Cannot delete file. Says "Item Not Found Could not find this item Verify this item's location and try again."

Anonymous
2010-01-01T14:35:26+00:00

Cannot delete file.  Says "Item Not Found Could not find this item Verify this item's location and try again."

I had this file sent to me from my friend - it's a word document I had on their computer.  So I tried using Disk Cleanup to delete temporary files, temp internet files, and downloaded program files.  Doesn't work.

When I check properties, there is no security tab, so I can't transfer ownership that way.

I also don't want to experiment using the Command Prompt way of transferring ownership since the file's name is several sentences long.  I can't rename it either, of course.

Windows 7, a week in and I've already got a stupid glitch which has already wasted an hour of my time.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2011-01-25T20:37:12+00:00

What i did was create a notepad file that was blank and saved it at the same location as the file that wont go away.  once saved.  I right click the new file and rename it to the exact name as the problem file.  Be sure to change the file extension (ex: .doc)

ex problem file: word.doc

new file: word.doc

as long as they match eachother exactly you should see the problem file disappear and once thats gone you can delete the new file created.

Was this answer helpful?

300+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

82 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2018-01-18T01:33:32+00:00

    open CMD,

    if your file in admin folder, run CMD as Admin

    and type this in CMD

     cd /d <path>

     dir /x

       example :

    cd /d C:/Programfiles/

    dir /x

    and you wil see

    and type this

     rmdir /q /s <rectangle marked>  

    (white streak is a filename)

    Example  : 

    rmdir /q /s  STARTP~1.LNK

    and your file  has been deleted

    btw sorry for my bad grammar

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2018-01-18T02:11:09+00:00

    key win7

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2018-01-21T04:08:55+00:00

    The easiest way is to install winrar and then select compress and delete the files. Somehow winrar will be able to delete the files then you just delete the new rar file created.

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2018-01-24T22:35:26+00:00

    Thank you. I too had no luck with the other solutions. This worked for me. Thank you so much.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments