Can't delete 0 byte file, with no file type

I’ve got a file that appears to exist, but when I try & delete it I
get: “Cannot delete …. Cannot find the specified file”. I created it
as a.txt with a long-ish file name (76 chars) as a reminder, but it
now has no extension & is zero bytes. I can’t open it and the
properties doesn’t give me much info.

It’s on a drive (h:) that’s sync’d to a network and only appears when
I’m not connected to the network. This makes it difficult to use
things like ccleaner, deletefxpfiles, chkdsk etc.

I’ve tried deleting it from a command line (tells me it doesn't exist)
in safe mode (couldn't log on) deleting the folder and a bunch of
other things … but no joy.

Any ideas?

Michael

It’s on a drive (h:) that’s sync’d to a network and only appears when
I’m not connected to the network. This makes it difficult to use
things like ccleaner, deletefxpfiles, chkdsk etc.

I’ve tried deleting it from a command line (tells me it doesn't exist)
in safe mode (couldn't log on) deleting the folder and a bunch of
other things … but no joy.

it should give you the short name. Try using DEL on that name.


Does the file exist in a sub-directory of another folder ? ( Not in
the Root folder of the Drive ). If so, Use Windows Explorer to
move ( Drag and Drop ) the file into the Root Folder and then
try to delete it. Also from a Command Prompt try to remove the
file by using Quotation marks around the path/filename.

Yes it does have a name - 76 chars long, but with no file extension at
the end.

I've gave your (useful) suggestion a go - but still no joy. I got the
same error message I normally get (ie "Cannot find the specified
file...").

It's weird as when I go to the folder from a cmd line & type DIR it
shows the file (at 0 bytes) and the creation date & time. However
when I use DEL (or anything else) to try and get rid of it - it then
tells me "The system cannot find the file specified."

It almost seems like there's some metadata somewhere that thinks
something exists, although it doesn't.

Have you tried right clicking, rename change the name to something shorter
and add the .txt extension.

Yes it does have a name - 76 chars long, but with no file extension at
the end.

I've gave your (useful) suggestion a go - but still no joy. I got the
same error message I normally get (ie "Cannot find the specified
file...").

It's weird as when I go to the folder from a cmd line & type DIR it
shows the file (at 0 bytes) and the creation date & time. However
when I use DEL (or anything else) to try and get rid of it - it then
tells me "The system cannot find the file specified."

It almost seems like there's some metadata somewhere that thinks
something exists, although it doesn't.

Have you tried using DelinvFile.exe available in

I have successfully used the older completely free version several
times. It says on the web site that the current version has retained
as "free" all the features of the older version, but you have to pay
to get additional features.

I had a similar problem with an undeletable file and I fixed it by
restoring a file over it with a file that I created with the same name
using Acronis True Image.


Instructions:

1. Create a text file and write in it a couple of letters
2. Save that file in your root drive (C: for example) with the
same exact name and extension as the file you want to delete
3. Now make a backup your new file (I used Acronis True Image)
4. Open your backup program and restore the file you created to
the folder where the undeletable file is, overwriting it
4. Now you can delete it!
5. Run chkdsk

Hi Michael

Instead of typing DIR at the command line, try DIR /X . This should show
you two names for the rogue file; the normal one and a "short name"
usually consisting of the first 6 letters of the file name, a tilde (~)
and a number. Try deleting it using the short name.

Dear Michael & friends:

I remember that many years ago, some person had the same problem
reported to a newsgroup, and the solution was to use an UNC name for
delete.

Try the following:

DEL \\<ComputerName>\<DriveName>\<FolderName>\<FileName>\

Replace all the names with the appropriate ones, normally <DriveName>
will be C: etc. Try with the short and the long name of the file.
Maybe it will work for you too. If not, boot from a Recovery Console
CD and try to delete it from there.

Have you tried using DelinvFile.exe available in

I have successfully used the older completely free version several
times. It says on the web site that the current version has retained
as "free" all the features of the older version, but you have to pay
to get additional features.

Yes it does have a name - 76 chars long, but with no file extension at
the end.

