I can't delete a folder on my desktop

[Guest 1800yolk]

When I renamed a folder on my desktop, instead of typing in a word, I typed

"Alt+255". This makes the text disappear. This also makes the file hard to

delete. I can't delete the folder. In command prompt, if I try to delete it,

it says "The syntax of the command is incorrect." I also tried "del *.*" in

the command prompt, but this only worked for other things in the prompt. I'm

not sure what to do, and would appreciate your advice. Thanks, Brian

[Guest Tony Sperling]

Re: I can't delete a folder on my desktop

 

Did you try:

 

REN [alt+255] some-file-name-preferably-with-dot-and-extension /P

 

The /P Switch gives you a Y/N prompt for confirmation

 

(no square brackets!)

 

(Capitalizations are the official command names - you don't have to type

them!)

 

Typing HELP in a command window gives you a list of all the commands -

typing /? after any command name gives you a brief description (and

sometimes, examples) of that command.

 

Also, try two single-clicks (not double clicking!) on the icon to select the

name and then typing another LEGAL name.

 

 

 

 

Tony. . .

 

 

 

"1800yolk" <1800yolk@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:9114A8A5-F5F8-468F-8B54-913E44331E13@microsoft.com...

> When I renamed a folder on my desktop, instead of typing in a word, I

> typed

> "Alt+255". This makes the text disappear. This also makes the file hard to

> delete. I can't delete the folder. In command prompt, if I try to delete

> it,

> it says "The syntax of the command is incorrect." I also tried "del *.*"

> in

> the command prompt, but this only worked for other things in the prompt.

> I'm

> not sure what to do, and would appreciate your advice. Thanks, Brian

[Guest R. C. White]

Re: I can't delete a folder on my desktop

 

Hi, 1800yolk.

> it says "The syntax of the command is incorrect."

 

Could you copy'n'paste the exact command you are using?

 

(The procedure is slightly-counter-intuitive and I often have to try this

several times to get it right.) In the Command Prompt window, right-click

to get the context menu, then select Mark. Highlight the entire command

line, prompt and all. Then DON'T try to click Copy or press Ctrl+C or any

such usual action. Simply, with the command line highlighted, Press Enter.

That puts the highlighted line onto the Clipboard and the highlight

disappears. Then, in the Compose window where you are drafting your post,

press Ctrl+V to paste that line from the Clipboard. (It's a simple

procedure, but I often mess it up a few times.)

 

It sounds like you may be making the all-too-frequent error of not including

the entire pathname within the quotes in your Del command. But maybe it's a

different problem. We can't tell if we can't see EXACTLY what you are

doing.

 

And there are a couple of other possible solutions in the

Administrator:Command Prompt window. First, as Tony suggested, Dir /x, to

see a list of the 8.3 filenames (also known as the SFN, for Short File Name,

even though it often is no shorter than the LFN). Then use the Del command

with that for-sure-legal SFN.

 

Second, is this a FOLDER, rather than a file? Then you might need to use rd

(or rmdir; either is short for Remove Directory), rather than Del. You

might need to move everything you want to keep out of that subfolder's

parent folder, then use the rd command with the /s switch to remove that

parent folder, including ALL files and subfolders. This way, you don't even

need to know the name of the problem subfolder, but you will wipe out any

other folders in that same parent, so be sure that the parent doesn't

include anything that you want to keep. Then, assuming the bad subfolder is

in a folder named C:\The Parent, type:

rd "c:\the parent" /s

 

It should ask if you are sure. Say yes and the entire Parent folder tree

should be gone, including the problem subfolder. Then, if you like, you can

create the Parent folder and put back everything you moved out.

 

RC

--

R. C. White, CPA

San Marcos, TX

rc@grandecom.net

Microsoft Windows MVP

(Running Windows Live Mail beta 2 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 beta v.275)

 

"1800yolk" <1800yolk@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:9114A8A5-F5F8-468F-8B54-913E44331E13@microsoft.com...

