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Best way to delete user files and folders that won't delete?


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Posted

Every now and then some user creates a file or folder that can't be

deleted - they don't have rights to change the rights on the folders.

 

The files or folders are not in use but you can't delete them - checked on

the server to verify the file wasn't in use.

 

Any suggestions?

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Guest Danny Sanders
Posted

Re: Best way to delete user files and folders that won't delete?

 

Have the admin take ownership of the files/folders, then delete

 

hth

DDS

 

"boe" <boe_d@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:em$uuX9oIHA.3976@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Every now and then some user creates a file or folder that can't be

> deleted - they don't have rights to change the rights on the folders.

>

> The files or folders are not in use but you can't delete them - checked on

> the server to verify the file wasn't in use.

>

> Any suggestions?

>

Guest Thee Chicago Wolf
Posted

Re: Best way to delete user files and folders that won't delete?

 

>Every now and then some user creates a file or folder that can't be

>deleted - they don't have rights to change the rights on the folders.

>

>The files or folders are not in use but you can't delete them - checked on

>the server to verify the file wasn't in use.

>

>Any suggestions?

 

Try Unlocker: http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

 

- Thee Chicago Wolf

Posted

Re: Best way to delete user files and folders that won't delete?

 

Thanks I should have mentioned that - I am the admin - I've reset all rights

and no luck.

 

I see this typically when macs try to save files with crazy punctionation or

start with a space.

"Danny Sanders" <DSanders@NOSPAMciber.com> wrote in message

news:OGbAhu9oIHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> Have the admin take ownership of the files/folders, then delete

>

> hth

> DDS

>

> "boe" <boe_d@hotmail.com> wrote in message

> news:em$uuX9oIHA.3976@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>> Every now and then some user creates a file or folder that can't be

>> deleted - they don't have rights to change the rights on the folders.

>>

>> The files or folders are not in use but you can't delete them - checked

>> on the server to verify the file wasn't in use.

>>

>> Any suggestions?

>>

>

>

Posted

Re: Best way to delete user files and folders that won't delete?

 

Thanks - I'll give that a try the next time this happens!

 

"Thee Chicago Wolf" <.@.> wrote in message

news:8fmp041h0pad85fra95tbnd3foh99od2os@4ax.com...

> >Every now and then some user creates a file or folder that can't be

>>deleted - they don't have rights to change the rights on the folders.

>>

>>The files or folders are not in use but you can't delete them - checked on

>>the server to verify the file wasn't in use.

>>

>>Any suggestions?

>

> Try Unlocker: http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

>

> - Thee Chicago Wolf

Guest Ace Fekay [MVP]
Posted

Re: Best way to delete user files and folders that won't delete?

 

In news:uYTbx49oIHA.5096@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl,

boe <boe_d@hotmail.com> typed:

> Thanks - I'll give that a try the next time this happens!

 

 

Boe,

 

Actually I've seen this in the past a few times when a machine gets 'pubbed'

by FTP pubbers that seek open FTP servers that allow anonymous and write

permissions. They then use the server to create folders using a non-Windows

FTP client, or an FTP client that is set to use Unix commands then upload

their wares, such as movies, apps, games, etc, then advertise them on

private 'pub' sites to share with others in their pirate community. They can

then create folders with reserved Windows names (com, net, LPT1, etc) that

you can't normally in the Windows GUI. All they do is post the whole

subfolder structure on their pub sites and they directly access them. It's

supported on Windows to be compatible with POSIX (from the days of old) and

Unix. And yes, OSx can do this too because they are BSD based, which is

Unix.

 

Here's an excerpt from a post I saved long ago to help you remove these

files:

 

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

Here's how to create a locked folder with FTP:

 

http://www.madchat.org/coding/w32nt.rev/dirnt.htm

 

 

 

Here's how to delete them:

 

How to Remove Files with Reserved Names in Windows

 

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q120716

 

 

 

++++++++++++++++++

 

It's likely the files are using an alternate data stream which would

explain why their file size appears as zero bytes.

 

In order to erase the files, try this -

 

del \\?\c:\<filename>

 

If the filename contains symbollic characters, enter what you can and

wildcard the rest or use file completion or use a full wildcard.

 

 

 

You are correct in that this has been answered before, one solution has

been posted below and searching fazwak for posts from me containing \\?\

will also yield many results. IMHO, the easier built-in solution which

uses a form of local naming is more often readily available ... (I'm

assuming the top level folder contains absolutely nothing you want to

keep, if it does .... improvise on the syntax I supplied and erase each

unwanted child) -

 

C:\>cd inetpub\ftproot

 

C:\Inetpub\ftproot>rd /s /q \\?\c:\inetpub\ftproot

 

NOTE - The syntax is literal, do not substitue the ?, only the path. In

addition, setting your working directory to inetpub\ftproot merely

prevents it from being erased along with it's contents.

 

 

 

(By Dean Wells, MVP)

 

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

 

--

Regards,

Ace

 

This posting is provided "AS-IS" with no warranties or guarantees and

confers no rights.

 

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2003 & 2000, MCSA 2003 & 2000, MCSE+I, MCT,

MVP Microsoft MVP - Directory Services

Microsoft Certified Trainer

 

For urgent issues, you may want to contact Microsoft PSS directly. Please

check http://support.microsoft.com for regional support phone numbers.

 

Infinite Diversities in Infinite Combinations


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