Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2013 July 18

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July 18

how do I delete files which "don't exist" (Win 7)?

I have a couple files on my computer which I cannot delete because they "don't exist". In one case there's a series of nested folders which I can't delete because they contain such a non-existent file. I think they're all cases where a download got confused, such as a file that was deleted while still downloading, leaving its .part file behind. Any idea how I can clean these up? — kwami (talk) 03:11, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

Without upgrading to XP?

The brute force method would be to uninstall the browser, delete the folder, then reinstall the browser :( Usually, some craptacular browsers (among other apps) keep files or folders permanently open for silly reasons. In the long run, it would be good to get rid of that browser anyway.

I'm afraid that's less than helpful to you as a quick fix, sorry. 217.255.128.109 (talk) 07:20, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

XP would be downgrading from Win7. — kwami (talk) 07:53, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

By date only, not by quality. 217.255.142.37 (talk) 07:30, 19 July 2013 (UTC)

I assume you've tried restarting your computer? Can you provide the exact steps you are taking and the exact symptoms you are experiencing? You try to delete a folder, but it says it contains a file, and you look for the file, but can't find it? Perhaps the file is hidden and you need to configure Windows to show hidden files: [1]. Perhaps the folder doesn't actually exist and you just need to hit F5 to update the view and show there is no folder. Perhaps the folder is locked by a running process and needs to be unlocked using Unlocker, etc.—Best Dog Ever (talk) 10:34, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

Careful: Links [2] and [3] are malicious and defeat my pop-up blocker. I had to close and reopen my browser (though I used IE). Proceed at your own risk. 217.255.142.37 (talk) 07:30, 19 July 2013 (UTC)

I mean, the first and second of the three links below. I didn't even try the third one. 217.255.155.100 (talk) 11:22, 19 July 2013 (UTC)

These [2], [3], and [4] discuss the problem, though I didn't see a clear fix; you might consider reading them (I wouldn't blindly apply the registry fix mentioned, it doesn't appear to be relevant.). Occasionally, if I transfer a lot of data into a folder, continuously, by letting lots of small files download into it for a long time, then delete some; the folder displays a "ghost" icon for the file for a while. Usually, clicking on them makes them pop out of existence for a bit, or just deleting them makes them go away too, but they come back...after a while, they're just gone. Are you experiencing something like this? I've had it happen on several machines, but usually only happens if the comps been running a long time and the area of folders involved has lots of action and lots of subfolders around. My latter problem is a tad more annoying than the former. On a plus note, these ghost files don't appear to take up space, so they're more annoying than critical (at least from what I can see). Phoenixia1177 (talk) 14:47, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

Those threads describe situations "in which file states are not properly updated until a manual refresh of the display". A manual refresh means pressing F5 or closing and reopening the Explorer window, so I think that's not the problem here. -- BenRG (talk) 20:38, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

Try to burn this and Boot on it. 2A02:8422:1191:6E00:56E6:FCFF:FEDB:2BBA (talk) 15:26, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

I know of two ways this sort of thing can happen:

• Some software may still have an open handle to the file you're trying to delete. Depending on the sharing flags, deleting the file may still succeed, but the directory entry will hang around in a pending-deletion state until the file is closed, acting for many purposes like it doesn't exist. The solution is to quit the offending program (by rebooting if nothing else) or force-close the handle (by unplugging the drive if it's external, or with a tool like Process Hacker).

-- BenRG (talk) 20:38, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

(BenRG, I replicated your sig above for clarity.)

Disconnecting an USB drive can lead to file system corruption, though. Closing the handle looks like the better option. It will probably corrupt the file, but nothing else. 217.255.142.37 (talk) 07:30, 19 July 2013 (UTC)

• The file may have a name that's inaccessible to the Win32 library that most Windows software runs on top of. The path may be too long (the kernel supports 32,767 characters but Win32 only 259) or the file may have a special name like nul.txt that's intercepted by Win32 and never makes it to the kernel. Cygwin 1.7 can create and remove these files, and you can remove them from the Windows command line by using a special path starting with \\?\ (which bypasses Win32 path munging). This probably isn't your problem, though.

