Can't delete folder with a blank name.

**Anilrgowda** · 05-Jun-2007, 12:17 AM

A folder was maliciously planted on my computer. The folder name is a blank value so windows won't let me delete it. It's full of junk data, I can't delete any of the data. I can't rename the folder either.

"Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk."

**Anilrgowda** · 05-Jun-2007, 12:17 AM

Not sure if this will work or if it's enabled, but try typing

say the folder is in c:\data\

rmdir /s /q \\?\c:\data

but don't hit enter - hit tab instead and see if it 'autocomplets' into anything

If that doesn't work, let me know if this does..

change to the parent folder using

cd \ foldername

now type

for /f %a in ('dir /ad') do echo Dir !%a!

and tell me if the blank folder is listed via that command...

**stlolth** · 08-Mar-2008, 11:38 AM

i had the same problem and this worked for me

Quote:

If the folder name contains strange characters, use a command line window again, but use the DIR /X command to find the short name (for example: PROGRA~1) and use the short name instead. The short name is DOS compatible and has no more than 8 characters for the main name, a period, then no more than 3 characters for the extension.
Retry the previous methods that use a command line window, but use the short name now.
Note: Sometimes an illegal file name can cause Windows Explorer to use nearly 100% of the CPU time.
[Thanks to astk1:] Sometimes the abbreviated name can have a number other than one and can have an extension. If the above does not work, proceed as follows.

Open a command line window (Start, Run, type: cmd, press the return/enter key).
Navigate to the folder using "cd .." and "cd pathname", where pathname is the name of the next subfolder you want to go into.
Type dir /x to see the actual real short name of the subdirectory. Critically: This may include an extension, e.g. "ABDCEF~1.XYZ".
Type "rmdir /s abcdef~1.xyz", replacing the example name abcdef~1.xyz with your actual folder name.

from here:
Cannot delete file or folder | Windows Problem Solver

05-Jun-2007, 12:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
Anilrgowda Administrator Posts: 18,715 Join Date: Jan 2006 Rep Power: 10 IM:	Can't delete folder with a blank name. A folder was maliciously planted on my computer. The folder name is a blank value so windows won't let me delete it. It's full of junk data, I can't delete any of the data. I can't rename the folder either. "Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk."

05-Jun-2007, 12:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
Anilrgowda Administrator Posts: 18,715 Join Date: Jan 2006 Rep Power: 10 IM:	Re: Can't delete folder with a blank name. Not sure if this will work or if it's enabled, but try typing say the folder is in c:\data\ rmdir /s /q \\?\c:\data but don't hit enter - hit tab instead and see if it 'autocomplets' into anything If that doesn't work, let me know if this does.. change to the parent folder using cd \ foldername now type for /f %a in ('dir /ad') do echo Dir !%a! and tell me if the blank folder is listed via that command...

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