Cannot move, delete file

[sebiss001]

Hi, I am having and issus with 2 files on my computer. No matter what I do, it will not let me delete the file. I have tride mutiple things:
del "\\?\C:\Users\ etc...
DEL /F /Q /A <File Path>
Remove-Item C:\ etc...
dir file path, I wont find the file
Moreover, I have also tried:
rebooting my computer
tried unlockers on the internet
tried shift-delete

I seeked help from the technician in at my school, they had no idea what to do.
It all started when I extracted a file with winrar.

 

[luketexas]

Hi, what are the files that you want to remove? Can you provide images of them?
What do the files relate to? Are they hidden files?

 

[sebiss001]

Hi, what are the files that you want to remove? Can you provide images of them?
What do the files relate to? Are they hidden files?

Hi, they are documents from my teacher that I dowloaded from the internet. I extracted the documents then placed them in my Spanish file from school. They are not hidden documents.
Interestingly enough, if i create a new document on my desktop and name it with the same name as my document Pdf_ducumentos I can delete the old version but not the old new one.
Hope i'm clear enoguh, and that my screen shots hep.

https://imageshack.com/i/pmRTTfrtp
https://imageshack.com/i/pm9UwLrlp

 

[Nigel Spike]

In the Remove-Item command you have a long path that includes the sign '-' which has a specific meaning to the command, and a blank which makes the command think the path ends there (this has been the rule since long paths became common when Windows XP was introduced). Try having your path inside quotes.
Remove-Item 'C:\Users\Sebastien\OneDrive - Universite Laval\Ulaval\Session 4\Espagnol'

The DIR command should be followed by a blank, and this command also needs quotes due to the existence o both blanks and '-'.
DIR 'C:\Users\Sebastien\OneDrive - Universite Laval\Ulaval\Session 4\Espagnol\Semaine 3'

Nigel

 

[sebiss001]

In the Remove-Item command you have a long path that includes the sign '-' which has a specific meaning to the command, and a blank which makes the command think the path ends there (this has been the rule since long paths became common when Windows XP was introduced). Try having your path inside quotes.
Remove-Item 'C:\Users\Sebastien\OneDrive - Universite Laval\Ulaval\Session 4\Espagnol'

The DIR command should be followed by a blank, and this command also needs quotes due to the existence o both blanks and '-'.
DIR 'C:\Users\Sebastien\OneDrive - Universite Laval\Ulaval\Session 4\Espagnol\Semaine 3'

Nigel

So I tried with the quotes, yet, it is still telling me it cannot find it, therefore, I cannot delete it.

 

[USAFRet]

Try double quotes instead of single quotes.

 

[sebiss001]

Try double quotes instead of single quotes.

The exact same error messages apear wth the double quotes aswell.

 

[USAFRet]

Right.
You're trying to delete from the wrong folder.

You typed in C:\Windows\system32\Documentos pdf_ LAS TAREAS (devoirs)

It needs to be "C:\Users\Sebastien\OneDrive - Universite Laval\Ulaval\Session 4\Espagnol\Semaine 3\Documentos pdf_ LAS TAREAS (devoirs)"

 

[sebiss001]

Right.
You're trying to delete from the wrong folder.

You typed in C:\Windows\system32\Documentos pdf_ LAS TAREAS (devoirs)

It needs to be "C:\Users\Sebastien\OneDrive - Universite Laval\Ulaval\Session 4\Espagnol\Semaine 3\Documentos pdf_ LAS TAREAS (devoirs)"

Still not finding it :/

https://imageshack.com/i/pngHEDQOp

 

[USAFRet]

OK, instead of staying in \windows\system32\....navigate down to that specific folder

cd..
cd..
You should be at the root of C
then...

cd users
cd sebastian
cd "OneDrive - Universite Laval"

by now, you should be at C:\Users\Sebastien\OneDrive - Universite Laval
Correct?
If so, continue
cd ULaval
cd "session 4"
cd espagnol
cd "Semaine 3"

Now youa re at C:\Users\Sebastien\OneDrive - Universite Laval\Ulaval\Session 4\Espagnol\Semaine 3
Correct? (yes, you could do that all in one command, but lets go slowly)

If your there...then ls
This should give you a list of ALL files in this folder.

If so...
is Documentos pdf_ LAS TAREAS (devoirs)" listed in there?

If so...
del "Documentos pdf_ LAS TAREAS (devoirs)"

 

[sebiss001]

OK, instead of staying in \windows\system32\....navigate down to that specific folder

cd..
cd..
You should be at the root of C
then...

cd users
cd sebastian
cd "OneDrive - Universite Laval"

by now, you should be at C:\Users\Sebastien\OneDrive - Universite Laval
Correct?
If so, continue
cd ULaval
cd "session 4"
cd espagnol
cd "Semaine 3"

Now youa re at C:\Users\Sebastien\OneDrive - Universite Laval\Ulaval\Session 4\Espagnol\Semaine 3
Correct? (yes, you could do that all in one command, but lets go slowly)

If your there...then ls
This should give you a list of ALL files in this folder.

If so...
is Documentos pdf_ LAS TAREAS (devoirs)" listed in there?

If so...
del "Documentos pdf_ LAS TAREAS (devoirs)"

It appears on the list, yet it is telling me that it does not exist.

 

[USAFRet]

Because this is related to OneDrive, might the file actually be online, and what you see here is just a pointer?

