Unable to Delete Files -- File Name Too Long

Anonymous

I copied all of the files under C:\Users<userid> to a backup drive (NTFS). I then tried to delete the Temporary Internet Files folder. I go an error message saying:

The file name(s) would be too long for the destination folder. You can shorten the file name and try again, or try a location that has a shorter path.

When I drilled down to where the problem files were I saw a bunch of files with very long names. I right clicked on one (hoping to rename it) and the only options available were: Open, Pin to Start Menu, Send to. Delete, Rename and Properties were missing.

How do I get rid of these files without having to reformat the drive?

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous

For those that hit the same problem the solution was to open the folder in a cmd window and list the short names of the files. Then use the short names with the Erase command.

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Hi,

Try Disk Cleanup = Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Cleanup

You may also need to run checkdisk

How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

======================

If needed :

DO NOT INSTALL THE eBay Option with UnLocker (uncheck it in the installer) andthen go into UnLocker Folder in Program Files - UnLocker and DELETE the ebayxxx.exe file - you can easily see it."C:\Program Files\Unlocker" just the ebayxxxx.exe I forget its name exactly.

Author's site shows it as Vista/Windows 7 supported now :

http://www.emptyloop.com/unlocker/

UnLocker 1.92

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Miscellaneous/Unlocker.shtml <-- or Download UnLocker here ****

Download - SAVE - go to where you put it - Right Click on - RUN AS ADMIN

The below also works on 32 and 64 bit Vista/Win 7 and should work on Win 8/8.1.

Another good alternative - Use FileAssassin :

FileAssassin - Free

http://www.malwarebytes.org/fileassassin.php

Force Delete (Cannot Delete) Locked or In Used Files or Folders with FileASSASSIN

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/12/27/force-delete-cannot-delete-locked-or-in-used-files-or-folders-with-fileassassin/

Download - SAVE - go to where you put it - Right Click on - RUN AS ADMIN

And this - MoveOnBoot

MoveOnBoot

http://www.softwarepatch.com/software/moveonboot.html

Hope this helps.

Rob Brown - MS MVP - Windows Desktop Experience : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

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84 additional answers

Anonymous

2010-05-03T16:07:38+00:00

No, I tried to delete the directory they were in by selecting it, holding the shift key down and pressing delete. I tried the same for individual files. For the individual file neither Rename nor Delete appeared on the context menu (see original post).

BTW, recycling was turned off for the USB drive these were on.
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Anonymous

2010-05-03T12:14:52+00:00

If I'm correct, saberman, you're just hitting the DELETE key or selecting the files and choosing Delete from the Edit menu or from the context menu. I think the root cause of your problem here is that you'd be sending the files to the Recycle Bin.

To avoid this issue (and bypass the Recycle Bin), select the files you'd like to delete then press SHIFT + DELETE (that is, the SHIFT and DELETE keys simultaneously).
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