> When I renamed a folder on my desktop, instead of typing in a word, I

> typed

> "Alt+255". This makes the text disappear. This also makes the file hard to

> delete. I can't delete the folder. In command prompt, if I try to delete

> it,

> it says "The syntax of the command is incorrect." I also tried "del *.*"

> in

> the command prompt, but this only worked for other things in the prompt.

> I'm

> not sure what to do, and would appreciate your advice. Thanks, Brian

[Guest 1800yolk]

Re: I can't delete a folder on my desktop

 

This is what I type along with the error message:

 

C:\Users\1800yolk\Desktop>del

The syntax of the command is incorrect.

 

That is including the Alt+255 character. Thanks, Brian

[Guest R. C. White]

Re: I can't delete a folder on my desktop

 

Hi, Brian.

 

What do you see when you type:

 

C:\Users\1800yolk\Desktop>dir /x

 

Please copy'n'paste, from the resulting display, the entire line that

includes the problem folder. If the list is not too long, a paste of the

entire screen might be very informative.

 

RC

--

R. C. White, CPA

San Marcos, TX

rc@grandecom.net

Microsoft Windows MVP

(Running Windows Live Mail beta 2 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 beta v.275)

 

"1800yolk" <1800yolk@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:A1D5AB71-ADF5-4D15-9E97-22B123107478@microsoft.com...

> This is what I type along with the error message:

>

> C:\Users\1800yolk\Desktop>del

> The syntax of the command is incorrect.

>

> That is including the Alt+255 character. Thanks, Brian

[Guest 1800yolk]

Re: I can't delete a folder on my desktop

 

Here you go:

 

C:\Users\1800yolk\Desktop>dir /x

Volume in drive C has no label.

Volume Serial Number is FC3E-BDF9

 

Directory of C:\Users\1800yolk\Desktop

 

10/19/2007 03:49 PM <DIR> .

10/19/2007 03:49 PM <DIR> ..

10/03/2007 10:47 PM 6,259 Sketchup.skp

06/09/2007 06:33 PM 1,610 SNIPPI~1.LNK Snipping Tool.lnk

09/28/2007 05:32 PM 1,165 SPYBOT~1.LNK Spybot - Search &

Destroy.ln

k

10/17/2007 12:21 PM 2,263 Steam.lnk

10/12/2007 09:22 AM 1,641 WINDOW~1.LNK Windows Update.lnk

10/07/2007 12:59 AM 1,818 WOSBEX~1.LNK wosb.exe - Shortcut.lnk

10/05/2007 09:40 AM <DIR> 0A0A~1

6 File(s) 14,756 bytes

3 Dir(s) 34,853,306,368 bytes free

 

Is the 0A0A~1 the folder that I'm having problems with? The other two

directories are labeled with . and .. but I'm guessing that those are the

Computer and Recycle Bin folders.

Thanks, Brian

[Guest 1800yolk]

Re: I can't delete a folder on my desktop

 

That worked! I renamed the 0A0A~1 file to test, and then I could delete the

folder. Thanks for all the help, Brian

"1800yolk" wrote:

> Here you go:

>

> C:\Users\1800yolk\Desktop>dir /x

> Volume in drive C has no label.

> Volume Serial Number is FC3E-BDF9

>

> Directory of C:\Users\1800yolk\Desktop

>

> 10/19/2007 03:49 PM <DIR> .

> 10/19/2007 03:49 PM <DIR> ..

> 10/03/2007 10:47 PM 6,259 Sketchup.skp

> 06/09/2007 06:33 PM 1,610 SNIPPI~1.LNK Snipping Tool.lnk

> 09/28/2007 05:32 PM 1,165 SPYBOT~1.LNK Spybot - Search &

> Destroy.ln

> k

> 10/17/2007 12:21 PM 2,263 Steam.lnk

> 10/12/2007 09:22 AM 1,641 WINDOW~1.LNK Windows Update.lnk

> 10/07/2007 12:59 AM 1,818 WOSBEX~1.LNK wosb.exe - Shortcut.lnk

> 10/05/2007 09:40 AM <DIR> 0A0A~1

> 6 File(s) 14,756 bytes

> 3 Dir(s) 34,853,306,368 bytes free

>

> Is the 0A0A~1 the folder that I'm having problems with? The other two

> directories are labeled with . and .. but I'm guessing that those are the

> Computer and Recycle Bin folders.