 

[sebiss001]

There is nothing in that particular document online. I have deactivated the cloud syncing since the problem appeared. And the file do appear physicaly on my computer.

Because this is related to OneDrive, might the file actually be online, and what you see here is just a pointer?

 

[Nigel Spike]

Since you are trying a pretty simple operation such as navigating to a directory, list its contents and delete a specific file, I'm a bit surprised you use PowerShell. Have you tried using Command Prompt?

What happens if you run the following commands from Command Prompt?

CD "C:\Users\Sebastien\OneDrive - Universite Laval\Ulaval\Session 4\Espagnol\Semaine 3"

DIR

Do you now see the file?

Then try
DEL "Documentos pdf_ LAS TAREAS (devoirs)"

Please again post a screen shot.

 

[sebiss001]

Since you are trying a pretty simple operation such as navigating to a directory, list its contents and delete a specific file, I'm a bit surprised you use PowerShell. Have you tried using Command Prompt?

What happens if you run the following commands from Command Prompt?

CD "C:\Users\Sebastien\OneDrive - Universite Laval\Ulaval\Session 4\Espagnol\Semaine 3"

DIR

Do you now see the file?

Then try
DEL "Documentos pdf_ LAS TAREAS (devoirs)"

Please again post a screen shot.

I see the file, yet i will not find it when I ask to delete.

 

[USAFRet]

Try to Rename it instead of Delete.

Once you're in the relevant folder:
ren "Documentos pdf_ LAS TAREAS (devoirs)" tareas

Doubt this will work either, but costs 0 to try.

 

[Nigel Spike]

According to the screen shot Documentos pdf_ LAS TAREAS (devoirs) is a directory not a file. See the <DIR> after the file date. To remove it (if it's empty) use command:
RD "Documentos pdf_ LAS TAREAS (devoirs)"

[Edited typo]
Nigel

 

[sebiss001]

Try to Rename it instead of Delete.

Once you're in the relevant folder:
ren "Documentos pdf_ LAS TAREAS (devoirs)" tareas

Doubt this will work either, but costs 0 to try.

You are right, it doesn't do anything either.

 

[sebiss001]

According to the screen shot Documentos pdf_ LAS TAREAS (devoirs) is a directory not a file. See the <DIR> after the file date. To remove it (if it's empty) use command:
RD "Documentos pdf_ LAS TAREAS (devoirs)"

[Edited typo]
Nigel

It is not working

https://imageshack.com/i/pmzEcWIjp

 

[Nigel Spike]

The RD (remove directory) command only works if the directory is empty. You will have to navigate into it with the CD command as described by USAFRet above, and delete any files inside it first.

What has puzzled my since I first read your post is that you don't use the normal FileViewer (Windows Explorer) to locate and delete your troublesome file, or as it has turned out, directory. You would instantly have seen that it wasn't a file but instead a directory (file folder), and you could have deleted it regardless, by just marking it and pressing the delete key.

Maybe you should try that instead, since that is much easier than using Command Prompt or PowerShell. Also it's the most common way to handle files and folders.

Nigel

 

[sebiss001]

The RD (remove directory) command only works if the directory is empty. You will have to navigate into it with the CD command as described by USAFRet above, and delete any files inside it first.

What has puzzled my since I first read your post is that you don't use the normal FileViewer (Windows Explorer) to locate and delete your troublesome file, or as it has turned out, directory. You would instantly have seen that it wasn't a file but instead a directory (file folder), and you could have deleted it regardless, by just marking it and pressing the delete key.

Maybe you should try that instead, since that is much easier than using Command Prompt or PowerShell. Also it's the most common way to handle files and folders.

Nigel

As it turns out, the first thing I tried was to delete it the ''normal' way as you described. The reason I am trying this way is because I cannot delete it from explorer. Also, the directory is empty.

 

[Nigel Spike]

So you knew all the time that your problem wasn't a file but a folder, yet you have caused us helpers to spend quite some time helping you removing a file. Wasted time IMHO.

Did you even try the RD command? What happened?
Have your tried MoveOnBoot or any similar tool?

Nigel

 

[sebiss001]

So you knew all the time that your problem wasn't a file but a folder, yet you have caused us helpers to spend quite some time helping you removing a file. Wasted time IMHO.

Did you even try the RD command? What happened?
Have your tried MoveOnBoot or any similar tool?

Nigel

Well, I am sorry for the confusion. But, I am indeed seeking help from an internet forum, which IMHO is a fair indication that I am not really the tech savvy type. As for the file / directory, it is in fact my fault and I am sorry for this as it seems to have caused quite a hassle. Butt as English is not my native language, I did not mean to cause such a confusion.
As for the RD command, see image.
As for MoveOnBoot, I tried and it doesn't work. The programme cannot fine the directory, hence, when I boot the computer nothing changes.
Thank you for the help
https://imageshack.com/i/pmzEcWIjp

 

[Nigel Spike]

First of all, it wasn't my intention to be disrespectful, also English isn't my native language either.
To me it seemed that it should have been obvious in Windows Explorer that it was a folder due to the icon of a folder instead of the icon of a PDF file, and that the word folder it written out beside the icon. But that is to me.

I'm sorry we couldn't resolve your problem, but on the bright side is that an empty folder only occupies a few bytes of your storage, so if left alone it will do no harm.

Nigel