-- BenRG (talk) 20:38, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

I'm wondering if there could be a hidden file (or files) in the folder that keep it from being deleted. Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 20:43, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

I keep hidden files visible. The recent file has now disappeared, so it was likely one of the temp problems people mentioned above. However, the undeletable folder has been a problem for years, so it's not just a refresh issue. That particular folder is out of the way and not an inconvenience, but I was worried that if this happened a lot it could become one. — kwami (talk) 20:54, 19 July 2013 (UTC)

I've had the undeletable folder bit happen. Can you rename it, move it, or do anything else with it? What if you try in safe mode; or after disabling a bunch of startup programs? Is there anything in the folder, like other folders; deleting those one by one can help. And, while it shouldn't matter, if you click on it and hit shift + delete, you can delete things with out sending it to the recycle bin; worth a shot just to see. Also, at [5], the file assassin tool can delete things at restart, but I don't know if does folders or only files. Phoenixia1177 (talk) 06:45, 20 July 2013 (UTC)

On the link provided, you have a live CD which make simple to use ntfs-3g. Their is only the root account on it. When ntfs-3g is used with this account, there are no restriction: you can bypass all permissions, even those which apply to the administrator group. Of course you can delete files which any windows install can't delete. I never saw that thing doesn't work (except in filesystem failure, but it work with CHKDSK). I can't see a case where it can't work. You can ignore the problem origin: it will work.

If it look too hard. I will guide you on how to to it. 2A02:8422:1191:6E00:56E6:FCFF:FEDB:2BBA (talk) 13:58, 20 July 2013 (UTC)

Any way to disable Backspace = Previous Page function ?

I want my backspace button to do one thing, erase the character before the cursor when typing. I don't ever want it to work the same as the back arrow button on my browser and take me to the previous page. This is just an annoyance. If I want to go to the previous page, I will pick the button. So, is there any way to globally prevent this annoying behavior ? Windows 7, 64-bit here. StuRat (talk) 08:43, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

I can't offer a global solution, but if you use Chrome, you can install a plugin here that will deal with the issue. Similar plugins are probably available for other browsers, but I don't have experience with them, so I couldn't suggest anything.  drewmunn  talk  11:43, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

I had the opposite problem - Backspace not doing prev-page. There was a fix in Firefox and maybe Chrome as well. Astronaut (talk) 13:59, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

Ah - found it. Here's my Ref Desk question from a couple of years ago on this very topic, and the helpful replies. Astronaut (talk) 14:21, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

For Firefox use this addon; and I'm pretty sure this is not possible in IE... --Yellow1996 (talk) 16:14, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

I don't think much is possible in IE. As per any discussion here or elsewhere, I recommend that, should anyone be using IE, they swap out (or request that their administrator implements a new browser on enterprise systems).  drewmunn  talk  21:39, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

firefox download button

I wanted to say that I like the way downloads are managed in the new(ish) Firefox, the way it pops visually into the corner and a single arrow tels you the state of downloads. Clicking it lets you bring it up. It's just very well done and often saves clicks as well - no annoying window that pops up, very easy to get to the latest download. Very smart.

where can I write my appreciation to firefox team? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 178.48.114.143 (talk) 11:33, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

You could try one of the Mozilla forums, or if you have twitter, you can tweet @firefox.  drewmunn  talk  11:41, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

Mozilla Forums. And yeah, I love the way they did it too! I'm an IE/FF user but do pretty much all my downloading on FF. :) --Yellow1996 (talk) 16:18, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

Or thank Safari's team, for inspiring Firefox. But not sure if they were the first to come up with the single downloads button. Unilynx (talk) 11:36, 20 July 2013 (UTC)

Forced redirecting on website

I'm being forcefully redirected from http://www.nfisd.org/users/0001/docs/NForestISD2006.pdf to a 404 page, as if the file is being searched for on the Houston Independent School District website. HISD closed North Forest on July 1, 2013. Now going to http://www.nfisd.org/ and much of the website redirects you to HISD, with older links leading to 404s. Can one check if the NFISD servers actually still have the file NForestISD2006.pdf ?

Thanks, WhisperToMe (talk) 21:49, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

Not really. Any request to www.nfisd.org/ is 301 redirected to the equivalent url underneath www.houstonisd.org/northforest/ . So the originating site is just gone. It looks like they tried to copy the old stuff to the new site, but messed up. Maybe it's there under some other location, but you'd have to guess that location; or (probably more likely) it's not anywhere. Wayback Machine doesn't seem to have anything useful. I don't think there's a practical alternative to contacting the web operator of houstonisd.org. -- Finlay McWalterჷTalk 23:53, 18 July 2013 (UTC)

Thank you for your help! WhisperToMe (talk) 16:38, 19 July 2013 (UTC)