sometimes when we try to delete a folder in windows, it doesnot allows... inspite of the fact that the folder is empty... just wanted to know the possible reasons behind it!!
thank you...
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sometimes when we try to delete a folder in windows, it doesnot allows... inspite of the fact that the folder is empty... just wanted to know the possible reasons behind it!!
thank you...
the folder dosen't need to be empty to be deleted in windows. does the error message say "some files or the folder in use by other application". my guess is that you are attempting to delete the folder while it is in use by some other application. try closing the possible applications which are using the folder in question and deleting and if you are not sure about the application try to log off or restart the system and then delete the folder.Quote:
inspite of the fact that the folder is empty
ya the same message is there..
i often searched for the services or programmes running but unable to find them...
once i deleted such folder some how, but when i re-logined, it was again there (it was empty before and after)...
Which windows? What's the folder name?? Sorry to sound harsh, but you're more prone to get the answer you're looking for if you give us specifics. If you ask general questions, you get general answers...ask SPECIFIC questions and you get SPECIFIC answers.
well allenb1963, i dont remember right now which folder it was... but it took me days to permanantly delete that folder from my system... i was just trying to get in detail of the topic...
sometimes, u get a nice answer in general... :)
thanks anyway!!
This thread would be better in operating systems.
Open two command windows
Type in windows 1
In window 2:Code:c:
cd \
mkdir test_folder
In window 1:Code:c:
cd \test_folder
This will give you an error message, even though the folder is empty. It is because another process has 'cd' to the folderCode:rmdir c:\test_folder
In window 2:
In window 1:Code:cd \
You will note the folder will now have been deletedCode:rmdir c:\test_folder
HTH
Steve
may be the ther folder your trying to deleted is link to a certain program and may result so error if you delete the folder.. maybe loging into you system in a safe mode may help you delete the folder completely.. hope this one help coz sometimes some program are easily change or configure in safe mode...
it's quite simple:
open taskmanager, go the tab processes, and kill all processes that can be killed, except explorer.exe
all the system processes cannot be killed by you so don't worry....
after this delete the folder...
Did you try to delete the folder in DOS command window.
It might be also due to some errors while installing a corrupt old application (say windows 95 application or so) in windows and uninstalling the same leaving corrupt folder names with some junk, which the windows file system did not understand.
i think what riya_here means is she is able to delete the folder somehow but it is again created it might be a folder created by some system process or program to store its temperary files which are deleted afterwards but the folder remainds.Quote:
once i deleted such folder some how, but when i re-logined, it was again there
then i suggest you get a registry cleaner or check the registry yourself for the foldername or part of it, and delete everything from the registry containing that name....
that is, if it is not a system folder or anything, so backup your registry first!!!!
The task-manager and the like don't relate to folders like 'xerox', 'frontpage', etc...
These are locked by explorer.exe on bootup and are a real pain considering I would love to clean them out.
From my experience, I will restart the box, and when get into the Windows back, dont try to running any application yet, but you have to delete the folder that you want to. I dont know why it is happen even nothing in the folder. I'm not guarentee this will work... but you may try.
....
hey, do tell me about the folder 'xerox'....
y is it there??
you are not giving much to work with are you .... Do you have any product from Xerox such as printer or something. What OS do you have? Where is this folder located ? what are its contents?
[edit]
That xerox folder is part of a standard XP install. Its also part of the XP
operating environment and is protected by Windows File Protection. Why is it
neccesary? if you want to disable the file protection follw the instructions in the following link http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/790/
After a reboot, you are then able to remove the folders as you normally would. Be aware that this does, however, also remove the protection of critical system files, which depending on your level of expertise, could be either good or bad. The tweak itself is harmless.
Hmm you could possibly try going into 'safe mode' [that is, if the OS allows you to - didn't specify what version of Windows you're running] and see if you can delete it from there. Is it a system folder? [does a Google check on it return any kind of results about it?]
If after 'safe mode' it reappears, then, try the registry maneuver already sugested. If you cannot delete it in 'safe mode' you could possibly try to delete it from DOS with a boot disk [except that, on new OSes it will still be a DOS shell, even with a bootdisk - and older bootdisks won't see NTFS]. I am not sure wether any LiveCD GNU/Linux distros allow for writing on NTFS [Knoppix only has read-only mode], but if there is one, try that too.
Tell us how it works [and what works]
riya_here, hypronix even though you will be able to delete this folder in safe mode it will re-appear again at the next logon . do not worry about it riya_here it is part of WINXP
.Quote:
The Program Files folder is home to 16 subfolders:
*
Common Files. This folder contains files shared with the Microsoft applications.
