", the command would look like this:
deltree D:\some_directory\stubborn_folder
If Normal Mode doesn't work, try Safe Mode.

[flomtl]

it says "deltree" is not recognized as a internal or external command operable program or batch file...

[Broni]

Try:
rmdir [Drive:]Path /s

[Broni]

rmdir D:\some_directory\stubborn_folder /s

[flomtl]

i tried:
RD D:\Subfolder  /S /Q
that didnt work. "request could not be performed because of I/O Device error

After doing rmdir
i get the same error message.

will doing this in safe mode change anything?

[Broni]

I think, your external drive may be having some problems.
Run diagnostic tool on it: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

[flomtl]

i have a simpletech...its not on the list.

[Broni]

Try running:
CHKDSK [drive:] /F

[flomtl]

tells me CHKDSK is not recognized as internal or external ect...

[flomtl]

i must have been doing something wrong cause i got it to work now. ill get back to you when the scan completes.

[flomtl]

following errors:

File record segment 9212 is unreadable.
File record segment 9213 is unreadable.
File record segment 9214 is unreadable.
File record segment 9215 is unreadable.


is this bad? can i fix this? or should i start backing up my stuff somewhere else...

i forgot the /f in the prompt so i will run it again and see what happens becasue it said CHKDSK cant continue in read only mode

[flomtl]

ok it ran to completion. now when i open the folder that is undeletable i get the following message:
Not enough storage space is available to process this command.

when i click delete i get:
cannot delete: the directory is not empty

when i try to delete using unlocker i get:
the object was deleted      (liar cause it is still there)

i will try to delete it using the commands you told me befor and see what happens.
[EDIT]

when i use rmdir and i try to delte it, it tells me "the directory is not empty"...

[EDIT/]

[Broni]

Let's see, if chkdsk will fix anything, but personally, I don't trust any drive on which any errors were detected.

[flomtl]

CHKDSK did fix things, i mean now i can atleast click on the folder without freezing it. however i cant do anything with it... (see edited post above)

[Broni]

i use rmdir and i try to delte it, it tells me "the directory is not empty"...

Are you using /s switch?

[flomtl]

yes i am, i tried it anothe 2 times just to make sure. everytime it just comes back with the same line "The directory is not empty"

[mcxeb52!]

I would try deleting while in SAFE mode.

I deleted something seemingly undeletable in safe mode once.

[patio]

SimpleTech does not manufacture HDD's....find out what's in there.

[Fed]

How about using DOS to remove the file attributes first then try deleting them again with DOS then delete the empty directory.

I once had this problem with some leftover Norton junk and it was the only way I managed to delete it.

[flomtl]

dont know what the rule is on posting links but i have the simpletech signature mini.

http://www.simpletech.com/products/storage/signature-mini
500GB
 

i have no clue how to find out whats inside, and @Fed i dont know what that means...

im gonnna try in safe mode now see what happens.

[Broni]

it just comes back with the same line "The directory is not empty"

This is very strange. The above error should come up only, if folder is not empty, and you use "rd" command without any switch.
/S (switch) = Removes all directories and files in the specified directory in addition to the directory itself. Used to remove a directory tree.
It's a replacement command for former "deltree" command.

What Fed was talking about is this.
At Command Prompt run this:
ATTRIB -S -H -R D:\some_directory\stubborn_folder
Then, try "rd" command again.

SimpleTech does not manufacture HDD's....find out what's in there

Give them a call:
Call us 6:30 am to 5:30 pm PST, Monday through Friday
800.945.3444 | 949.477.7700

[flomtl]

i did what fed said, same result "Directory is not empty"

I cant find what HDD is inside teh simpletech.. i guess ill give them a call on monday seeing as they arent open on weekends...
anyone have another idea?

[Broni]

Keep in mind, that chkdsk found errors....

Since nothing better to do, try to take ownership of that folder: http://www.winxptutor.com/ownership.htm

[patio]

Keep in mind, that chkdsk found errors....

