Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / Removing a file of zero bytes.

Author
Message
Nickydude
Retired Moderator
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Nov 2006
Location: Look outside...
Posted: 2nd Feb 2012 01:25 Edited at: 2nd Feb 2012 01:26
Link
I have two files of 0 (zero) bytes, if I try to delete them it tells me:

Could not find this item
This is no longer located in <path to where file is located>. Verify the items location and try again

How would I go about removing these files?

I reject your reality and substitute my own...
Back to top
Profile PM
Dark Java Dude 64
Community Leader
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Sep 2010
Location: Neither here nor there nor anywhere
Posted: 2nd Feb 2012 01:39
Link
Ahh, windows eh?? Hmm. Windows does that. Will Install Needless Data On Whole System and wont let you get rid of it...

Copyright © 2012 dbd79
Back to top
Profile PM Website
ionstream
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Jul 2004
Location: Overweb
Posted: 2nd Feb 2012 01:44
Link
Not helpful.

How were the files generated? Windows doesn't have a rule against deleting 0-byte sized files so there must be something else about them. Can you remove them from the command line using del? Are they protected or system files?

Back to top
Profile PM Website
Dark Java Dude 64
Community Leader
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Sep 2010
Location: Neither here nor there nor anywhere
Posted: 2nd Feb 2012 01:48
Link
Quote: "Not helpful."
I just had to! Carry on

Copyright © 2012 dbd79
Back to top
Profile PM Website
budokaiman
FPSC Tool Maker
15
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 24th Jun 2009
Playing: Hard to get
Posted: 2nd Feb 2012 01:56
Link
I had the same problem a couple of days ago, I threw the files into eraser, and it was able to get rid of them. There's no guarantee it will work, but it's worth a try.


The budo eagle
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Dark Java Dude 64
Community Leader
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Sep 2010
Location: Neither here nor there nor anywhere
Posted: 2nd Feb 2012 07:29
Link
Something tells me that it couldnt recognize the file for whatever reason because it was empty?? I would put something in there and try. I doubt it would would work, but hey, worth a try!

Copyright © 2012 dbd79
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Fatal Berserker
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 2nd Jul 2010
Location:
Posted: 2nd Feb 2012 10:44 Edited at: 2nd Feb 2012 10:45
Link
For me when i accidently create a 0byte file it automatically disappears, have you tried being admin?

Quote: "Ahh, windows eh?? Hmm. Windows does that. Will Install Needless Data On Whole System and wont let you get rid of it..."

I have absolutely no idea what your on about, if i wanted to i could start deleting files from my windows folder, you can just remove those restrictions.

Back to top
Profile PM
Van B
Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Oct 2002
Location: Sunnyvale
Posted: 2nd Feb 2012 11:14
Link
Maybe best to boot up in safe-mode, the files might be in use, they might be the results of a malware infection gone bad, like the files were created but then blocked by your security software.

I'd boot up in safe mode and try to delete them, if that fails then I'd try using CMD or boot up the command line. DOS can go ahead and delete some files that Windows can't. Once you get rid, I'd suggest doing a full defrag of all your hard drives.

Health, Ammo, and bacon and eggs!
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Green Gandalf
VIP Member
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jan 2005
Playing: Malevolence:Sword of Ahkranox, Skyrim, Civ6.
Posted: 2nd Feb 2012 12:51
Link
I used to get this a lot on one of my old PCs years ago (Windows 3.1??) but haven't seen it at all since Windows XP. I'd try overwriting the file with something that isn't empty and then delete that. But I guess that might fail for the same or similar reasons (if I recall correctly I used to get messages like "Windows cannot delete the file because it is open in another application"). Sounds as if the disk file data has been corrupted somehow.
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Indicium
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th May 2008
Location:
Posted: 2nd Feb 2012 15:17
Link
unlocker always used to work for me. But if you're on a 64bit system it doesn't work.

Back to top
Profile PM
Nickydude
Retired Moderator
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Nov 2006
Location: Look outside...
Posted: 2nd Feb 2012 17:11 Edited at: 2nd Feb 2012 17:16
Link
Thanks for all the feedback, here's an update...

- Tried booting in safe mode but still tells me the files aren't there when I try to delete them.
- Tried using Eraser, I drag and drop the files into Eraser but it does nothing and files aren't erased.
- Tried creating a file with the same names to see if it would overwrite and strangely it lets me have two files with the same name! (called Bounder_version.capx). The 'false' one i can delete no problem.
- Tried running 'Command' and deleting it from the DOS window, again it say's it can't find the file. *See the Edit below*

The two file are definitely showing in the folder but Windows doesn't seem to know they are there!

Edit: I've found a way! If you're having the same trouble, try here: http://www.aade.com/XPhint/zero%20byte.htm.

I reject your reality and substitute my own...
Back to top
Profile PM
Green Gandalf
VIP Member
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jan 2005
Playing: Malevolence:Sword of Ahkranox, Skyrim, Civ6.
Posted: 2nd Feb 2012 19:03 Edited at: 2nd Feb 2012 19:07
Link
Which fix did you use? [Edit: Oops! I see the other fix is for a different problem. ]

The wildcard DOS feature used to be a source of much amusement when colleagues accidentally used "erase *.*" when in their main C: folder.

I've managed to resist the temptation to see what happens on this machine.
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Nickydude
Retired Moderator
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Nov 2006
Location: Look outside...
Posted: 2nd Feb 2012 19:10
Link
The wildcard, I did try to delete using the full name (after cd'ing to the correct folder): del bounder-version.capx but it said that file didn't exist! So i used del bound* and it worked. Luckily I had only one file beginning with bound.

I reject your reality and substitute my own...
Back to top
Profile PM
WebSlingerBoy
13
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 31st Jan 2012
Location: MARS
Posted: 3rd Feb 2012 02:04
Link
some folders are protected, as the comp needs them for tasks if/when they get files to put them in, they don't want them out in the open where disk cleanup might destroy them

"Do or do not, there is no try"
Yoda in: Star Wars Episode: V The Empire Strikes Back
Back to top
Profile PM
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2025-05-19 18:39:23
Your offset time is: 2025-05-19 18:39:23