Can’t delete files! (Windows 2000 SP4)

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Hello! I’m experiencing troubles in deleting some files left from an old user profile. The files are located in “My Documents… (@ least 10 subfolders)…Data. If I want to delete the whole tree below My Documents, he’s saying that he can’t find the files I want to delete. If I browse all the way down to the appropriate folder I see the files. But when I right click on them, the menu isn’t showing the delete command. If I mark them and press delete on the keyboard nothing happens. I can’t delete them, rename them, move them, set security on the them, anything!
I tried it in secure mode, in DOS-Mode, with max permissions, nothing worked out.
You have any idea what else to do? Help appreciated! Thx!

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Are you signed in as an Administrator? You probably don’t have the rights to delete these files.

What permissions are set on them?

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Hi Lyra!

Thx for your answer. I’m logged in as admin and have max access to the directory. As you might have read, I can’t set security on file-level, so I can’t tell you which permissions are set on the files. But I set permission to the directory and let it replace in all files below this folder.
I think that it has something to do with the directory-depth. I had problems in the past, where there were too many subfolders, but nothing ever was like this.
Any other suggestions?

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Search the lounge for “dr delete”. It is a useful program that allows you to remove files at the next boot before lots of other ‘stuff’ is loaded. It will sometimes allow you to get rid of files that seem to be invulnerable to any other method.

Joe

--Joe

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Hi Joe!
I tried Dr Delete, nothing. If I drag the file over dr delete, nothing happens. Just as if I have no file selected. No succes with browsing either. I double-klick the file, and the selection textbox stays empty.
I tried to show up the properties of the file(s) and he comes up with “No properties available.” I’m definitely @ the end of my knowledge now, so I’m counting on you guys (and girls). 🙂
Thx for your help!

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You could try opening a Command Prompt window, then doing the following:

CD “C:Documents and Settings{username}” where {username} is the name of the account. So IF the name of the account was Fred then you would type in
CD “C:Documents and SettingsFred” including the double quotes.

Make sure that the prompt now reads:
C:Documents and SettingsFred>
If it DOES NOT read this, stop now, otherwise you might do some VERY SERIOUS DAMAGE if you continue!

Now type
RD “My Documents” /S /Q including the double quotes.

This should delete this subdirectory and all files, and all those below “My Documents”

You will still be left with the “C:Documents and SettingsFred” subdirectory, but you can probably remove it now.

If it doesn’t work, it is probably because it won’t allow you to delete “My Documents”!

Then I’m afraid you’ll have to Google for some other programs that will delete stubborn files and directories.

John

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Morning John!

Thx for your help.
That did the trick! I booted in safe mode-command prompt and tried the command you told me. Within 2 seconds all files were killed once and for all.
Like I always said: “Ask Woody’s Lounge. There are the best people you can find!”

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