I can see the files, but they aren't really there! =\

[shmoes]

Hey

I made a quick copy of a user profile while i was making changes for backup purposes. Now i'm going to delete that profile and there are 2 temp internet files that will not delete. I get this error when I try to delte the folder.


---------------------------
Error Deleting File or Folder
---------------------------
Cannot delete HEALTH~1: Cannot find the specified file.

Make sure you specify the correct path and filename.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

I get this error if I try to look at the properties of the 2 files.

---------------------------
Desktop
---------------------------
The properties for this item are not available.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

and absolutely nothing happens when I right click/delete on the 2 files. everything else in the directory deleted without a problem.

I've run scandisk, i've rebooted, i've defraged and scanned again. I've run antivirus... nothing..

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[JAFrank]

Open a DOS window in the folder and type

dir /x

.

This will tell you both the long and short (8.3) filenames. If the long filename somehow got an invalid character, you can frequently delete the file from the command prompt using the short filename -

 del health~1

Good luck

Allen

 

[shmoes]

It was a good shot, but still says file not found.

I tried del health~1 and del health~2

as they were the two short names that came up. still file not found.

I also did a del *.* in the dir (only the 2 files left in in) it asked me to confirm deletion of the 2 files, then said not found.

 

[JAFrank]

Could they have their System or Read Only attributes set?

Try attrib -shr health*.* from a command line.

if that works without an error, try deleting them again.

This is an odd one you have here.

Allen

 

[shmoes]

Thanks for trying again, however still no luck.

If i try the attrib command -shr it says invaild switch.
and if i try the attrib command with individual commands -s or -h it says file not found.

 

[JAFrank]

how about if you just do attrib, without any switches? That should give you a directory listing with the attributes listed on the left.

It's been a while since I used attrib extensively, but now that I think about it, I think the switches have to be in a certain order when certain bits are set - I'd have to play around with it to remember....

Allen

 

[shmoes]

It does a *.*

there's nothing listed

and gives me a command prompt again.

 

[2ffat]

Are you sure what you are seeing is not a link to a file/directory someplace else? Also, what happens when you boot to safe mode?


James P. Cottingham

When a man sits with a pretty girl for an hour, it seems like a minute. But let him sit on a hot stove for a minute and it's longer than any hour. That's relativity.
[tab][tab]Albert Einstein explaining his Theory of Relativity to a group of journalists.

 

[Davetoo]

Open up a command prompt.

Change the directory to the one in question.

Enter attrib and press enter.

What is displayed?

 

[shmoes]

they were temporary internet files.

so more then likely links, to a webpage.

If i was smart i would have deleted the temp files before i copied the profile for backup. but i cannot now :
I have not tried safe mode, i'm not in a position to boot to safe mode now. I will try it tonight.


Thanks

 

[shmoes]

Lander

That suggestion was already posted and answered, sorry my post was not very clear tho.

typing attrib in the directory in question displays a *.*
it lists nothing.

and brings me back to command prompt...

 

[Davetoo]

It actually displays the *.*? Try creating an empty directory, change into that directory and run attrib...you should receive a "File not found - (path)" error.

 

[shmoes]

Yep, it displays the *.*

If i make a directory within the directory in question it still displays the *.*

if i make a directory outside that dir i get the file not found error

 

[Davetoo]

What exactly is displayed, from the command prompt, when you do these two commands:

dir

dir /x

?

 

[shmoes]

DIR - LIST

02/14/2003 09:19a 269 health_healing;kw=;site=healing;sbj=;spr=
2;chan=health;pos=dhslot1;dcopt=ist;sz=1x1;ord=104524135902718810715341865[1]
02/14/2003 09:13a 269 health_healing;kw=;site=healing;sbj=;spr=
;chan=health;pos=dhslot1;dcopt=ist;sz=1x1;ord=104523950762672415748506691[1]
2 File(s) 538 bytes
0 Dir(s) 62,543,171,584 bytes free


DIR /X - List

02/14/2003 09:19a 269 HEALTH~1 health_healing;kw=;site=h
ealing;sbj=;spr=2;chan=health;pos=dhslot1;dcopt=ist;sz=1x1;ord=10452413590271881
0715341865[1]
02/14/2003 09:13a 269 HEALTH~2 health_healing;kw=;site=h
ealing;sbj=;spr=;chan=health;pos=dhslot1;dcopt=ist;sz=1x1;ord=104523950762672415
748506691[1]
2 File(s) 538 bytes
0 Dir(s) 62,543,171,584 bytes free

 

[tcambridge]

Have you tried to copy the files to another folder and see if you can delete them? If that worked, how about moving them and then deleting them?

What about deleting the parent folder?

Tim Cambridge
A+, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE (W2K)

 

[shmoes]

yep, tried copying, cutting, drag and drop ... nothing.

 

[Davetoo]

Ok, and what happens if you enter the following command:

attrib HEALTH~1


and


attrib HEALTH~2

?

 

[shmoes]

file not found. :

 

[Davetoo]

The only other thing I can think to try is drop to command prompt and try a deltree on the entire folder tree that contains the two problem files. I don't hang much hope on that working. Usually the 8.3 delete works.