deleteing hidden files created from Mac OS

[mikerawlins]

How does one remove a directory on an account on a server running Storage Server 2003? I have admin privileges. I'm getting errors saying "unable to access file or directory". There are files in these directories that begin with an underscore. The user tells me these are 'hidden files' created when a user copies files from an account on a Mac to the Windows server. I've tried del command in DOS prompt. I'm a linux user with limited Windows experience. In linux I do rm -f -r <directory> and the directory is removed.

Better yet, I'd like to remove the entire account on the Windows server. I've not tried to do that. How might I do that?

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

Have you taken ownership of the file / folders in question?

if that doesnt work then try Unlocker. Sometimes files get to where you cannot delete them in NTFS.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_unlocker/

http://www.samtechconsulting.com

_______________________________________
Great knowledge can be obtained by mastering the Google algorithm.

 

[jknichols]

try "RMDIR /S/Q dir_to_remove" from a command line prompt.

 

[mikerawlins]

I tried "RMDIR /S/Q dir_to_remove" from a command line prompt.

Got several messages:

The system cannot find the path specified.
The system cannot find the file specified.
The directory is not empty.

Tried taking ownership of the directories. Got same messages on clicking delete.

Tomorrow I will try 3rd party software unlocker. But should installing 3rd party software really be necessary to delete directories, regardless of presence/absence of missing/hidden/ghost files? The user is no longer working here and I want to remove the account. Possible?

As I mentioned in my OP, this short of thing is unheard of in my 15 years working with linux.

Windows OS is serious lacking in functionality here, IMHO.

 

[jknichols]

I suspect you can remove the account, but will still be stuck with part of the folder tree containing the stubborn files.

this short of thing is unheard of in my 15 years working with linux.

I just realized that you are talking about a server, but my next question was whether you could boot on a Linux Live CD, mount the drive, and delete thru Linux commands. Use at your own risk, but I believe the latest Linux NTFS drivers are stable enough.

 

[mikerawlins]

I've mounted the Windows shares remotely using samba, logging in using my admin account. Was able to change directory into the user account where troublesome files live. But unable to delete directories due to permission denied. If I knew the user password I would try logging in as that user and deleting from there. Will contact that user. Still some hope.

Yesterday that user logged in to the server from a Mac. She's originally used a Mac to back up her files on the Windows server. Clicked the folder and selected delete. No go, as message popped up and said unable to delete due to a file being open and in use.

I'm really finding it hard to believe that an OS is vulnerable to this sort of anomaly. It's like there's a 1.8 TB drive that is writable with limited ability to delete.

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

did you try unlocker on the windows server to remove the directory and files? it has always worked for me.

http://www.samtechconsulting.com

_______________________________________
Great knowledge can be obtained by mastering the Google algorithm.

 

[mikerawlins]

I've installed and run unlocker. Looks like it went through the registry and cleaned up some things. How does one use it to remove the folders? After trying to delete the folders the usual way the same errors appear. Is this an automatic process with unlocker or must I actively perform some operations? It was not obvious how this is done with the software.

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

When you right click on the folder in question you should have an option for Unlocker.

http://www.samtechconsulting.com

_______________________________________
Great knowledge can be obtained by mastering the Google algorithm.

 

[mikerawlins]

No option for Unlocker appeared upon right click on folder.

Given I'm working with 2003 version of Storage Server, probably best to do a fresh install of new OS and then restore data as needed.

 

[jknichols]

If you are going to take the server offline anyway to reinstall the OS, you might first try my suggestion of booting a Live-CD. That will let the Linux OS handle the permission and/or invalid name issue rather than remote access via samba, where MS was still in charge.

Way back in the DOS days, I had an application that could create filenames that the command line wouldn't handle - had to run a diskedit program to manually change the name in the directory.

 

[mikerawlins]

I'm probably going to install Ubuntu on the server sometime soon. But will try deleting those directories from a LiveCD as you suggest. I'm primarily a linux user and have been doing admin on my own machines for some time now so hoping I can pull this off. There is an external DVD/CDROm drive connected to the HP server, so I'll see if I can boot LiveCD. If I can boot and run LiveCD, is this just a simple case of rm -f -r <dir> ?

 

[mikerawlins]

The directories I want to delete are part of a drive on an HP Mass Storage Array (MSA20) that is external to the server. It did not appear that this external (RAID?) drive is mounted or available from the LiveCD. I searched around and tried to install mdadm to be able to "see" the drive but was unsuccessful. I'm going to set this task aside for now.

 

[KbrooksPomeroyIT]

I imagine you have taken care of your issue but I thought I would post this incase anyone else is having a similar issue.

Occasionally we will have a the permssions on a users home directory become corrupted. It will not allow us to delete/move/copy/cut/paste the directory. It seems to happen allot after a Users account is deleted from AD)

We have tried all kinds of things and several 3rd party programs.

What we have had the most luck with is the xcalcs commands.

Here is some info on syntax and switch functions for calcs and xcalcs

http://tech.cuip.net/logins/docs/Cacls-and-xcacls.htm

Xcalcs is the newest version of this, and you may have to download it if you are using Windows 2000 servers.

Just google Xcalcs downloads.


Kelly Brooks
Pomeroy IT Solutions
T3 IT Support for Acosta Military Div.

 

[strongm]

I'd suggest that icacls is the latest version ...

 

[mikerawlins]

I have not resolved the issue. Planning on installing linux on the server as soon as possible. But that may be a month or two away so will try icacls and post results of my attempt to delete the folders.