Cannot delete file invalid

Typically, you can manage files by using the software that creates them. You can typically delete files that are created on a share by using the same share. If the file name includes a reserved name in the Win32 name space, such as lpt1, you can't delete the file.

To resolve this issue, use a non-Win32 program to rename the file. You can use a POSIX tool or any other tool that uses the appropriate internal syntax to use the file. Additionally, you can use some built-in commands to bypass the typical Win32 reserved name checks if you use a particular syntax to specify the path of the file. If you open a handle to a file by using the typical Win32 CreateFile mechanism, certain file names are reserved for old-style DOS devices.

For backward compatibility, these file names aren't permitted, and they can't be created by using typical Win32 file calls. This issue isn't a limitation of NTFS. You can't delete a file if the file name includes an invalid name. For example, the file name has a trailing space or a trailing period, or the file name is made up of a space only. To resolve this issue, use a tool that uses the appropriate internal syntax to delete the file.

Here's an example:. The cause of this issue is similar to Cause 4. If you use typical Win32 syntax to open a file that has trailing spaces or trailing periods in its name, the trailing spaces or periods are stripped before the actual file is opened.

For example, you have two files in the same folder named AFile. If you try to open the second file by using standard Win32 calls, you open the first file instead.

Similarly, if you have a file whose name is just a space character and you try to open it by using standard Win32 calls, you open the file's parent folder instead. In this situation, if you try to change security settings on these files, you either may not be able to do so, or you may unexpectedly change the settings on different files. If this behavior occurs, you may think that you have permission to a file that actually has a restrictive ACL. Something similar happened to me when I was trying to remove an empty folder from a remote server.

This is what ls -al was giving as output:. This was a folder inside another folder and I wanted to delete this.

I tried rmdir and this is what I got:. Nothing seemed to work directly on that folder not rm -f , not touch , nothing. However, I tried renaming the parent folder and the latest folder was normal again, which I was then able to delete using rm. Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group. Create a free Team What is Teams?

Learn more. Asked 4 years, 11 months ago. DaveM Independent Advisor. Hi Auntie, It seems to be a corrupted file. Have you tried to delete it in Safe Mode?

Or try to rename it first before deleting? If that does not work, you can delete that file in Command Prompt, please provide the full path to the file and I will give you the command to delete the file.

How satisfied are you with this reply? Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site. After weeks and weeks of struggle — and I am not a newbie when it comes to Windoze crap.

My problem was that with my file buried about 15 folders deep the combination of these folders and the file name they combined exceeded the max file length. I just had to rename the folders to something short until I got under the max length and then I could erase that file.

I have figured out that by corrupting the file it will delete. I corrupted the file by opening it in Notepad and then deleting some of the characters.

I may not work with all files but it worked for me on a video file. Sir, In my laptop Operating system is windows XP. What I Do???? Well Leo, a final comment at the end of this year It seems that your blog is so populair, that when you point out a nice freeware tool like delinvfile, the respons is giving the creators some dollarsigns in their eyes.

Unlocker v1. I had a file on my computer that was most likely the result from a corrupted downloaded file which I could not delete my system locked-up in the middle of a download and I had to restart the PC.

Then I came upon someones suggestion to download Ubuntu 8. A simple and FREE solution to a frustrating problem. I had a Zip archive that refused to be deleted because the handle was frozen. I killed it, and away it went! All you have to do is search for it. I remember a problem I had many many moons ago. This caused immense problems, because the game actually called the file that, and DOS would read as far as the first space, and stop. You can test out a fully functional version- free trial.

Went into DOS, renamed the file, and it deleted just fine after that. I still have that hard disk untouched since then — does anyone know how I can retrieve any of the files????

Thanks, Leo…. A file that makes my processor to work slow. By following your instruction, the file has been deleted and my problem has been resolved… thanks again dude! Comments violating those rules will be removed. Comments that don't add value will be removed, including off-topic or content-free comments, or comments that look even a little bit like spam. All comments containing links and certain keywords will be moderated before publication. I want comments to be valuable for everyone, including those who come later and take the time to read.

Search Ask Leo! Do this Subscribe to Confident Computing! I'll see you there! Greg Reply. Good luck, Leo Reply. A little trick I use to delete files is: Go into Microsoft Word yes the word processor and click then go into the file type and select. Can you delete more than one message received at a time? I would suggest an up-to-date spyware scan to get rid of it. OK…, well i have read all of what the other people are saying and it all makes sense… I downloaded project and a rom for it off of lime wire!

I know that it is wrong and that is why i deleted it…. I realised later that some BAD files were left with it! Leo, You are the man! Thanks Reply. What happens if you just try to reinstall? Leo: i have tried everthing to try and delete this file but to no avail.

I used DelInvFile as suggested by Leo. It worked!!! Thank You i Reply. Thank you very much! Great tool that really works!!!!! Sweet tool. This actually worked!!! Thanks for the info. Tried multiple free ware applications and your recommendation worked like a champ.

Thx alot!! It worked like a charm!! WOW great proigram that can delete anything! Just a note for your many readers. The new version can delete a greater variety of invalid files and folders than prior versions. Very Helpful! Thanks again! Thanks a lot. Keep up the good work, Leo. R Reply. Could you help me to give some advice Thanks Reply.

Hope this helps someone. Oh yea and by the way if it works, you can thank me at [email address removed] : : ciao!! Regards, Shameer G. Worked like a charm. Steve Reply. Unlocker worked!! A reformat and reinstall, my recommended approach, removes XP completely.

I have used Unlocker tool at [broken link removed] to delete files that was locked.