Can't Delete Folder – “Could not find this item”

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Hello all,

I am trying to delete a folder located in C:Users%username%FavoritesTech Stuff. Whenever I try to delete the folder either from Internet Explorer 8 (now IE9 Beta) or from Windows Explorer I get an error message that says “Could not find this item – This is no longer located in C:Users%username%FavoritesTech Stuff. Verify the item’s location and try again.” Inside the folder there is a file called “meta.fm” but when I attempt to open it in Windows Explorer I get an error message that says the directory name is invalid. I checked the folders properties to see if perhaps it might give me some insight but when I click on the security tab it says “The requested security information is either unavailable or can’t be displayed.” Under the General tab there is no information for the categories “Created:” “Modified:” or “Accessed:” and it shows the folder size as 0 bytes.
I have tried deleting it via the command prompt, by deleting its 8.3 filename (which appeared to work btw but when I went back into explorer it was still there laughing at me…) and everything else I can think of or find with my Google Fu, all to no avail.

I am running Windows 7 Pro 32bit on a clean install that is about 6 months old. Have been trying to get rid of this folder for about 3 months now off and on. If there’s any other information you may need let me know.

Thanks so much,

Val

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Uninstall or disable any browser favorites synchronizing tool or addon like Foxmarks synchronizer.

Have you tried deleting this in safemode?

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I’m sorry, I forgot to mention that I had also tried both running chkdsk /r and booting into safe mode and then immediately trying to delete the folder. Neither method worked. I received the same error message. Disabling X-Marks did not help either. Still at a loss but thank you for the advice.

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I’m sorry, I forgot to mention that I had also tried both running chkdsk /r and booting into safe mode and them immediately trying to delete the folder. Neither method worked. I received the same error message. Disablin X-Marks did not help either. Still at a loss but thank you for the advice.

Valek Hawke,
Hello… Download this program “Everything” http://www.voidtools.com/ and configure it for scan C: only once loaded , run and find your “un deletable” file folder” once found ( where its hiding ) if you right click on it …the path will be shown… you can then use “Winbubble” http://unlockforus.blogspot.com/2008/11/download.html (to take ownership) to delete all places its found . If it still is not co-operating …use “Unlocker” http://filehippo.com/search?q=Unlocker to do the job….both are free programs , although “Unlocker ” might cause your “security to complain ” its available from “FileHippo” V-1.90. Post back if you have any questions about those programs. Regards Fred

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Fred,

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I did download and install both Everything and Winbubble. I already know what the file path to the folder in question is and from what I can tell from the error message that I am receiving the file is not locked, it’s just that for some reason Windows doesn’t see the folder as even existing when I try to delete it. Anyway I did as you suggested and took ownership of the folder (which doesn’t make sense how I can take ownership of a file or folder that Windows doesn’t think exists? The command prompt came and went too fast for me to read what message was displayed…) but when I tried to delete the folder I got the same error message as before. I tried Unlocker and it actually offered the most hope even though it told me that there were no locking handles attached to that folder it offered to delete it and when that failed it offered to delete it on the next reboot. So, when I rebooted I anxiously opened Windows Explorer but much to my dismay, sitting there mocking me, laughing at me maniacally was that folder.

Well…once more into the fray…

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So, when I rebooted I anxiously opened Windows Explorer but much to my dismay, sitting there mocking me, laughing at me maniacally was that folder.

Valek,
Hello, i have a few thoughts.. (not too often ) This is what I’m thinking .The reason that i suggested “Everything” is that there may be more places that the folder from “Hades” is hiding. “Everything” will show them all. Could be also that the “folder” is being “rebuilt ” after booting, and you have to get to the “root” folder. If you decide to try “Everything” make sure that you configure it for your C: drive and not all the rest… It will scan like “greased lightning” Regards Fred

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Since this is a Favorite sub folder, is this folder listed within IE and then the favorites?

If it is try and delete it using the Organize Favorites.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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Hi Dave,

Yes, it is listed within IE and the Favorites Folder. “Organize Favorites” was the first way (well…second after right-clicking and choosing “Delete” from directly within the Favorites list) that I tried to delete the folder and initially found out that this problem even existed.

Wow, this has really gone from the sublime to the ridiculous hasn’t it…

Val

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If you have UAC disabled, enable it.

Try using ICACLS to remove and reset permissions. See Icacls – Technet.

Joe

--Joe

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The TechNet article is a little confusing, not sure what syntax I would use to accomplish said goal. When I tried to see what the DACLs were on the folder in question (C:UsersFavoritesTech StuffMS Office) it gave me an “Invalid Parameter ‘StuffMS'” which seems to coincide with what another user at the site wrote in their comment that the Icacls command does not seem to like spaces. I had to back all the way up to C:UsersFavorites before it would give me any results and it showed that NT System, Admins and Myself specifically had full access permissions as it stands. Could you be a bit more specific in what exactly it is that we are trying to accomplish and as I mentioned above, exactly what syntax I would use to do so?

Thanks so much, sorry if I’m being a pain, I’m just a bit confused, been one helluva day, brain is totally fried and stressed out right now. It’ll probably all make perfect sense tomorrow but right now I just can’t seem to wrap my mind around it…

Again, Thank You for your help,

Val

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The TechNet article is a little confusing, not sure what syntax I would use to accomplish said goal. When I tried to see what the DACLs were on the folder in question (C:UsersFavoritesTech StuffMS Office) it gave me an “Invalid Parameter ‘StuffMS'” which seems to coincide with what another user at the site wrote in their comment that the Icacls command does not seem to like spaces. I had to back all the way up to C:UsersFavorites before it would give me any results and it showed that NT System, Admins and Myself specifically had full access permissions as it stands. Could you be a bit more specific in what exactly it is that we are trying to accomplish and as I mentioned above, exactly what syntax I would use to do so?

Thanks so much, sorry if I’m being a pain, I’m just a bit confused, been one helluva day, brain is totally fried and stressed out right now. It’ll probably all make perfect sense tomorrow but right now I just can’t seem to wrap my mind around it…

Again, Thank You for your help,

Val

As test enclose the folder path in quotation marks “C:UsersFavoritesTech StuffMS Office“. Use an elevated command prompt and execute icacls with the path name only. That should display what accounts currently have rights.

Note: enclosing a path name that includes spaces in quotation marks works on my Windows 7 system.

Joe

--Joe

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OK, I tried that and here is the copy/paste of what I received – pretty much the same thing as before…

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:Windowssystem32>Icacls “C:UsersBrianFavoritesTech StuffMS Office”
C:UsersBrianFavoritesTech StuffMS Office: The system cannot find the file s
pecified.
Successfully processed 0 files; Failed processing 1 files

C:Windowssystem32>

It just blows my mind that I can see the folder in Windows Explorer and IE9 but can’t do anything with it. In my simple mind I am reasoning it out that if it is being DISPLAYED then Windows has to see the file in order to display it…to quote the great Jimmy Buffett “Yes, no, who knows? I don’t know…”

Again, Thank You All…

Val

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It could be that there is a non-displayable special character in the folder name. Can you copy the other folders & files under “Tech Stuff” to another location and then in an elevated command prompt use RMDIR at the “Tech Stuff” level. If it owkrs you can re-create “Tech Stuff” and then move the copies back to it.

Joe

--Joe

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By God that did it! If ever I have the chance I’ll buy you a tasty beverage of your choice. I knew there had to be more than one way to skin that cat. I just couldn’t figure it out. Truthfully I would not have thought of going about it that way. Noted.

Thanks So Much Joe,

Val

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You’re welcome. Glad to help. Thanks for posting back your success.

Joe

--Joe

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