Cant delete files off desktop?
Discussion
(solved now file name was too long used a zip file manager to rename to shorter name and could then modify the file any way I wanted)
Tried a google search but no idea whats going on. Last couple of days unable to delete any files off my desktop.
Windows 10 laptop.
Also wont let me move files off the desktop into another folder either.
Anyone seen this recently? Cheers!
Tried a google search but no idea whats going on. Last couple of days unable to delete any files off my desktop.
Windows 10 laptop.
Also wont let me move files off the desktop into another folder either.
Anyone seen this recently? Cheers!
Edited by gotoPzero on Saturday 3rd September 16:16
So its very specific files that wont delete. Others are ok.
They are thumbnails I have downloaded off the web. All very small 10kb ish.
The only thing is they have really, really long file names - could this be a problem?
Tried to rename wont work
Tried to cut and paste somewhere else wont work
Straight up delete not working either
They are thumbnails I have downloaded off the web. All very small 10kb ish.
The only thing is they have really, really long file names - could this be a problem?
Tried to rename wont work
Tried to cut and paste somewhere else wont work
Straight up delete not working either
b
hstewie said:
hstewie said: Windows Explorer can be a bit st like this.
I'd try from a command prompt but with the caveat you can do a fair bit of damage with command line tools so be careful.
This describes how to do this:t like this.I'd try from a command prompt but with the caveat you can do a fair bit of damage with command line tools so be careful.
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/...
It's amazing to see that Windows still has this issue, as it's been present ever since I can remember (right back to Win 95).
Another potential (untried) solution is to share the folder that the file is in, and them map that folder as a network drive.
This will then make the full path much shorter, which should enable the file to be renamed.
Back in my server support days, I used to see the long filename issue quite frequently - and it couldn't be renamed / read or even backed up on the local server.
This was because the file resided in 'd:\company projects\project for a company with a long name\some other folder\xyz project\documents\pictures\file with a long name.jpg'
However the 'xyz project' folder was shared so the path to the offending file would be a lot shorter when viewing it as a network drive, and this is how the entire path length became too long in the first place.
From memory, Windows used to be limited to 256 characters, but 'modern' versions of Windows were not supposed to have this limitation - but Explorer still seems to struggle...
On older Windows versions (NT3.51/NT4) it was possible to run the old Windows file manager (winfile.exe) which could be configured to show truncated filenames, and hence resolve the deletion issue.
Another potential (untried) solution is to share the folder that the file is in, and them map that folder as a network drive.
This will then make the full path much shorter, which should enable the file to be renamed.
Back in my server support days, I used to see the long filename issue quite frequently - and it couldn't be renamed / read or even backed up on the local server.
This was because the file resided in 'd:\company projects\project for a company with a long name\some other folder\xyz project\documents\pictures\file with a long name.jpg'
However the 'xyz project' folder was shared so the path to the offending file would be a lot shorter when viewing it as a network drive, and this is how the entire path length became too long in the first place.
From memory, Windows used to be limited to 256 characters, but 'modern' versions of Windows were not supposed to have this limitation - but Explorer still seems to struggle...
On older Windows versions (NT3.51/NT4) it was possible to run the old Windows file manager (winfile.exe) which could be configured to show truncated filenames, and hence resolve the deletion issue.
gotoPzero said:
not deleting in dos either.....
I tried copy and paste direct from the DIR
so did
cd desktop
dir/p to check the file was showing in that folder (it was)
then
del filename.jpg
and get
The system cannot find the file specified.
So what's the betting half the poster here have no clue what you are on about I tried copy and paste direct from the DIR
so did
cd desktop
dir/p to check the file was showing in that folder (it was)
then
del filename.jpg
and get
The system cannot find the file specified.
Our "IT Manager" was completely lost when I reverted to prompt and command line (PC(not MS)-DOS stylie)
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