> Thanks, Brian

[Guest Tony Sperling]

Re: I can't delete a folder on my desktop

 

As for the dot directories - the '.' is a marker for the directory you are

in ( the self marker ), the '..' (double dot) is a marker for the mother

directory from where it is itself created! So, every directory except the

root '\' directory is listing it's own existence and the fact that it was

created from outside.

 

Good work, there!

 

 

Tony. . .

 

 

"1800yolk" <1800yolk@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:D1C8E730-12CA-4D3E-AB40-0B011A326F49@microsoft.com...

> That worked! I renamed the 0A0A~1 file to test, and then I could delete

> the

> folder. Thanks for all the help, Brian

> "1800yolk" wrote:

>

>> Here you go:

>>

>> C:\Users\1800yolk\Desktop>dir /x

>> Volume in drive C has no label.

>> Volume Serial Number is FC3E-BDF9

>>

>> Directory of C:\Users\1800yolk\Desktop

>>

>> 10/19/2007 03:49 PM <DIR> .

>> 10/19/2007 03:49 PM <DIR> ..

>> 10/03/2007 10:47 PM 6,259 Sketchup.skp

>> 06/09/2007 06:33 PM 1,610 SNIPPI~1.LNK Snipping Tool.lnk

>> 09/28/2007 05:32 PM 1,165 SPYBOT~1.LNK Spybot - Search &

>> Destroy.ln

>> k

>> 10/17/2007 12:21 PM 2,263 Steam.lnk

>> 10/12/2007 09:22 AM 1,641 WINDOW~1.LNK Windows Update.lnk

>> 10/07/2007 12:59 AM 1,818 WOSBEX~1.LNK wosb.exe -

>> Shortcut.lnk

>> 10/05/2007 09:40 AM <DIR> 0A0A~1

>> 6 File(s) 14,756 bytes

>> 3 Dir(s) 34,853,306,368 bytes free

>>

>> Is the 0A0A~1 the folder that I'm having problems with? The other two

>> directories are labeled with . and .. but I'm guessing that those are the

>> Computer and Recycle Bin folders.

>> Thanks, Brian

[Guest R. C. White]

Re: I can't delete a folder on my desktop

 

Hi, Brian.

 

Congratulations! And thanks for the report, not only that it worked but HOW

it worked. That ought to help us help the next user with a similar problem.

;<)

 

And, as Tony said, the "." and ".." directories are old friends that have

been with us for many generations of Windows - and MS-DOS.

 

RC

--

R. C. White, CPA

San Marcos, TX

rc@grandecom.net

Microsoft Windows MVP

(Running Windows Live Mail beta 2 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 beta v.275)

 

"1800yolk" <1800yolk@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:D1C8E730-12CA-4D3E-AB40-0B011A326F49@microsoft.com...

> That worked! I renamed the 0A0A~1 file to test, and then I could delete

> the

> folder. Thanks for all the help, Brian

> "1800yolk" wrote:

>

>> Here you go:

>>

>> C:\Users\1800yolk\Desktop>dir /x

>> Volume in drive C has no label.

>> Volume Serial Number is FC3E-BDF9

>>

>> Directory of C:\Users\1800yolk\Desktop

>>

>> 10/19/2007 03:49 PM <DIR> .

>> 10/19/2007 03:49 PM <DIR> ..

