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Thread ID: 21827 2002-07-04 22:52:00 UNABLE TO DELETE FILES GrahamB (750) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
59970 2002-07-04 22:52:00 I have just copied some files from Hard Disk to a USB Storage Disk, and for some reason a number of the files have gone completely weird, with strange file names.

When I try deleting them I get the message " Cannot delete >followed by the weird file name> The file name, directory or volume syntax is incorrect.

Apart from reformating the disk, is there anyway I can force a cleanup?

And does anyone know why it corrupted the transfer?

TFYH
GrahamB (750)
59971 2002-07-05 02:06:00 What are these files? How did you transfer them? Is this USB 2.0 storage?

Have you tried deleting them in real-mode DOS?
boom23 (176)
59972 2002-07-05 03:56:00 Thanks for the intelligent questions.

The files are largely PDF and JPEG files in a directory containing folders for product types and then predominantly drawing and data files in each folder.

I am using USB1, and I transfer using Windows Commander. I have used this process without problem up 'til this morning.

I have not tried deleting in DOS mode. Will give it a shot and reply.
THYH
GrahamB (750)
59973 2002-07-05 04:28:00 I am less than expert with DOS, and working in XP the command prompt seemed less friendly. However I got to E> and ran del \Rel5\CDM* (because it did not like a file name with two words and a space), and it reponded by going back to the E>, which I took as a good sign. I rand DIR and the directory seemed to have disappeared, but when I went back into Windows it is still there.

I have runa virus scan (NOD32) and it shows 0 viruses.

I notice that inside my folders, which still have their valid names, are, in oplace of the files. a whole swag of folders with names in symbol try names. These sub-folders cannot be opened or deleted.

The PC I copied these files from is a WinME machine. I am trying to cleanup the USB Storage Disk files on XP.
GrahamB (750)
59974 2002-07-05 06:44:00 Corrupted directories are nasty . :-( Norton's Utilities would almost certainly fix it .

In DOS (and probably your XP Command Prompt) you can quote
"multi word file names . ext"

The other DOS command deltree /Y directorypath will (try?) to delete all files in a directory . Might work . ;-)

My old DOS standby LIST . COM (which is a brilliant programme) would probably fix this . It's on Simtel . We've had the URL here a few times .
Graham L (2)
59975 2002-07-05 08:17:00 Arhhh USB1, that could be the reason why it's corrupted . I read somewhere that USB1 is a bit slow for storage devices like hard drives, that's why USB2 . 0 has been developed .

Anyway, can you rename those files? if so try to rename them into simple names like 1 . txt, etc . Then boot into DOS using win98 boot disk . You then can try to delete the file from there . It is much better to delete the files in DOS because there won't be any windows files loaded in DOS . IF you need to know DOS commands then just ask .

Also if you can't rename the files then are the names of the files readable? I mean are they in english? or are they in ASCII .
boom23 (176)
59976 2002-07-05 10:37:00 Get list.com here:
ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/msdos/txtutl/list93a.zip
It's so useful that I have it in the right click 'send to'.
Terry Porritt (14)
59977 2002-07-05 23:59:00 Thanks for your help guys. I decided to try a Scandisk before going back in to do deltree, and the scan cleared the garbage out beautifully!

Case Closed.

But I have downloaded that list.com utility for future use!

Regards
Graham
GrahamB (750)
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