Can't remove folder

[A_B]

I have a folder in an external hard drive. Its name as displayed in windows explorer is "All in one" WITH THE QUOTES.

So the name has both quotes and spaces. When I try to simply remove this folder I get the error:

the filename directory name or volume syntax is incorrect

If I try to remove it through the command prompt, it say "cannot find....

I used tab to cycle through the filenames to make sure it would be correct, it came up with ""All in one"" (with all those quotes). so i tried rmdir ""All in one"".

I already tried corrupted file removal software as well, to no avail.

Hope someone can help me on this one...

Thanks

Alex

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Welcome to the Windows Forum.

Does the folder have a 8.3 filename (from dir /x , like ALLIN~1)? If so, can you try this name with the rmdir command?

If this does not work either (e.g. because even the 8.3 filename contains a doublequote), then try if rmdir accepts a hex character in the filename (e.g. %22ALLIN~1).

P.S. see also this article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315226

[AlanHo]

You could spend a long time trying various methods to delete the file.

It might prove quicker to copy the contents of your hard drive - minus the offending file - to another drive. Then format the hard drive with the problem file to delete all contents - then copy the OK data back again.

[catgate]

How about just renaming it to something which is acceptable to your system, then try to move it.

[A_B]

Thx for the input, unfortunately nothing helped (did't try reformatting yet, i'm sure that would work but its a pain and the folder i can't remove isn't that annoying at all, its not a very pressing matter).

I also tried removing the directory above the corrupted folder, but I get the exact same error as i do when i try to remove it through windows explorer (on the "all in one" folder again).

If anyone has any more ideas they are more then welcome, otherwise I think i'm just going to leave it as it is until I get a new computer or something and there is a point in taking all the files off my drive.

Thanks

Alex

[Boris]

Have you tried doing the deletion when in Safe Mode ?

[Boris]

Alternatively, install MalwareBytes Anti-Malware,
/>http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

go to the "Other Tools" tab and then use File Assassin to delete the offending folder ?

or simpler still :)

download just File Assassin
/>http://www.malwarebytes.org/fileassassin.php

and try it ?

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Did you try the method outlined in http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315226 ? If it is an NTFS partition, you could also try to use a question mark instead of the dot:

RD \\?\drive letter:\path\directory name

[A_B]

yup, tried it all