Can't delete file named ЃϵϳЅЂϿϽϯІχϯπρЂϻϵЉЃϵϳЅ, what to do?

Question

I installed Windows 7 over the top of XP and it left me with a Windows.old folder.

I tried to delete it, and it got rid of everything except two files named:

ЃϵϳЅЂϿϽϯІχϯπρϴϱЄϱЃϵϳЅ
ЃϵϳЅЂϿϽϯІχϯπρЂϻϵЉЃϵϳЅ

From what I see on Google this has happened to others before. Apparently nothing short of booting up with Linux will solve this?

What error do you get when trying to delete them? – Joseph Nov 30 '09 at 07:28 — Joseph, Nov 30 '09 at 07:28
They look like stargate addresses. – Cam Jackson Jun 28 '11 at 00:15 — Cam Jackson, Jun 28 '11 at 00:15

score 10 · Answer 1 · edited Apr 05 '10 at 08:41

10

Did you by any chance install any programs protected by SecuROM? I had a similar issue before and I managed to remove the file with the DelinvFile program. You can probably google for it, though it now seems that it's a commercial (paid) product.

EDIT: I just checked the webby. I think you can still download the software and give it a go. It seems like registration is for advanced features which you may not necessarily need, depending on the situation.

edited Apr 05 '10 at 08:41

Peter Mortensen

12,190

answered Nov 30 '09 at 09:11

Darkwoof

337

By @tuncerx: Thanks Darkwoof. Darkwoof's solution works fine. The problem is because of the SecureROM thingy. After using DelInvFile app, I was able to delete the windows.old folder. – Ivo Flipse Apr 05 '10 at 09:37
@Ivo Flipse: Most welcome! Glad to help since I was also stuck in a similar predicament. – Darkwoof Apr 12 '10 at 03:39

score 6 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 05 '10 at 08:43

6

It's unlikely you'll be able to remove it from Windows. I had few files of similar naming-style. Boot using a Linux live CD and you should be able to delete them.

edited Apr 05 '10 at 08:43

Peter Mortensen

12,190

answered Nov 30 '09 at 06:22

Sathyajith Bhat

61,800

1

I just used this method back then. The only way. Tried using power shell, cmd, all failed. – Apache Apr 05 '10 at 09:44
This worked for me. – KevinDeus Jul 06 '11 at 17:30

score 5 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 30 '09 at 06:14

5

Have you tried the command line? Open up the DOS prompt then navigate to the folder and try this command

del /F *

And see if it takes care of it.

answered Nov 30 '09 at 06:14

Elle H

1,062

13

be sure to move any files you want to keep out of the folder first – quack quixote Nov 30 '09 at 07:16
1

This didn't work when I had that problem. – Sasha Chedygov Jun 12 '10 at 19:27

score 2 · Answer 4 · edited Apr 05 '10 at 08:42

At first I thought it could be a process that still had a handle on the files but since they are in oldWindows this is unlikely. Still, worth checking it out, you can get Process Explorer to search for handles, copy paste the file name (F2 over the file to access the name). If there is a process using the file kill it and try to remove then.

Otherwise resort to Linux boot CD, it might be your only chance.

Best of luck.

Be sure to come back and tell us how you did get rid of them.

score 2 · Answer 5 · answered Nov 30 '09 at 07:14

You could try the commandline. If the drive supports short filenames, you can use this to search and destroy. Of course, the drive could have other problems. You might want to run a chkdsk first.

X:\path\to\broken\files> dir /x

 Volume in drive X is somedrive
 Volume Serial Number is xxxx-xxxx

 Directory of X:\path\to\broken\files

11/29/2009  08:26 PM    <DIR>                       .
11/29/2009  08:26 PM    <DIR>                       ..
07/30/2007  09:30 PM             4,699 SOMFLN~1     broken-long-filename

                                       ^^^^^^^^
         short filename -----------------|||

X:\path\to\broken\files> del SOMFLN~1

score 1 · Answer 6 · answered Nov 30 '09 at 08:04

1

Have you tried running chkdsk /R C:?

It's possible that these are just some corrupt files that didn't get copied completely, and Windows is still reading them as such.

answered Nov 30 '09 at 08:04

ZeroTruths

81

score 0 · Answer 7 · edited Oct 10 '11 at 03:44

0

Use the Ultimate Windows Tweaker to take ownership of the files. This should work.

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edited Oct 10 '11 at 03:44

Gareth

18,809

answered Nov 30 '09 at 07:08

outsideblasts

6,455

Can't delete file named ЃϵϳЅЂϿϽϯІχϯπρЂϻϵЉЃϵϳЅ, what to do?

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