Help!! Can not delete folder

[Killer_Rubber_Ducky]

I ran into this problem while reorganizing my data drive. I had a folder called Anime that was being shared @ location D:\Anime. I wanted to delete this folder because nothing was in it and no one could access it anyway. Problem was, when ever I tried to delete or change anything even open it, it told me I did not have rights to access it, I AM ADMIN. WTF? I can not delete, open, modify, or hide this folder. Help!!! Unlocker won't do anything either.

 

[Depth]

Open command prompt as administrator and use the ICACLS command to give you access, then delete it from the same window.

Be careful with that command.

 

[CounterZeus]

hum, I have the same issue with one of my folders

 

[theonedub]

Right click, properties, security, advanced, owner-> make sure you are the owner in that screen, then try deleting it again?

 

[scaminatrix]

Malware Bytes Anti Malware (free) has a tool called FileAssassin. I swear by it.

 

[Depth]

ICACLS D:\anime /remove:d username /C

ICACLS D:\anime /grant username:F /C

erase D:\anime

It's been years since I touched access lists but the above should work from either your own username or as administrator. If not, you can start in safe mode and modify the folder ownership.

 

[Killer_Rubber_Ducky]

ICACLS D:\anime /remove:d username /C

ICACLS D:\anime /grant username:F /C

erase D:\anime

It's been years since I touched access lists but the above should work from either your own username or as administrator. If not, you can start in safe mode and modify the folder ownership.

unfortunately, that did not work

 

[newtekie1]

Turn of UAC, if you haven't already.

Make sure you are the owner of the folder, and that the permissions are set properly.

If that doesn't work, try Killbox.

If that doesn't work, the folder might be corrupt, meaning the hard drive might be going bad.

 

[Killer_Rubber_Ducky]

Turn of UAC, if you haven't already.

Make sure you are the owner of the folder, and that the permissions are set properly.

If that doesn't work, try Killbox.

If that doesn't work, the folder might be corrupt, meaning the hard drive might be going bad.

Thanks,
Killbox beta worked great. I set it to delete on reboot. I was then able to Manually delete the folder.

 

[slyfox2151]

use "take ownership"... if you ever run accross this problem again.


once added to the registery all you need to do is right click the folder and hit take ownership... then u can delete it straight away.

 

[Killer_Rubber_Ducky]

use "take ownership"... if you ever run accross this problem again.


once added to the registery all you need to do is right click the folder and hit take ownership... then u can delete it straight away.

well, minor problem with that. When ever I look at the security section, it claims it can not display the owner.

 

[slyfox2151]

if you ran the take ownership command, wouldnt it delete the owner and set you as the new owner.

 

[burtram]

I've had that happen a few times. usually restarting the computer works for me, but if it's real stubborn, going into safe mode and deleting it there works. Haven't had one that was more stubborn than that yet. really irritating when it does that.

 

[Laurijan]

Maybe a little prog called "move on boot" helps.

 

[Mussels]

Maybe a little prog called "move on boot" helps.

i was coming here to suggest that program as well, its solved this kind of thing for me before.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Safe Mode is definitely my weapon of choice. If an application (including services and startup processes) opens a file stream in that folder, Windows can't delete it until the stream is closed. Because Safe Mode only loads required resources (of which most are in the %windir%) it is very unlikely for the application to be running that is tying up a directory outside of the Windows directory.

If the directory is still tied up in Safe Mode and it is not a directory Windows would ever use, I have to believe it is associated with malware (the malware modified Windows core files to open a stream somewhere in that directory).

 

[Killer_Rubber_Ducky]

if you ran the take ownership command, wouldnt it delete the owner and set you as the new owner.

Ah, but if you were to look at the screen shots you would see that it acts as though it doesn't exist. Also, It seems to say there is no owner or you can't see who owns it. You get Admin required etc when ever trying to modify yet when you click continue, it says access denied. i think Windows Media Center was re-adding it to the file system. i'm thinking of rebooting into Ubuntu Live CD and effing it over from there. (Yeah F U Microsoft!!!)

At least in Linux things get done when you say so as admin. The OS doesn't second guess you.

 

[Laurijan]

Ah, but if you were to look at the screen shots you would see that it acts as though it doesn't exist. Also, It seems to say there is no owner or you can't see who owns it. You get Admin required etc when ever trying to modify yet when you click continue, it says access denied. i think Windows Media Center was re-adding it to the file system. i'm thinking of rebooting into Ubuntu Live CD and effing it over from there. (Yeah F U Microsoft!!!)

At least in Linux things get done when you say so as admin. The OS doesn't second guess you.

I absolutely hate Windows user right system - its so complicated I have never learned it.

 

[streetfighter 2]

I usually start by running chmod 777 then rmdir on the folder from cygwin (which is always very convenient to have if you're somewhat familiar with linux). Apart from that when you disable the "Use Sharing Wzzzrrrddd" you can change ownership (which has been mentioned a couple hundred times). If a file/folder doesn't have an owner that shouldn't effect your ability to take ownership.

If that doesn't work Hiren's Boot CD or any live disc is the final fallback position.

You can also do a search in the registry to see if any program is linking to the folder (or use Process Explorer), but that seems annoying compared to the more direct ways.