Vista - Weird error trying to delete Start Menu item

[Jenesis]

I'm trying to delete an unneeded folder from the Start Menu. I right-click and then "Explore", navigate to "Programs", select the folder and press delete.

It won't let me delete the folder! (It is an empty folder.) The error that comes up is:

Could not find this item

This is no longer located in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\StartMenu\Programs. Verify the item's location and try again.

The thing is, the folder IS there. I'm sitting here looking at it. Why is Windows telling me it doesn't exist, and more importantly, how can I finally delete this useless empty folder which is cluttering up my Start Menu?

 

[Namslas90]

It's probably just a registry entry - run registry cleaner. Or, try doing this; Open File Explorer, browse to \Windows\Start Menu and you'll see the icons there. Delete from this folder and that should remove it.

If the deleted files is stil in Recycle bin, restore it then go back to start menu and delete the file the normal way.

If you can't find the recycle bin...Right-click on your desktop and choose Personalize,
click the Change Desktop Icons link in upper left hand corner. In the Desktop Icons Settings window, check the Recycle Bin box and click OK.

Hope that helps.

 

[Jenesis]

Open File Explorer, browse to \Windows\Start Menu and you'll see the icons there. Delete from this folder and that should remove it.

That's what I'm trying to do and where I get the error

It's probably just a registry entry - run registry cleaner

I have run CCleaner, to no avail (still cannot delete folder/file).

To show what I mean more clearly (not very good at explaining!), see this screenshot. As you can see, the folder I'm trying to delete is selectable, but cannot be deleted or have attributes such as Hidden applied to it.

 

[Demon_82]

Try renaming or moving anywhere else that folder before to delete, I got to delete that way some 'resistent' folders and files.

 

[Jenesis]

Thanks for the input, sadly I cannot rename, move or edit the folder in any way. The same error (in the screenshot in post #3) comes up every time I try to OK a change, whether it be a move, copy, delete, rename etc...

 

[180sx]

I'm trying to delete an unneeded folder from the Start Menu. I right-click and then "Explore", navigate to "Programs", select the folder and press delete.

It won't let me delete the folder! (It is an empty folder.) The error that comes up is:



The thing is, the folder IS there. I'm sitting here looking at it. Why is Windows telling me it doesn't exist, and more importantly, how can I finally delete this useless empty folder which is cluttering up my Start Menu?

Hey mate (yes im from australia)

I had this problem just before and fixed it pretty easily.
Have to use the good old command prompt and delete from there.
Windows is just gettin shitter and shitter isnt it. might go back to DOS soon lol

Steps> CMD in run > go to the folder (start menu folder) > type: DEL (watever the filename is) and if it says from filename put in the shortname eg. 034Michael short would maybe be 034Mich~l or sumthing like that.

THIS WILL WORK, THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME 4 TIMES NOW LOL fukin vista!!

 

[Jenesis]

Thank you for your advice! However, and this may be cheeky, could you possibly explain that in a clearer way? I am unused to performing file deletions and things through the command prompt and when you say "go to the folder in run" I haven't a clue what you mean...

 

[180sx]

lol sorry about that.

go into Start then Run

and type CMD

the command prompt should appear (black box)
and have like c:\user\***blah blah

type cd (folder name) this will get you into the folder and dont use brackets either

if you type DIR and press enter it will show the folder contents

EG. of what i did (screenshot)

hope this helps mate

 

[big_jock_knew]

This might help

Auright.

A had a problem like this and am not too hot on computers. A found a way of getting a few file shortcuts off ma start menu. I searched hunners of forums n then came across one where a guy was talkin about how vista uses a mad index thing to index all your searches. If you really want tae delete the files (bear in mind when u search for stuff it'll no really find things that well and a dunno if this fixes its self out or what) follow these steps

Control Panel
>Indexin Options
>Advanced (accept the mad security hing)
>You'll be in the Index Settings tab
>Go down tae Troubleshootin bit and press Rebuild

that worked for me and got rid of all the shite that wasny there hope it works for you as well coz it was a pain in the arse for me and a feel yer pain.