Since nothing better to do, try to take ownership of that folder: http://www.winxptutor.com/ownership.htm

If it couldn't be deleted in safe mode i'll bet you a Beer he won't be able to take ownership of it either...

[Broni]

Hey, Beer is never bad, won, or lost

[Fed]

How about using DOS to remove the file attributes first then try deleting them again with DOS then delete the empty directory.

What happened when you tried to delete the files?
What file names did you use?

[flomtl]

@Fed. When i try to delete the file (using DOS, or just right click -> delete) on both i get the same error "Directory is not empty"
what do u mean by what file names? it has only letters in it if thats what you meant...

[Fed]

When i try to delete the file (using DOS, or just right click -> delete) on both i get the same error "Directory is not empty"

There are Directories (Folders) and there are files, by the Windows & DOS response you have a Directory on your computer that has Files in it.
OK so far?
What I asked you to do was to remove the attributes from the files within the directory then try and delete those files and then delete the directory, all in DOS.
You may need to use the *.* wildcard if you don't know the specific file names.

C:\>attrib/?
Displays or changes file attributes.

ATTRIB [+R | -R] [+A | -A ] [+S | -S] [+H | -H] [[drive:] [path] filename]
       [/S [/D]]

  +   Sets an attribute.
  -   Clears an attribute.
  R   Read-only file attribute.
  A   Archive file attribute.
  S   System file attribute.
  H   Hidden file attribute.
  /S  Processes matching files in the current folder
      and all subfolders.
  /D  Processes folders as well.

Clear as mud eh?
Let us know what happens please.
If you have any problems let us know the full path to the directory & its name?

[flomtl]

o i meant folder.. the thing i cannot delete is not a file it is a folder. Im pretty sure its empty to. but i cant check. cause when i go to open the undeletable folder it tells me that theres not enough disk space to perform this command. and when i try to delete the folder i get the message i said befor.

so my undeletable file is actually a folder (or directory i guess). sorry about that, didn't realize they were that different.

Thanks so far guys!

[Broni]

I think, the issue is the drive itself, but we can't test it until you'll find out what tool to use, by making a phone call on Monday.
I bet $5 here.

[flomtl]

ok, ill give them a call when their open. and get back to you.

[Broni]

Make sure to post back. My $5 is at stake

[Fed]

Why wait?

If you have any problems let us know the full path to the directory & its name

[flomtl]

full path to directory:

H:\Florian\Backup\Pictures\NewJersey

(NewJersey being the folder that i cannot delete)

[Fed]

Open a CMD.EXE screen, copy & paste each line one at a time hitting <ENTER> as you do each one.
Hint, use right mouse button to paste into CMD screen.

attrib -R -A -S -H H:\Florian\Backup\Pictures\NewJersey\*.*

del H:\Florian\Backup\Pictures\NewJersey\*.*

rd H:\Florian\Backup\Pictures\NewJersey

[flomtl]

attrib -R -A -S -H H:\Florian\Backup\Pictures\NewJersey\*.*

says: file not found.

del H:\Florian\Backup\Pictures\NewJersey\*.*

says : not enough storage space is available to process this command

rd H:\Florian\Backup\Pictures\NewJersey

says: the directory is not empty.

so i guess the only option left is to call up SimpleTech.

[Broni]

Since we still have a few hours until tomorrow, try this:
Leave the command line window on the desktop, open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), and kill all explorer.exe tasks. Your desktop will go blank, except for the windows already open.
Now try to delete the offending folder with rd H:\Florian\Backup\Pictures\NewJersey
After that, in the command line window enter:
explorer
to restart your desktop.
If you closed the command line window, you can still restart explorer by opening the Task Manager by holding down the Ctrl and Shift keys and briefly pressing the Esc key. In Task Manager select Applications, New Task and enter: explorer

[flomtl]

tried it. same as always. directory is not empty...

so what exactly do i ask simpletech?
I need to find out who manufactures the Harddrives that they have inside the product i own?

