DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

Cant delete 3 image files even in safe mode

25 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/cant-delete-3-image-files-even-in-safe-mode.66318/

R
ranjan2001 Original post #1
Aug 23, 2007 at 8:10 AM
Cant delete 3 image files even in safe mode(solved)

I have a strange problem in My Pictures folder there are 3 jpg/tiff files with long & invalid names & I cant rename them nor move /delete them & I need to get rid of them as I installed some program which on 1st start needs to browse My Pictures folder & its giving errors due to these invalid files.

What are my options, safe mode didnt allow me to delete them, actually I dont get rename/delete options in right click nor the keyboard command works.
*img210.imageshack.us/img210/5849/00005518mp6.th.jpg
infra_red_dude
Aug 23, 2007 at 8:17 AM
did you try from the command prompt? to rename or delete them?
R
Aug 23, 2007 at 8:25 AM
using command prompt is too much a problem due to its long names, I have not tried that, I dont remember those DOS commands nowadays
S
Aug 23, 2007 at 9:12 AM
You don't need to type in the whole file\folder name in the command prompt;just a couple of letters and then hit the tab key to auto-complete.
Once you're in the correct directory use the 'del' command followed by the filename(make use of autocomplete).
R
Aug 23, 2007 at 9:22 AM
This is what I get when I try cmd, tab doesnt work to get the complete name.
*img224.imageshack.us/img224/7210/00005527ax6.th.jpg
S
Aug 23, 2007 at 9:41 AM
issue the 'cd' command before the path.
eg. "cd my pictures"
and not "my pictures" as my & pictures is not a command.
karnivore
Aug 23, 2007 at 9:46 AM
Use KillBox

Here's the help page.
infra_red_dude
Aug 23, 2007 at 10:05 AM
for folders you need to prefix it wid "cd". also, for long filenames you need to enclose them widin quotes.

use the command line powertop for winxp. then right click on the folder that contains the file and selec 'command prompt here'. then simply type 'del <first few chars of filename> and press the tab. that'll do the rest. hit enter to delete it.

download command line powertoy: *download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/Install/2/WXP/EN-US/CmdHerePowertoySetup.exe
kalpik
kalpik #9
Aug 23, 2007 at 10:05 AM
Try Unlocker.
R
Aug 23, 2007 at 10:51 AM
infra_red_dude said:
use the command line powertop for winxp. then right click on the folder that contains the file and selec 'command prompt here'. then simply type 'del <first few chars of filename> and press the tab. that'll do the rest. hit enter to delete it.

download command line powertoy: *download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/Install/2/WXP/EN-US/CmdHerePowertoySetup.exe
I installed & tried that but on pressing enter it says the file name or the extension is too long does not work.

karnivore said:
Use KillBox

Here's the help page.
Kill box can see the file but does not select it to show in the address bar, so I cant delete it.

kalpik said:
Try Unlocker.
I tried doesn't work either.
I send the file to unlocker by right clicking nothing heppens.

Its really stupid of the developer of a beta software which has left these derivatives files done by its software which I was beta testing.

The main problem is with long file names actually & I cant rename them by F2 or right click or any other softwrae to rename them. seems I am STUCK with them.

I tried another few utilities searching google but none works & the problem is that no application can read these file names, so my question is how to make these file names valid? without which nothing will work.

as of now I cant rename them nor move them neither delete them by available methods.
slugger
slugger #11
Aug 23, 2007 at 10:52 AM
u cud try using using Eraser

MoveOnBoot

u cud also use HijackThis 1.99.1 in Misc tools section u can selecte d Delete a file on reboot option to delete d file
R
Aug 23, 2007 at 11:04 AM
all tried none working as these are invalid names, these softwares can only work with valid file names.

so how to make these file names valid?
slugger
slugger #13
Aug 23, 2007 at 11:21 AM
d file name has probably exceede its limilt of 256 characters in win

Utility for Deleting Invalid Files

ranjan2001 said:
Slugger thanks that did the job it was easy using this utility.

u welcome :)
infra_red_dude
Aug 23, 2007 at 11:28 AM
ok best method: goto the parent folder and use the command: "deltree <foldername>" from command prompt. that'll delete the folder and hence the file.
R
Aug 23, 2007 at 11:35 AM
Slugger thanks that did the job it was easy using this utility.
Thanks to all who made effort to help in this problem, this forum is a great to share.

infra_red_dude said:
ok best method: goto the parent folder and use the command: "deltree <foldername>" from command prompt. that'll delete the folder and hence the file.
I could not delete that folder as My Pictures is a system folder
anandk
anandk #16
Aug 23, 2007 at 4:18 PM
nice utility slugger. thanx.
karnivore
karnivore #17
Aug 23, 2007 at 5:27 PM
@ slugger

Thax a lot man. Great tool.
R
Aug 23, 2007 at 5:53 PM
ax3 said:
use command prompt >> goto that folder >> My pictures >> del *.* >>
try this 2 ..........
Now the files are alreday deleted so I cant try but doing del with wild card will delete all images............right??, not sure if that would have worked with invalid file names or not, but the sluggers suggestion did the job well.
slugger
slugger #19
Aug 23, 2007 at 8:17 PM
ranjan2001 said:
Now the files are alreday deleted so I cant try but doing del with wild card will delete all images............right??, not sure if that would have worked with invalid file names or not, but the slu
if u wan 2 test d theory, just name any file with more than 256 characters, u ll have a freshly CREATED invalid file waitin 2 b tested :D

@those_who_found_d_tool_useful

u r welcome :)
romeo_8693
Aug 23, 2007 at 9:17 PM
i wonder if chkdsk cud hav solved the problem.....
R
Aug 23, 2007 at 9:33 PM
How could chkdsk do that, I think its for checking bad cluster on hdd??
romeo_8693
Aug 23, 2007 at 9:38 PM
it does but it also checks for invalid entries AFAIK.....
R
Aug 23, 2007 at 10:18 PM
ok then it may help too, but as of now we got a gud free solution.
T
ThinkFree #24
Aug 24, 2007 at 7:20 PM
Try unlocker for files that refuse to be deleted
R
Aug 24, 2007 at 8:55 PM
Unlocker didn't work at all with invalid file names.............its mentioned in my post earlier.