*
ComPlus Applications. This folder contains files used by ComPlus applications. If there are no ComPlus applications installed on your XP machine, this folder will be empty. COM+ builds on the Microsoft Component Object Model (COM) integrated services and features, making it easier for developers to create and use software components in any language, using any tool.
*
Internet Explorer. This folder contains the files and executables for Internet Explorer, a Web-browsing tool.
*
Messenger. This folder contains files and executables for the new Windows Messenger Service. This service combines features found in MSN Messenger with an improved communications infrastructure.
*
Movie Maker. This folder contains the files and executables for the Movie Maker application.
*
MSN. This folder contains the files and executables for MSN Explorer, the new Internet connectivity tool from Microsoft that combines Web, e-mail services, and Internet setup services.
*
MSN Gaming Zone. This folder contains the files and executables for the MSN Gaming Zone.
*
NetMeeting. This folder contains all the files used by Microsoft NetMeeting.
*
Online Services. This folder contains files used to establish Internet connectivity. These files enable you to set up Internet access through MSN or to select another available Internet service provider.
*
Outlook Express. This folder contains all the files and executables needed by Microsoft Outlook Express, a simple e-mail application.
*
Uninstall Information. This is a hidden folder containing files and information for uninstall services.
*
Windows Media Player. This folder contains the Microsoft Media Player application.
*
Windows NT. This folder contains any applications that have been ported over from other Windows operating systems (such as Pinball). This folder has empty folders in it if the ported components were not selected during installation.
*
Windows Update. This folder contains all the files used by the Windows Update Service.
*
Xerox. This folder contains all the files used by Xerox applications. By default, this folder is empty.
http://www.informit.com/isapi/produc...tent/index.asp
although it is a harmless folder but if you still want to delete follow the porcedure stated above in my previous post.
or boot with a knoppix cd and mount the windows partition with -rw, and then delete the folder, this should work too...
I have windows ME, does it have Windows File Protection. how do i know which files are protected and which files the WFP has replaced does it replace them automatecally?
hi,
only latest versons of Windows ME has System File Protection which is similar to Windows File Protection (WFP) in win2000/XP , it works in background actually. it maintains a database of the protected files. if one of the protected file it deleted or replaced SFP will automatecally copy the original file from dllcache folder it maintains. this process runs without the user intervention. it does not notify the user about the copying of file or anything. SFP maintains a log though you can check the log the log file,
can be found in the %SystemRoot%\Windows\System\SFP\Sfplog.txt
.
You can view the list of files protected by SFP (nearly 900 files) by viewing which is found in %SystemRoot%\Windows\System\Restore\Filelist.xml.
There is a way to enable SFP to give you Popup Notification. To do this you need to edit the registry:
1. Start the Registry Editor
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ SystemFileProtection
3. Double-click on the ShowPopups value, and change the value from 0 to 1
4. Close the Registry Editor and restart Windows
Buy some delete a folder software, should workgood for you.
Just wondering though why is xerox folder Protected when by default it is empty.
hey neemitjamwal wondering the same thing. must be a secret deal between M$ and xerox corporation. :)
[edit]
JuJuBeans , another troll on the prawl
yes wolverine,
i have win XP box... but i dont have any product of xerox...
but thanks, i got my answer!! :)
Just out of curiousity is your "show hidden files" checked in the folder options from the control panel? and im asking becuase it may seem empty but acually have a file in it( like a dll file or something)....just a thought
milhouse.... ;)
yes, it is checked...
Sometimes going into Safe Mode (if you've got XP) will help.
To get into Safe Mode, you restart the computer, and keep hitting the F8 key right before the Windows Logo pops up when it's booting up. Then choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt and delete the file manually there.
Or if you have write permissions for Windows in Linux, that could be an alternative as well.
boot the computer into safe mode and remove the folder
i don't think booting into safe mode will help. you will be able to delete the said folder in the safe mode but it will be there when you will boot the system next time, i thaught i made myself clear. ok here we go again, and correct if i am wrong Windows XP 'Program Files' has by default 16 Subfolders. Xerox is one of them. This folder contains all the files used by Xerox applications. By default, this folder is empty. this folder is protected by is protected by Windows File Protection . WFP maintains a database of all the files and folders protected by it. it also contains a Backup of all the files/folders it protect. it runs in the background and without even your knowing it will decet the deletion of this folder and will replace it. you will have to Disable WFP before deleting this folder. every time you delete this folder it will be created.
but y the xerox, being a mandatory folder, is empty?
Then it sounds like you need to find the reg key that makes the folder reapear. You should already know the command line to removing rights to a folder. If removing these rights and deleteing the xerox reg file doesnt work then I have no clue but I dont think you should have any problems doing this.
Let me know how this turns out.