Can't delete old documents

[Guest Barque]

I have some old documents that are shown on my hard drive in te my documents

folder. I keep getting messages that say I can't delete or move or rename

the files (or move the folders they are in as they are missing or have been

moved (I suppose to someplace they aren't). Anyway, even when signed on as

an administrator they can't be touched.

 

I even tried a new install of Windows 200 Pro, and updated to service pack 4

and the stupid files are still there! Even eliminating the user name and

deleting all the files (other than those) in the user folder can't get rid of

them.

 

What next?

 

Thanks

[Guest Bob I]

Re: Can't delete old documents

 

Please provide the exact error message. Altho I suspect taking ownership

of the files will cure the issue.

 

HOW TO: Take Ownership of Files

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/268019/en-us

 

Barque wrote:

> I have some old documents that are shown on my hard drive in te my documents

> folder. I keep getting messages that say I can't delete or move or rename

> the files (or move the folders they are in as they are missing or have been

> moved (I suppose to someplace they aren't). Anyway, even when signed on as

> an administrator they can't be touched.

>

> I even tried a new install of Windows 200 Pro, and updated to service pack 4

> and the stupid files are still there! Even eliminating the user name and

> deleting all the files (other than those) in the user folder can't get rid of

> them.

>

> What next?

>

> Thanks

[Guest Barque]

Re: Can't delete old documents

 

I tried the taking ownership of the files.

 

Upon clicking on Replace Owner on subcontainers and objects, I get the

following error message:

 

"An error occurred applying security information to:

C:\Documents and Settings\... ...\Tank Ladder

The system cannot find the file specified"

 

Yet they exist (and the other files) in the window.

 

I'm befuddled for sure.

 

"Bob I" wrote:

> Please provide the exact error message. Altho I suspect taking ownership

> of the files will cure the issue.

>

> HOW TO: Take Ownership of Files

> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/268019/en-us

>

>

[Guest philo]

Re: Can't delete old documents

 

 

"Barque" <Barque@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:EFF1D17D-66BC-4BB0-BF1B-EA7BB32DB6B5@microsoft.com...

> I have some old documents that are shown on my hard drive in te my

documents

> folder. I keep getting messages that say I can't delete or move or rename

> the files (or move the folders they are in as they are missing or have

been

> moved (I suppose to someplace they aren't). Anyway, even when signed on

as

> an administrator they can't be touched.

>

> I even tried a new install of Windows 200 Pro, and updated to service pack

4

> and the stupid files are still there! Even eliminating the user name and

> deleting all the files (other than those) in the user folder can't get rid

of

> them.

>

> What next?

>

> Thanks

 

 

Maybe they are corrupted.

try running chkdsk /f or chkdsk /r

[Guest Dave Patrick]

Re: Can't delete old documents

 

Sounds like file system corruption.

 

You can

run;

chkdsk /r

from the recovery console command line. (/r implies /f and /p)

 

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2000

Setup CD or the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks. If you do not have Setup

floppy disks and your computer cannot start from the Windows 2000 Setup CD,

use another Windows 2000-based computer to create the Setup floppy disks. At

the "Welcome to Setup" screen. Press F10 or R to repair a Windows 2000

installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The Recovery

Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do not have

the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the

computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery

Console quits and restarts the computer. Note If the registry is corrupted

or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console starts

in the root of the startup volume without requiring a password. You cannot

access any folders, but you can carry out commands such as chkdsk, fixboot,

and fixmbr for limited disk repairs. Once the password has been validated,

you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access to the hard

disk. You can only access the following folders on your computer: drive

root, %windir% or %systemroot%

 

You can also download and run a disk diagnostic utility from the drive

manufacturer's web site.

 

 

Also sounds like you tried a repair install.

-------------------------------------------

 

To do a clean install, either boot the Windows 2000 install CD-Rom or setup

disks. The set of four install disks can be created from your Windows 2000

CD-Rom; change to the \bootdisk directory on the CD-Rom and execute

makeboot.exe (from dos) or makebt32.exe (from 32 bit) and follow the

prompts.

 

(Note: If your drive controller is not natively supported then you'll want

to boot the Windows 2000 install CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and very

important (at setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent drive

controller detection, and select S to specify additional drivers. Then later

you'll be prompted to insert the manufacturer supplied Windows 2000 driver

for your drive controller in drive "A")

 

Setup inspects your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to

install the Setup and driver files. When the Windows 2000 Professional

screen appears, press ENTER to set up Windows 2000 Professional.

 

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of

the license agreement and continue the installation.

 

When the Windows 2000 Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing

partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard

disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an

existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must

then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System

partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this

step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are deleted

press F3 to exit setup, (to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with

your new install) then restart the pc then when you get to this point in

setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a new

partition and specify the size (if required). Windows will by default use

all available space.

 

Be sure to apply SP4 and these two below to your new install before

connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)

http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/6/A/E6A04295-D2A8-40D0-A0C5-241BFECD095E/W2KSP4_EN.EXE

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

 

Then

 

Rollup 1 for Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?amp;displaylang=en&familyid=B54730CF-8850-4531-B52B-BF28B324C662&displaylang=en

 

 

 

--

 

Regards,

 

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.

Microsoft Certified Professional

Microsoft MVP [Windows]

http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

"Barque" <Barque@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:EFF1D17D-66BC-4BB0-BF1B-EA7BB32DB6B5@microsoft.com...

>I have some old documents that are shown on my hard drive in te my

>documents

> folder. I keep getting messages that say I can't delete or move or rename

> the files (or move the folders they are in as they are missing or have

> been

> moved (I suppose to someplace they aren't). Anyway, even when signed on

> as

> an administrator they can't be touched.

>

> I even tried a new install of Windows 200 Pro, and updated to service pack

> 4

> and the stupid files are still there! Even eliminating the user name and

> deleting all the files (other than those) in the user folder can't get rid

> of

> them.

>

> What next?

>

> Thanks

[Guest Frank Booth Snr]

Re: Can't delete old documents

 

Barque wrote:

> I have some old documents that are shown on my hard drive in te my documents

> folder. I keep getting messages that say I can't delete or move or rename

> the files (or move the folders they are in as they are missing or have been

> moved (I suppose to someplace they aren't). Anyway, even when signed on as

> an administrator they can't be touched.

>

> I even tried a new install of Windows 200 Pro, and updated to service pack 4

> and the stupid files are still there! Even eliminating the user name and

> deleting all the files (other than those) in the user folder can't get rid of

> them.

>

> What next?

>

Make a note of the instances of the paths where the unwanted files

occur. Go to your system disk and log on to the recovery console as

administrator. Then move to the relevant path/s and delete files from

there.

[Guest Barque]

Re: Can't delete old documents

 

Thanks for all the suggestions. Just so you know what resulted:

 

This machine was one that I had working for a company which was sold to

another firm who apparently put their own licensed version of Windows on the

machine. But the new company owner failed to remove the old version, they

just created a new partition. So I found that there were two installations

of Windows 2000 pro on the machine.

 

In the end, I would up deleting the partition and reformatted the entire

drive and did a clean install. Problem solved, and I should have looked more

closely at the file structures/partitions on the drive before tearing my hair

out.