[Broni]

Exactly. If, it's their own product (I doubt), do they have any diagnostic tool?

[mcxeb52!]

It's a folder you want to delete right? Can you move that folder to a different drive and delete if from there?

For example. you have a USB stick or something and I wonder if there would be error if you moved folder in question to the USB stick or wheverever else you decided to send the folder to.

[flomtl]

@mcxeb52!

i moved the folder to the drive on my computer. but the folder was simply an empty folder called "NewJersey"

so no there was no error when moving it. however. when you move a folder from one drive to another it simply copies it. so now i just have to of them. The one on my D drive i can delete but the one on my H drive (the undeletabel one on the external hardrive) i cannot.

now i tried cut and paste into a differnet drive. this gives me the error that the directory is not empty then simply creates an empty folder called NewJersey on my new drive and leaves the original on the external.

@Broni
alright ill do that tomorow. and i know they dont have a diagnostic tool cause ive looked for it and i saw some peoples reviews of the drive and it was one of their cons...
anyways ill call them up tomorow and post what i find out.

[mcxeb52!]

Now I'm wondering, what happens if you save all the stuff you need out of the external drive (excluding that folder you want to delete) AND just format the external drive? Would the folder go away as expected?

[flomtl]

Well ive tried to create partitions on the external hardrive (this was befor i tried to solve the problem) and that is when is when it became anoying. because befor it creates partitions it checks the disk. and at this folder it always fails. so im assuming the same would happen when its formatted? If all else fails this is an option to try but id rather leave it as my last option seeing as it means backing up all my things on this drive which is 300+gigs...

The problem used to not bother me because i would work around it, however when i wanted to create a FAT32 partition (using Acronis) on my external to be able to move things quickly from my pc to my PS3 it never worked becasue it couldnt read that folder.

so im going to call tomorow. then if all else fails. ill give your suggestion a try.

thanks

flo

[Broni]

Is the drive still under warranty?

[mcxeb52!]

well, if you have a windows installation CD, you could just format the drive that way. If the CD recognizes there's a partition there, just have it delete the partition and it erases all data on it. And then you could try formatting the drive again thru normal windows.

But if there's still a problem, make the phone call to the tech support guys.

[flomtl]

i called up SimpleTech. They couldnt tell me what drive is inside because they have 3 manufactures and it could be anyone of those three....so that wasnt very helpful. However he told me to free up diskspace on my C: drive and then try to delete the folder since i was getting that error message about there not being enough room.

Ill give that a try since i only have 990mb left on my C drive.

@Broni, not sure about the warranty, unless its more then a year i dont think so.

[EDIT]
I have done what the simpletech technician told me to do. it didnt do anything. i still have same problem (same 2 error messages when i try to open or delete) just now i have lots of free space on my C drive.
[/EDIT]

[patio]

Burn any important data from the external to CD/DVD and then do a full format on it...
There's more than one way to skin a cat.
Simpletech should have been able to tell you from the serial# what drive is there.

[flomtl]

all SimpleTech told me to do was to go to device manager and check the diskdrive. Theres no way to format it, without deleting everything right? cause i have 250gigs+ stuff on there and backing all that up will take a long time.

[patio]

Correct.
It would all have to be backed up to format.
Formatting erases everything.

[Fed]

Give Pocket Killbox a try.

BTW, what is the full size and current amount used on your C drive?

[JJ 3000]

Have you tried hooking it up to another computer and deleting the folder that way?

[Spoiler]

I have seen this before. It normally happens when some A$$hole thinks its funny to plant a file in a zip file that has nonstandard characters. They are ASCII characters that windows can't show without a add on. And even than its a real pain to get rid of the file. It’s normally the way some hacker groups "tag" a machine to show that they were able to get to a machine.

The fastest way to get rid of it is to copy the stuff you want to keep off the drive and than format it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicode
Info on Unicode....


You can try to install a unicode text editor and sometimes it will let windows show the file name.