Mysterious file which can not be deleted or renamed

Recently a file appeared on my desktop. I tried many ways to delete it,
including deleting from Windows Explorer, running DOS command del, and even
using UnxUtils command rm, but all gave me file not found error. I also
tried several ways to rename it, from Windows Explorer, using DOS command
ren, and using UnxUtils command mv, but I got the same kind of error. I can
view the file property from Windows Explorer which shows 0 size, valid
recent time, and no special attributes (ie. not system/hidden/read-only
file). Running DOS command dir on the desktop folder gives the same file
info, but dir on the file itself results in the same file not found error.
In other words, the file can not be directly operated. I had used process
explorer to search if any process locks it, but no one.

The file name contains no extension, but seems to have a trailing space
character (or may be a special character displayed as space). Maybe that
trailing space is causing the problem and the file can not be addressed by
programs. How can I get rid of this mysterious file? My system is Windows
Vista Business.

Thanks.

CXD <-> wrote:
>
> Recently a file appeared on my desktop. I tried many ways to delete it,
> including deleting from Windows Explorer, running DOS command del, and
> even using UnxUtils command rm, but all gave me file not found error. I
> also tried several ways to rename it, from Windows Explorer, using DOS
> command ren, and using UnxUtils command mv, but I got the same kind of
> error. I can view the file property from Windows Explorer which shows 0
> size, valid recent time, and no special attributes (ie. not
> system/hidden/read-only file). Running DOS command dir on the desktop
> folder gives the same file info, but dir on the file itself results in
> the same file not found error. In other words, the file can not be
> directly operated. I had used process explorer to search if any process
> locks it, but no one.
>
> The file name contains no extension, but seems to have a trailing space
> character (or may be a special character displayed as space). Maybe that
> trailing space is causing the problem and the file can not be addressed
> by programs. How can I get rid of this mysterious file? My system is
> Windows Vista Business.



This should work:

http://www.jrtwine.com/products/dfxp/index.htm

ss.

The file name could prove useful...but in the meantime try deleting it
with Unlocker.

'UNLOCKER 1.8.7 BY CEDRICK 'NITCH' COLLOMB'
(http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/)

You might also try running Ccleaner as well.

'CCleaner - Home' (http://www.ccleaner.com/)


--
locoeng

Thanks for the links! Although I did not try the software, but I found a
simple solution after following those links: just type dir/x at command
prompt to find out its short file name (8.3 as in old DOS), and then type
del with the short name.



"locoeng" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> The file name could prove useful...but in the meantime try deleting it
> with Unlocker.
>
> 'UNLOCKER 1.8.7 BY CEDRICK 'NITCH' COLLOMB'
> (http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/)
>
> You might also try running Ccleaner as well.
>
> 'CCleaner - Home' (http://www.ccleaner.com/)
>
>
> --
> locoeng

CXD <-> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the links! Although I did not try the software, but I found a
> simple solution after following those links: just type dir/x at command
> prompt to find out its short file name (8.3 as in old DOS), and then type
> del with the short name.


That's interesting. In that case, you could have just used COMMAND.COM,
instead of CMD.EXE. I wonder what I would have done, as I have disabled
creation of 8.3 file names in the filesystem. It probably would not have
even appeared at all.

ss.