Can't delete folder. Infinitely looped folders created within each other

Question

My flex builder somehow decided to create infinite folders within folders and crashed itself. Now windows cannot delete the folder, saying the file name is too long. Even Unlocker can't delete it.

The folders are created like this:

projectname-debug -> projectname-debug -> projectname-debug -> ..........

Have you tried deleting it while running Windows in Safe Mode? — Ivo Flipse, Feb 01 '10 at 18:26

score 10 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 01 '10 at 18:18

10

Boot up some linux live distribution and delete it from there.

answered Feb 01 '10 at 18:18

Egon

2,913

11

Then stay in linux. – Josh K Feb 01 '10 at 18:48
And what if he's programming in Visual Studio? – Ivo Flipse Feb 01 '10 at 18:49
2

I never said it was practical. ;) – Josh K Feb 01 '10 at 18:57
@Ivo: then use WINE... – quack quixote Feb 01 '10 at 21:57
@Ivo: I'm using Flex Builder 3, an Eclipse plugin @Josh: Bingo... did just that. I happened to have Ubuntu installed. Cheers mate! – gAMBOOKa Feb 02 '10 at 00:13
Soo did it work? – Kelbizzle Feb 02 '10 at 04:31
I just wrote an article on Flex development in Linux, but it won't be published for a while yet. However, see http://unlikelyteacher.com/2008/09/26/free-alternative-to-flex-builder/ and http://axdt.org/, which should work under Linux. – CarlF Feb 02 '10 at 06:09

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 01 '10 at 20:12

3

You might try using the SUBST to map a long path to a new drive letter. That may get the path down short enough for you to delete some of the lower directories first.

answered Feb 01 '10 at 20:12

RedFilter

506

1

Nice! That works great. In fact, it gave me the idea of renaming the parent directory/directories to shorter names which also works. – Bobson Nov 21 '11 at 02:56

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 01 '10 at 18:11

1

Try the command line:

rmdir /s /q "C:\path\to\folder"

answered Feb 01 '10 at 18:11

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Feb 01 '10 at 17:51

0

I've had a similar issue due to a screwed up subversion checkout. What I found worked was going in as deep as you can and the move the contents out. You should then be able to delete the outer part. Repeat the process with the stuff you moved out. Worked for me, but it might not be exactly the same situation.

answered Feb 01 '10 at 17:51

developmentalinsanity

2,580

1

Windows will stop traversing inside the folders after a while. I used rm /s and it removed all the contents inside the folders, but the folders itself won't go away. – gAMBOOKa Feb 01 '10 at 17:53

Can't delete folder. Infinitely looped folders created within each other

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