>> 10/03/2007 10:47 PM 6,259 Sketchup.skp

>> 06/09/2007 06:33 PM 1,610 SNIPPI~1.LNK Snipping Tool.lnk

>> 09/28/2007 05:32 PM 1,165 SPYBOT~1.LNK Spybot - Search &

>> Destroy.ln

>> k

>> 10/17/2007 12:21 PM 2,263 Steam.lnk

>> 10/12/2007 09:22 AM 1,641 WINDOW~1.LNK Windows Update.lnk

>> 10/07/2007 12:59 AM 1,818 WOSBEX~1.LNK wosb.exe -

>> Shortcut.lnk

>> 10/05/2007 09:40 AM <DIR> 0A0A~1

>> 6 File(s) 14,756 bytes

>> 3 Dir(s) 34,853,306,368 bytes free

>>

>> Is the 0A0A~1 the folder that I'm having problems with? The other two

>> directories are labeled with . and .. but I'm guessing that those are the

>> Computer and Recycle Bin folders.

>> Thanks, Brian

[Guest Jud Hendrix]

Re: I can't delete a folder on my desktop

 

On Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:00:01 -0700, 1800yolk

<1800yolk@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>That worked! I renamed the 0A0A~1 file to test, and then I could delete the

>folder. Thanks for all the help, Brian

 

Like I told you long time ago already ;-)

 

j

[Guest Tony Sperling]

Re: I can't delete a folder on my desktop

 

Old friends, indeed, RC.

 

I had so much trouble understanding the concept back then, but I was doing

quite a bit of BAT writing and came to see them as a 'language resource' -

potentially very usefull!

 

And they'll be usefull still if you are doing any kind of 'scripting' today.

 

 

Tony. . .

 

 

"R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message

news:139F31A6-3EEB-4FA8-9C6D-D8E1781E4584@microsoft.com...

> Hi, Brian.

>

> Congratulations! And thanks for the report, not only that it worked but

> HOW it worked. That ought to help us help the next user with a similar

> problem. ;<)

>

> And, as Tony said, the "." and ".." directories are old friends that have

> been with us for many generations of Windows - and MS-DOS.

>

> RC

> --

> R. C. White, CPA

> San Marcos, TX

> rc@grandecom.net

> Microsoft Windows MVP

> (Running Windows Live Mail beta 2 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 beta v.275)

>

> "1800yolk" <1800yolk@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:D1C8E730-12CA-4D3E-AB40-0B011A326F49@microsoft.com...

>> That worked! I renamed the 0A0A~1 file to test, and then I could delete

>> the

>> folder. Thanks for all the help, Brian

>> "1800yolk" wrote:

>>

>>> Here you go:

>>>

>>> C:\Users\1800yolk\Desktop>dir /x

>>> Volume in drive C has no label.

>>> Volume Serial Number is FC3E-BDF9

>>>

>>> Directory of C:\Users\1800yolk\Desktop

>>>

>>> 10/19/2007 03:49 PM <DIR> .

>>> 10/19/2007 03:49 PM <DIR> ..

>>> 10/03/2007 10:47 PM 6,259 Sketchup.skp

>>> 06/09/2007 06:33 PM 1,610 SNIPPI~1.LNK Snipping Tool.lnk

>>> 09/28/2007 05:32 PM 1,165 SPYBOT~1.LNK Spybot - Search &

>>> Destroy.ln

>>> k

>>> 10/17/2007 12:21 PM 2,263 Steam.lnk

>>> 10/12/2007 09:22 AM 1,641 WINDOW~1.LNK Windows Update.lnk

>>> 10/07/2007 12:59 AM 1,818 WOSBEX~1.LNK wosb.exe -

>>> Shortcut.lnk

>>> 10/05/2007 09:40 AM <DIR> 0A0A~1

>>> 6 File(s) 14,756 bytes

>>> 3 Dir(s) 34,853,306,368 bytes free

>>>

>>> Is the 0A0A~1 the folder that I'm having problems with? The other two

>>> directories are labeled with . and .. but I'm guessing that those are

>>> the

>>> Computer and Recycle Bin folders.

>>> Thanks, Brian

>