I've gave your (useful) suggestion a go - but still no joy. I got the
same error message I normally get (ie "Cannot find the specified
file...").

It's weird as when I go to the folder from a cmd line & type DIR it
shows the file (at 0 bytes) and the creation date & time. However
when I use DEL (or anything else) to try and get rid of it - it then
tells me "The system cannot find the file specified."

It almost seems like there's some metadata somewhere that thinks
something exists, although it doesn't.

Michael



Thanks. I tried dir /x and it did giveme the short name
(ADDTOM~1.TXT). I then tired using DEL, but got the same error as
before: "The system cannot find the file specified."

I got the same results when I tried REN and various other alternatives
with wildcards

Many thanks for all the suggestions. I've worked my way through most
of them ... with no joy. Broadly the same thing happens - I can see
the file and it shows up in Windows Explorer or when I type DIR from a
command line. But when I try to delete, rename or move it - I get
"Cannot find the file". Using quotes, the short name or the UNC
doesn't make a difference.

I tried Delinvfile, which looked promising as it allowed me to
navigate me to the h: drive - but when I tried to delete it I got
"File Not Found". I also tried to use Delinvfile to rename it or
delete on boot - same thing.

I've read the Microsoft article and I think running Chkdsk is what's
needed as it seems like an index or metadata is out of sync. However
I can't run chkdsk on the drive as it thinks it's a network drive
(even though it's actually a sync'd drive, held on my c: drive). I
ran a full chkdsk on my c: drive overnight - no joy.

I'll try the back-up file idea this evening.

Apols – I’ve probably got the wrong phrase. What I mean is that I
have an h:\ drive which, when I'm working online is a normal network
drive. This is then sync’ed (using the standard MS Synchronisation
Manager) so that it’s available offline (still appearing as my h:
drive).

This problem file is only there when I’m offline, not when I’m
online. If there’s a way of deleting what’s held offline & forcing
everything to re-sync that might be an answer.



Guess what ... that worked. Many thanks. I had tried to find an
option to delete the sync'd files but couldn't, I guess I was
searching on the wrong thing.

I some problems with my profile after I'd done it, but I think that
was the fault of my laptop & the way it's set-up.

[StevieWood]

You used an application to essentially browse to a file using command (not
cmd) and delete the file by its 8.3 name?

Hi,

Ok I've got exactly the same problem (had) and it took a few seconds to resolve once you know how.

This has a 15 day free trial. Install run and navigate to your file, I used delete using short name and that's it, it went.

[fityma]

I've signed up just to thank you for the download link. I had the same problem with an undeletable file and wasted several hours before I came across your posting. The program deleted it immediately and so problem solved. Many thanks.

[drfrizog]

WHEN are you gonna learn to phrase that so that everyone knows WTF you
are talking about!?

Are you DENSE?


OK i had a file called "te!?" with 0bytes in my temp ie folder.

I tried every damn windows program. and i couldn't get rid of it.
EVERY DOS COMMAND AS WELL

So i booted to Slax linux os disc that i had, that had ntfs support, and i read about linux commands, and i finally deleted the gooddamn thing.

rember linux is case sensitive, just remember that please.

here are some commands syntaxes

like
cd /mnt/hda1/"Documents and Settings"/User

and

mount -rw /dev/hda1
This is to mount the hard drive as read and writeable

and

'rm' is remove the file or delete


Be very careful using it however. It can be a real buzz-saw.

Perhaps he/she is not deleting. Perhaps he/she is not configured to quote
the message being responded to.
Why don't you suggest the poster open OE--click tools--options---send
tab---and put X in 'Include message in reply'.
Doesn't that make more sense than 'Please don't delete previous posts'?
"ju.c" <bibidybubidyboop@mailnator.com> wrote in message
news:%23kZT4PpWJHA.4184@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

[Jonno]

There is a free program called "Unlocker", that will do the trick. When installed, R-click the file and find Unlocker in the context menu. Just follow the simple instructions .

Be aware this is a leech site pretending to have forums by running a
webnews-for-dummies interface that submits improperly formatted posts
through a gateway to Usenet (aka newsgroups).