Unable to delete a folder - Invalid folder name

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  1. Posts : 868
    Windows 10 x64
       #1

    Unable to delete a folder - Invalid folder name


    Unable to delete a folder on an external USB HDD. Tried with take ownership.
    Tried Takedown, and some options on
    Owner of Files and Folders - Change in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

    I booted from USB (WinPE/Paragon) and accessed command prompt from there.
    Deleting the folder: invalid folder name.

    Have no idea how to solve it.
    I can rename the folder, but not move it.

    Any suggestions?

    As far as I can see I am the owner/administrator and having full control on the folder...?

    =
    W10 Unable to delete folder-invalid folder name.pdf

    Have combined all screenshots into 1 PDF - else the post would be way too big.
    never uploaded a PDF before.
    =
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 2,799
    Linux Mint 20.1 Win10Prox64
       #2

    Suggestion:
    1. Run chkdsk x: /r to make sure that there's no HD corruption.
      x: is the drive containing the folder you want to delete.
    2. Try to delete the folder again. If still does not work, go to step 3.
    3. Download: Download - Linux Mint and create a bootable USB using: Rufus - Create bootable USB
    4. Boot up with Linux Mint and try to delete the folder again.
      NOTE: Unlike WinPE. Linux does not have any Windows permission imposed to it so it is easier to delete.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 868
    Windows 10 x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks. WIll get back on this soonest. I am not sure about the Linux stuff though: never done this before - never went down this 'slippery' road - slippery for me.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 868
    Windows 10 x64
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Later... I don't know ... I guess I leave it as it is. The folder is very small. 'properties' say 0 bytes and chkdsk will take a day (at least, that is the 'ETA').
    I let the matter go, it isn't worth all the workload.
    Thanks anyway.
    =
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 5,452
    windows 10 Pro ver 21H2 build 19044.1348
       #5

    tfwul said:
    chkdsk will take a day (at least, that is the 'ETA').

    =
    I am glad I am not the only one with the same aggravating experience.
    Chkdsk takes so long it's absolutely unbearable.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 868
    Windows 10 x64
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Seems you cannot stop it. At least the usual CTRL-C doesn't work. My 'workaround' was to close all applications, then close the elevated command prompt with chkdsk running. The shut down the pc and restart. All seems to be okay now. The folder can still not be deleted though. Take Control, TakeDown, whatever, they don't work in my case.
    I used
    icacls "x:\somefolder" /setowner "Administrators" /T /C
    takeown /F "x:\somefolder" /A /R /D Y
    and takeownership
    I also went thru option 5 from : Owner of Files and Folders - Change in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
    But there the window changing ownership hanged and I had to close it after 20 minutes

    It ain't easy...

    =
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 134,300
    Windows 11 Pro (x64) 23H2 Build 22631.3296
       #7

    davidhk said:
    I am glad I am not the only one with the same aggravating experience.
    Chkdsk takes so long it's absolutely unbearable.
    Interesting to hear, as for me Chkdsk has never taken more than 3 to 4 mins tops. Granted both my computers have a SSD on their C-drive, but my D-drives are spinners. Even my D drives don't take long.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 2,799
    Linux Mint 20.1 Win10Prox64
       #8

    OldMike65 said:
    Interesting to hear, as for me Chkdsk has never taken more than 3 to 4 mins tops. Granted both my computers have a SSD on their C-drive, but my D-drives are spinners. Even my D drives don't take long.
    Depend on what option you use and how badly corrupted your HD is. It can take hours to run, sometimes seems to stall at one spot. For example, if you run with /r option, chkdsk will do a surface scan on every spot on the whole HD including unused spaces, also mark all bad sectors in the MFT table so Windows will avoid using them.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 134,300
    Windows 11 Pro (x64) 23H2 Build 22631.3296
       #9

    topgundcp said:
    Depend on what option you use and how badly corrupted your HD is. It can take hours to run, sometimes seems to stall at one spot. For example, if you run with /r option, chkdsk will do a surface scan on every spot on the whole HD including unused spaces, also mark all bad sectors in the MFT table so Windows will avoid using them.
    Ahh I didn't use the /r option used /f option, which always reports it found no problems. Will have to try that sometime....not today thou. :)
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 868
    Windows 10 x64
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Assume it also depends on the size of the HDD. With me it was/is a WD USB 3.0 external 6TB drive.
    Also see: CHKDSK stuck in stage 4 of 5 since last night - Microsoft Community
      My Computer


 

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