How to delete files that don't exist?

[DAS]

I've presented this problem in the past but didn't manage to solve it, so I'll have another go...

A while ago a bit of spyware kindly gave me a whole load of new Favourites, generally porn websites. Once I had had a good look at them all I deleted them. But one refuses to budge to this day.

As Figure 1 shows, the file doesn't seem to exist - it is 0 bytes, yet it shows up in the Favourites list and also in Explorer. When I go to delete it, it comes up with the error message below.



Any ideas on how to get rid of the bugger?

[Dr Lobster*]

it might actually have been deleted and for some reason explorer hasn't updated the menu... can you see the shortcut in your favourites folder inside your user profile (C:\Documents and Settings\username\Favorites)?

[DAS]

Yes I can - it's definitely there but not there. There's also no way of moving it or copying it or generally accessing the file.

[marksi]

I'm not sure this will work in that you have to be able to locate the file... but I've used it before to remove files that refused to be deleted in Explorer.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/S ... lbox.shtml

[DAS]

As good as that program is, it comes up with "That file does not seem to exist"!

[cat]

If the shortcut is there, and actually visible in Explorer (which, from my understanding of what you've said, it is) try deleting it through a DOS prompt. You'll have to reset the computer, go into the startup menu thingy and choose Command Prompt Only or something similar...

It should be something like "del c:\windows\favourites\whatevernameoffileis.lnk"

Failing that, try removing it in Safe Mode, do scandisk in DOS, defragment, reinstall Windows, reformat, throw it out of the window, set it on fire, etc. etc.

From http://www.computerhope.com/delhlp.htm:

EXAMPLES

del test.tmp = Deletes the test.tmp in the directory that you currently are in, if the file exists.
del c:\windows\test.tmp = Delete the c:\windows\test.tmp in the windows directory if it exists.
del c:\windows\temp\*.* = (* is for wild character(s)) *.* indicates that you would like to delete all files in the c:\windows\temp directory.
del c:\windows\temp\?est.tmp = (? is a single wild character for one letter) This command would delete any file ending with est.tmp such as pest.tmp or zest.tmp...

[Dr Lobster*]

Yes I can - it's definitely there but not there. There's also no way of moving it or copying it or generally accessing the file.

can you boot to the windows recovery console (or with a linux cd distribution that can access an ntfs partition?) and remove it that way?

i had a really good linux boot cd which let me do that, but for the life of me i can't remember where i downloaded the iso or where i put the cd. i used it at work a little while ago where we restored some files to a hard disk and the backup program restored the files with the permissions of a user we'd deleted and we couldn't then remove the files. the linux cd worked.

[cdd]

Why don't you switch to Firefox?

[DAS]

Because save for the irritating presence of MyRealPics, I'm pretty happy with Internet Explorer!

Rebooting into Safe Mode met with the same problem, and the Command Prompt gave me the same error message. Looks like setting it on fire is the way forward...

Will find the Recovery Disk and gave that a go I think. Ta for the suggestions.

Meanwhile - two other niggles while I'm in the mood for obliterating them:

Firstly, files that I delete from the C drive will delete after confirmation rather than appearing in the Recycle Bin. Is this a permissions problem?

Secondly, how can I get rid of useless programs on the Start menu that have stuck around after uninstallation? I can't see a way of doing it via the Taskbar and Start Menu properties; half of them don't appear when I open up the Start Menu\Programs folder itself.

[cdd]

Because save for the irritating presence of MyRealPics, I'm pretty happy with Internet Explorer!

I thought that too -- and so do most people using IE. Have you TRIED firefox yet though? If so, for how long -- you need to try it for at least two weeks.

I think Dr Lobster* is our resident prime example of a convert. I recall him initially saying how he didn't find IE particularly bad but once he tried it he's never looked back.

Let me run you through some of the advantages:
> Pages load several times faster than with IE due to a more streamlined rendering engine
> Tabbed Browsing (I don't actually like it and have disabled it but many people do and it remains a major "selling point")
> "Intelligent" Popup Blocking - it's clever enough to distinguish between unwanted and requested popups
> Easy to search - just hit Ctrl+K and you can choose from one of hundeds of serach engines
> The immediate ability to erase your private details
> Find-as-you-type feature - when enabled it allows you to simply type text and it searches for, and highlights, the searchtext in the webpage; moreover you can follow a link by typing it to highlight it and hitting Enter.
> Ad blocking (Optional through extension): A user-maintained list of advert keywords and advertising websites leaves you with a streamlined, ad-free browsing experience. Extension: Adblock Plus; Adblock Filterset (G) Updater.
> More professional FTP client (Optional through extension): An FTP client more like e.g. CuteFTP built into the browser. Extension: FireFTP.
> Skins - choose from hundreds of skins designed by the community. If you really want you can even make Firefox look just like Internet Explorer (Luna + customisations)
> I'm feeling lucky integration - type a keyword straight into the address bar, and it searches google and goes to the top match. E.g.: enter Microsoft and it takes you straight to the Microsoft website; enter BBC News and it goes to http://news.bbc.co.uk and so on.
> And as an added bonus you never have to worry about that stupid Favourite item again!

www.getfirefox.com

<sales pitch over>

[DAS]

Because save for the irritating presence of MyRealPics, I'm pretty happy with Internet Explorer!

I thought that too -- and so do most people using IE. Have you TRIED firefox yet though? If so, for how long -- you need to try it for at least two weeks. Let me run you through some of the advantages:
> Pages load several times faster than with IE due to a more streamlined rendering engine
> Tabbed Browsing (I don't actually like it and have disabled it but many people do and it remains a major "selling point")
> "Intelligent" Popup Blocking - it's clever enough to distinguish between unwanted and requested popups
> Easy to search - just hit Ctrl+K and you can choose from one of hundeds of serach engines
> The immediate ability to erase your private details
> Find-as-you-type feature - when enabled it allows you to simply type text and it searches for, and highlights, the searchtext in the webpage; moreover you can follow a link by typing it to highlight it and hitting Enter.
> Ad blocking (Optional through extension): A user-maintained list of advert keywords and advertising websites leaves you with a streamlined, ad-free browsing experience. Extension: Adblock Plus; Adblock Filterset (G) Updater.
> More professional FTP client (Optional through extension): An FTP client more like e.g. CuteFTP built into the browser. Extension: FireFTP.
> Skins - choose from hundreds of skins designed by the community. If you really want you can even make Firefox look just like Internet Explorer (Luna + customisations)
> I'm feeling lucky integration - type a keyword straight into the address bar, and it searches google and goes to the top match. E.g.: enter Microsoft and it takes you straight to the Microsoft website; enter BBC News and it goes to http://news.bbc.co.uk and so on.
> And as an added bonus you never have to worry about that stupid Favourite item again!

www.getfirefox.com

<sales pitch over>

I have tried it, I have tried it on and off many times, the last time being about two days ago. I might switch, I might not. But really I'm quite happy using IE.