I have a file that will not allow me to delete a folder. It says the file name is too long and I should rename it. However the file will not allow me to rename. The folder shows zero bytes but it too will not allow me to delete.

How can I delete the file and folder?

You may have to try some other program, but try this first:

From an elevated Command Prompt, i.e. click the Windows Orb (Start) > All Programs > Accessories and right-click Command Prompt, then ‘Run as Administrator’.

Using the CD command, navigate to the folder where the file is stored.
Type dir /x and press Enter to display the short name (maximum 8.3 characters) of the files.
Type del xxx and press Enter (where xxx is the short name of the file you wish to delete).

If you don’t know the CD command, post back here with the file’s location, e.g. Desktop, and I’ll give you the commands.

Hi cooleydd, Ricardo here. I have another suggestion for you, but please try what BurrWalnut suggested first. If that didn't work, restart your computer and go into safe mode. Once the computer starts to boot, hit the F8 key rapidly until it takes you to another screen and then use your down arrow to find Safe Mode, then hit enter. After the computer boots to safe mode, locate that file or folder, right click on it and delete it. I think you said that there was nothing in the file or folder, so you can simply delete it altogether.

Please let us know if our suggestions worked for you.

Cheers

Tride both and they did not work.

There is a file in a folder that is about 12 deep and the file name is 70 characters long (my wifes computer). It suggests to move the file up because of its length (longer than the system will allow) and then delete - can't move. Tried to make it a file under c:\ - would not let me do this. Suggested to rename the file - same problem. Cannot delete - same problem.

At some time this computer duplicated a bunch of folders - we don't know why. For example under User we have Name, Documents, Users, Name, Documents, etc for about ten times. Cannot delete anything above the folder with the long file name.

Any other thoughts or suggestions?

Did you receive an error message when you tried deleting using the short name?

Although I’m not sure about deleting files with long names, KillBox is a powerful product, try it here http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/files/killbox.php

Also, have you tried creating a new user account, copying the legitimate folders to the new account, then deleting the ‘corrupted’ account?

Try renaming some of the folders higher up in the path. Use a short name like one letter. Keep notes. Once the file has been deleted you have to restore the original folder names if there are any files below the renamed folders.

Tech B

I tried to delete folders above there and could not. The duplicated folders (about 10 deep) have no files. Only the last one - those below I had already deleted.

You'll have to rename them so the path is shorter. You can't delete one farther up as the first thing that will happen is the bottom one will be deleted.

If renaming doesn't fix this then it's a permissions issue.