I have two folder on two different drives. The F: drive is an internal SATAIII drive and the X: drive is an external SATAIII drive within an USB enclosure drive.

I have ran the Properties > Tools options of error checking and defragmentation options and neither are reporting any errors and aren't fragmented.

I have ran chkdsk with various arguments and disks reporting no issues.

I have tried to delete the folders use Command Prompt as Administrator.

I have started the machine in Safe Mode and tried to delete the folder and get the same errors as the screenshot below.

I also tried LockHunter, and said nothing was locking it and trying to delete these folder onnext OS restart does not delete them.

I have renamed both folders, which the OS allows me to do, but it still says the renamed folders can't be deleted with the same error as below.

I have tried the USB enclosure with different USB cables and different USB ports.

Basically, I'm now out of options and have no idea why these two are refusing to delete. The drives have other content on and are reporting as being healthy with no errors or issues when using diagnostic tools.

Any ideas how I can get rid of these without having to entirely reformat the disks?!?!

 

Last edited: Jul 17, 2024

Put them back. Make folders X:\Mega and F:\Downloads\Soulseek.

They will not delete because they are already not there. That's why the error says it cannot find it.

 

did you take ownership of the folders? if not you won't be able to manipulate them

 

Try this or maybe sometimes files need deleting from the registry.
https://www.wisecleaner.com/wise-force-deleter.html

 

Sorry but that is NOT a good program to suggest for someone to use in a situation like this.

 

Try renaming the folders, then delete them.
If it won't let you rename them, try renaming (and possibly deleting) them in 7-Zip FM.
If that doesn't work, try using "move" in the console from the Windows advanced boot menu -> Recovery Console.

Maybe make a backup first

 

Or Shift+Delete (?) them so they are permanently deleted without going to the recycle bin.

put linux on a flash drive using unetbootin and then go to the drive and delete them. they will not be in use by the system because Windows will not even be booted.

https://unetbootin.github.io

 

Last edited: Jul 17, 2024

As already posted above, first try Unlocker 1.9.2, if not working, boot in Linux (whatever distro) and see if you can delete folders from file manager.

Oh, in extreme case try to rebuild MBR by formatting tools like Minitool Partition Wizard.

 

They are already there, and displayed in Windows Explorer and DIR command in Command Prompt.

 

I only have one Admin level User Account, and I can rename them, and can't even delete after renaming.

 

I can rename them, and can't even delete after renaming as it gives me the same error.

 

I've already tried LockHunter, but will try these too just in case any different.

 

then it's a (recursive) ownership permission problem, being "admin level" user is not enough

 

I tried Unlocker 1.9.2 and it worked! Huge props!

 

Good to hear.
You might add [Solved] to the title as info for anyone else with similar problem.