Cant delete 0 byte file Windows 10

[neufuse Veteran]

I have 6 files that absolutely will not delete...

 

every file is 0KB, if you try to rename them it says could not find this item this is no longer located in {x} verify the items location and try again..

 

if you try to delete them in explorer you get the same message...

 

go to command prompt same message...

 

boot in windows pe and do it in that command line same message....

 

I've tried 3rd party tools no luck.

 

It's almost like the MFT table record was made but no actual file and now it's just confused?

 

Reformatting the drive of course fixes the problem... but the program that makes them keeps randomly making them (it's a file transfer utility) when doing a temp file for storage while the transfer is in progress..

 

Check disk doesn't help.....

 

any ideas?

[+Eternal Tempest MVC]

Get a bootable / portable linux drive (that runs from ram), mount the drive and delete it from there?

[Brandon H Supervisor]

it's an annoying NTFS bug. I've run into it more than once myself since the XP days.

it's supposedly a rare bug though so if it's happening consistently like you say then I'd report it to the program owner of the file-transfer tool.

 

Usually the above suggestion from Eternal Tempest will solve it but I have had the rare occasion where I ended up having to format the drive to get rid of a glitched entry.

[Jim K Global Moderator]

Have you tried the 8.3 filename? 

dir /x  (I believe)

 

How about AVG Shredder?

[neufuse Veteran]

  On 14/06/2019 at 14:50, Jim K said:

Have you tried the 8.3 filename? 

dir /x  (I believe)

 

How about AVG Shredder?

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nope... no go..

 

haven't tried mounting the NTFS drive in linux yet, that will be the next attempt

[bledd]

Do this.

 

Open CMD in an elevated mode (right click, run as admin)

 

If the file is in..

 

C:\Users\USERNAME\Documents\filename.wtf

 

del "\\?\C:\Users\USERNAME\Documents\filename.wtf"

 

 

 

 

One of those stupid Windows filesystem bugs.

[neufuse Veteran]

  On 17/06/2019 at 12:29, softwaretested said:

• Make sure the apps associated with those files are not running. You might need to check Task Manager to look at the running processes there. 
• Try deleting in Safe Mode. 
• Close all Windows Explorer processes (via Task Manager). 
• Or use an app. 

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I don't think you read this thread first :P

 

[CrashG]

  On 14/06/2019 at 14:30, neufuse said:

any ideas?

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I'd look into finding a file transfer utility that didn't cause this issue in the first place.

[Laser]

Unlocker usually works on these types of files

 

https://unlocker.en.softonic.com/

[goatsniffer]

+1 for Unlocker

[neufuse Veteran]

  On 17/06/2019 at 13:02, CrashGordon said:

I'd look into finding a file transfer utility that didn't cause this issue in the first place.

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it's system we can't ditch... it's a data feed from a company we deal with that sends EDI files.. this isn't just some FTP client, it's their requirement we use this specific system

[neufuse Veteran]

  On 17/06/2019 at 13:09, Laser said:

Unlocker usually works on these types of files

 

https://unlocker.en.softonic.com/

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nope, doesn't work

 

I can't even get them to delete from a linux USB boot 

I'll add this, we did NOT have this issue until we went to server 2016 and windows 10... now it's all the time

[bledd]

Did you try what I suggested?

[neufuse Veteran]

  On 15/06/2019 at 03:21, bledd said:

Do this.

 

Open CMD in an elevated mode (right click, run as admin)

 

If the file is in..

 

C:\Users\USERNAME\Documents\filename.wtf

 

del "\\?\C:\Users\USERNAME\Documents\filename.wtf"

 

 

 

 

One of those stupid Windows filesystem bugs.

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doesn't work either

[+Warwagon MVC]

Have you tried running a chkdsk /f c: on the drive? Maybe it's a bit of corruption in the file system.

[sc302 Veteran]

you can try malwarebytes fileassassin https://www.malwarebytes.com/fileassassin/

 

Usually a third party tool, utilizing a apple mac, or linux would be able to delete those files.  

 

can't you utilize robocopy to copy/transfer your files/folders, it is very fast and pretty easy to use.

[neufuse Veteran]

  On 18/06/2019 at 14:45, warwagon said:

Have you tried running a chkdsk /f 😄 on the drive? Maybe it's a bit of corruption in the file system.

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yep returns no errors

[+Warwagon MVC]

  On 11/07/2019 at 19:52, neufuse said:

yep returns no errors

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Have you checked the smart data with something like crystal disk info? Maybe the smart data will show a current pending sector .. maybe it's sitting on data right there?

[shockz]

Create a blank directory and use robocopy to overwrite whatever directory you're having issues with. 

 

  Quote

Create a blank folder somewhere, for example:

 

C:\Blank_Folder\

 

Now lets say all of the junk you want to delete is located here:

D:\Keep\Keep\DESTROY\****\***.... etc .etc ..etc...

 

You're going to use robocopy to Copy that blank folder over top of the DESTROY folder... with /E for subfolders and files... with the /MIR switch which will purge anything that is not in the source (there is nothing... its a blank source)

robocopy c:\Blank_Folder\ D:\Keep\Keep\DESTROY\ /E /MIR

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Make sure you don't get source and destination confused and back up any files you actually need.
 

[neufuse Veteran]

still having this issue...... if you try to do anything to these zero byte files it says they can't be found by ANY applications that try to delete them

 

it's almost like NTFS's MFT table has a link but the link points no where

the exact error message is 

 

Could not find this item

 

This is no longer located in {path}. Verify the item's location and try again.

[adrynalyne]

  On 20/06/2020 at 13:24, neufuse said:

still having this issue...... if you try to do anything to these zero byte files it says they can't be found by ANY applications that try to delete them

 

it's almost like NTFS's MFT table has a link but the link points no where

the exact error message is 

 

Could not find this item

 

This is no longer located in {path}. Verify the item's location and try again.

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Did you ever try Linux? 

[spaceelf]

I had this happen before with a file (twice iirc) and somewhere around 3/4 or 4/5 of file unlock tools wouldn't get rid of it.  I wish I remembered what worked o.o

 

Try Lockhunter?

[neufuse Veteran]

  On 20/06/2020 at 13:31, adrynalyne said:

Did you ever try Linux? 

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same thing it's like the file isn't there but there is a record to it in the MTF table

  On 20/06/2020 at 13:38, LostCat said:

I had this happen before with a file (twice iirc) and somewhere around 3/4 or 4/5 of file unlock tools wouldn't get rid of it.  I wish I remembered what worked o.o

 

Try Lockhunter?

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same issue, says path doesn't exist, and lock hunter says nothing is locking the file

[Peresvet]

I'd give chkdsk a try.

[neufuse Veteran]

  On 20/06/2020 at 13:52, Peresvet said:

I'd give chkdsk a try.

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done that many times, no errors....

 

I've had this issue from the initial windows 10 version all the way up to 2004 now chkdsk shows nothing still