Cannot delete file

My file explorer (or whatever they call it nowadays) shows me a pdf file in a particular "documents" folder which has 0 bytes. For some reason I cannot delete it nor the folder it is in. I keep getting the message: "Could not find this item. This is no longer located in xxx folder (which is exactly the folder where explorer shows it.) It's driving me nuts just out of sheer curiosity.

I should appreciate if anyone could offer an opinion on what is going on and, if possible, some method of getting rid of it.
I thank one and all for all assistance.

Stay safe and mind as you go.
Tony.
Windows version: the latest.

Tony

I assume that this is not simply a Refresh issue, that the file is there despite refeshing the folder [right-click, Refresh].

You can get rid of the file using the procedure that I use
my ditty about using RoboCopy to clear out a rogue file - TenForums

Denis

Restart the computer using the option to boot to a command prompt. Navigate to the folder from there and delete it.

Create a boot disk for a Linux distro (Puppy, Mint). Boot from that, do not install (i.e. run from boot device) and delete the file.

And/or

Install and run ccleaner and/or Wise Disk Cleaner (just keep and use the default settings for both freeware programs). And then you may still have to try and delete it manually after that/those.

And/or

Search the registry for the exact file name and delete any entry (the file name may be "stuck" in some entry about recently used files ... the file's not there but the entry still shows up). REGISTRY TWEAKS AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Well recently I tried to split an .mp4 file using 7-Zip. Warning..... DO NOT TRY IT.

Result: Thousands of zero byte files on desktop and a frozen computer.

Solution:

Boot into safe mode and delete. Actually I used UVK in safe mode with file path and wildcard because the files had different names but I reckon for a single file it should work maybe without needing an app to delete it.

Or in your case delete the folder containing the file.

Read this old thread:

Cannot delete o byte file that "doesn't exist" Solved - Windows 7 Help Forums

Use with extreme care, ignore warnings shown in red and only use to attempt to force delete folder and file:

https://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivi...owerTool.shtml

Everyone else: Don't use it unless you want problems.

Examples for deleting folders or files: