Windows wont let me delete a subfolder; it still shows/works in zebra

[zethus909]

I created a folder within another folder and i cannot seem to delete it.....zebra shows it in the plugin and it shows on windows....but when i try to delete it, windows tells me it can't find the folder.....so I can't delete it...but i can still save new presets into it in zebra...and i can still see it in windows...i really want to get rid of it..

[Ciberithm]

Have you tried turning it off and back on again?

But seriously, this usually works with a file or folder that can't be deleted. Windows locks files so they can't be deleted when is use. Sometimes programs exit, but Windows fails to deleted the file lock. A reboot usually fixes it.

[zethus909]

lol no i havent, tried everything xcept that, not a huge deal just annoying, thanks

[whyterabbyt]

Have you tried turning it off and back on again?

But seriously, this usually works with a file or folder that can't be deleted. Windows locks files so they can't be deleted when is use. Sometimes programs exit, but Windows fails to deleted the file lock. A reboot usually fixes it.

FWIW, there's a windows application called Unlocker which can be run on files/folders to try and sort this without needing a reboot. It'll indicate which program owns any lock, too.
There seems to be an issue with the developer site at the moment, but can be had from the usual freeware download sites like CNET, MajorGeeks etc.

[zethus909]

lol ok, rebooted, still cant delete it now......this is silly

[EdHarvey]

what is the folder name?

[devilnishy]

As whyterabbyt has suggested download 'unlocker' app. I've never known it fail in similar circumstances.

[EdHarvey]

Sometimes programs can create file/folder names that are valid for NTFS file systems, but not valid for Windows itself (or the Win32 API anyway); for example, filenames with a trailing space or period are not valid.

try opening a "cmd" command prompt and using the following (slightly odd) syntax,

Code: Select all

del "\\?\c:\path_to_file_that contains a trailing space.txt "

[zethus909]

Oh I see what youre getting at "trailing space"......the folder is called Jan for january....but i am noticing it does have a space to the right of it....so the actual name is Jan_ (not underscore but an actual space..)

but i can t rename it...because it says it doesnt exist lol

[whyterabbyt]

Try doing it through the command prompt again, but this time, instead of typing the full name of the file, type the first few letters (the shortest set that's unique to that file, basically) and hit the 'tab' key. The command-line should autocomplete the name of the file including any odd characters in there.

So for the example above type

Code: Select all

del "\c:\path_to_file

then hit the TAB key.

However, you may need to use the RMDIR command instead to delete a folder. The folder needs to be empty first though.

http://ss64.com/nt/rd.html

Also, use
del /f <path>
to delete read-only files

http://ss64.com/nt/del.html

[zethus909]

Try doing it through the command prompt again, but this time, instead of typing the full name of the file, type the first few lett

awesome man thanks so much, the one you said didnt work but this one did work...folder is officially destroyed.



rd /S "\\?\G:\My Files\New Folder "

so this is because i was going through and cleaning up all my old presets in zebra, like getting rid of all the junk files...

(be nice to know how to do that in one move)

and i was quickly creatuing abunch of new folders in zebra, using the create new folder command....and i must ve added that trailing space int here, because apparently windows doesnt let you create folders with trailing spaces.....but i craeted it in zebra so thats why

[xx JPRacer xx]

A quicker solution is to add a backspace at the end.

For example:
md "Test \"

Will create a directory with a trailing space. Then:
rd "Test \"

will erase it without problem.