cannot delete files, source path to long

CamperMan

Hello

cannot delete files, source path to long.. see attached pic, what's that about, how can I delete these multiple desktop folders?



Thanks

Odaise Gaelach

Are you trying to move them to the Recycle Bin or delete them directly (by pressing Shift+Del)?

Also, not that it's terribly relevant or anything, but what on earth happened there?

CamperMan

Odaise Gaelach wrote: »

Are you trying to move them to the Recycle Bin or delete them directly (by pressing Shift+Del)?

Also, not that it's terribly relevant or anything, but what on earth happened there?

I have no idea what happened, it's not my computer but a family members, and I used TeamViewer to log in.

you cannot delete the files any way, you cannot move them, or rename them

Capt'n Midnight

command line

cd into one of the folders

rmdir /s folder

be very careful that you are in the right plase

del /S /Q
may be needed - again be very aware that you are in the right place first

Cork Skate

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

command line

cd into one of the folders

rmdir /s folder

be very careful that you are in the right plase

del /S /Q
may be needed - again be very aware that you are in the right place first

This ..... or get <snip> Boot CD

SavageHenry

you could just rename them until you are below the 255 character max. ie rename desktop to "d". totally depends on how many folders have been created though.


****edit*****

Sorry I just read that you cannot rename!

Alun

Can't you delete them in smaller groups, starting at the 'end' and working back down the tree, or does that give the same error?

Ginger

Also a known workaround is to to map the folder a couple of levels up and delete the contents.. then you should have a folder level that is possible to delete

eg

Map the middle level folder as z:\ and then delete its contents. Unmap the drive and then delete the folders that are left..

See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320081

CamperMan

Alun wrote: »

Can't you delete them in smaller groups, starting at the 'end' and working back down the tree, or does that give the same error?

it gives the same error no matter what I do

CamperMan

Ginger wrote: »

Also a known workaround is to to map the folder a couple of levels up and delete the contents.. then you should have a folder level that is possible to delete

eg

Map the middle level folder as z:\ and then delete its contents. Unmap the drive and then delete the folders that are left..

See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320081

thanks for the advice.. I tried this method and still cannot delete the pesky folders

Ginger

When you are sharing check the permissions on teh share to see if you have full control otherwise it wont work..

pbarr

You could try this it might work. Go to start/ Run, type cmd to open a command prompt.
Then type net user administrator /active:yes and hit enter
What this does is activates the administrator account. then switch accounts and try to delete the files.
I used this to install Google Earth which wouldn't install for me so it might work.
If it works log back into your regular account and, for security purposes, disable the administrator account using:
net user administrator /active:no

bonzodog2

Try this:
In Windows Explorer, with a tree view of folders, expand this hierarchy of folders down to about halfway down, then drag the remaining folders onto C:\ (assuming its on C:\)

Now try and delete, the path should be shorter now.