Unable to delete files & folders from Win2KPro NTFS

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ghostaccount28
  • Start date Start date
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Ghostaccount28

I have roughly 7 GB of files that I can't delete. When I attempt to delete
any of these files or folders I receive the message "Cannot delete
xxxxxxxx.xxx: Access is denied. The source file may be in use."

All files are located in two different folders and subfolders.

1) With one folder this began happening afer I had compressed it &
subfolders (6.7GB in 67,681 files in 6,236 folders). I noticed that some
files were not compressed, and these would delete but all that were
compressed would not. I tried uncompressing the remaining files, but only
received the message "An errr occurred applying attributes to the file:
c:\xxxx\xxxx.xxx Access is denied." I have checked that I have full
rights to these folders & files. When I try deleting the files I receive
the message "Cannot delete xxxxxxxx.xxx: Access is denied. The source file
may be in use." I found it a bit strange that some files were compressed
while others were not, and was thinking that the compression processess
might have been cancelled prior to completion. Even if this was the case,
why are the compressed files 'untouchable'?

2) With the other top-level folder (244MB in 35,987 files in 252 folders)
the files have not been compressed. When I try deleting a file I receive
the message "Cannot delete xxxxxxxx.xxx: Access is denied. The source file
may be in use." I have also checked and verified that I have full rights to
these files.


I have tried:
1) booting into safe mode and deleting the files - without any luck
2) shift-delete to bypass the recycle bin
3) chkdsk /r
4) searching for these error messages on both the Microsoft support pages &
general internet but did not find anything relevant.

Any thoughts on how to resolve?

TIA
 
You might try booting the recovery console and running
chkdsk /r

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2000
Setup CD or the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks. If you do not have
Setupfloppy disks and your computer cannot start from the Windows 2000 Setup
CD,
use another Windows 2000-based computer to create the Setup floppy disks.
Press ENTER at the "Setup Notification" screen. Press R to repair a Windows
2000 installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The
Recovery Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do
not have the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Once the password has been
validated, you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access
to the hard disk. You can only access the following folders on your
computer: %systemroot% and %windir%

If the Local Security Policy in Administrative Tools Recovery console option
"Allow floppy copy and access to all drives/folders" is enabled, you can
issue the command;

SET allowallpaths = TRUE

to gain access to all folders and try deleting from here.
 
Well, I finally had a chance to take the system down & try what was
suggested. I booted into Recovery Console and only had access to
%systemroot% and %windir%. I tried SET allowallpaths = TRUE, but it appears
I do not have rights to do this. In any event, I ran chkdsk /r. It stated
that it corrected errors, and I booted back into Windows. I tried deleting
the files without success. Any other suggestions?


Dave Patrick said:
You might try booting the recovery console and running
chkdsk /r

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2000
Setup CD or the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks. If you do not have
Setupfloppy disks and your computer cannot start from the Windows 2000 Setup
CD,
use another Windows 2000-based computer to create the Setup floppy disks.
Press ENTER at the "Setup Notification" screen. Press R to repair a Windows
2000 installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The
Recovery Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do
not have the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Once the password has been
validated, you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access
to the hard disk. You can only access the following folders on your
computer: %systemroot% and %windir%

If the Local Security Policy in Administrative Tools Recovery console option
"Allow floppy copy and access to all drives/folders" is enabled, you can
issue the command;

SET allowallpaths = TRUE

to gain access to all folders and try deleting from here.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]

Ghostaccount28 said:
I have roughly 7 GB of files that I can't delete. When I attempt to delete
any of these files or folders I receive the message "Cannot delete
xxxxxxxx.xxx: Access is denied. The source file may be in use."

All files are located in two different folders and subfolders.

1) With one folder this began happening afer I had compressed it &
subfolders (6.7GB in 67,681 files in 6,236 folders). I noticed that some
files were not compressed, and these would delete but all that were
compressed would not. I tried uncompressing the remaining files, but only
received the message "An errr occurred applying attributes to the file:
c:\xxxx\xxxx.xxx Access is denied." I have checked that I have full
rights to these folders & files. When I try deleting the files I receive
the message "Cannot delete xxxxxxxx.xxx: Access is denied. The source file
may be in use." I found it a bit strange that some files were compressed
while others were not, and was thinking that the compression processess
might have been cancelled prior to completion. Even if this was the case,
why are the compressed files 'untouchable'?

2) With the other top-level folder (244MB in 35,987 files in 252 folders)
the files have not been compressed. When I try deleting a file I receive
the message "Cannot delete xxxxxxxx.xxx: Access is denied. The source file
may be in use." I have also checked and verified that I have full
Click to expand...
rights
to
these files.


I have tried:
1) booting into safe mode and deleting the files - without any luck
2) shift-delete to bypass the recycle bin
3) chkdsk /r
4) searching for these error messages on both the Microsoft support
Click to expand...
pages
&
general internet but did not find anything relevant.

Any thoughts on how to resolve?

TIA
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Sounds like you missed this part? "If the Local Security Policy in
Administrative Tools Recovery console option "Allow floppy copy and access
to all drives/folders" is enabled, you can .............."

Control Panel|Administrative Tools|Local Security Policy
 
I thought I'd provide a bit of feedback on this...

Although I had actually created all the files that I was later unable to
delete, and although I'd never actually changed the permissions, and
although the files were set so 'Everyone' had full access and my user ID
also had full access... I was unable to delete the files. Just for fun, I
went to a top level folder where the problems existed, deleted my rights,
then re-added myself with full access and checked 'Reset permissions on all
child objects...'.
After it finished updating rights on the 65,000 (or so) files - I was
happily able to delete them without OS complaints.

Why did it happen? Who knows! But it works now. I didn't think
permissions would get in the way of deletions when I logged on as the local
admin, but waddayaknow - I was wrong. Anyway, it's just another little
something to add to the list of things to check.

Dave - Thanks for your suggestions along the way!


Dave Patrick said:
Sounds like you missed this part? "If the Local Security Policy in
Administrative Tools Recovery console option "Allow floppy copy and access
to all drives/folders" is enabled, you can .............."

Control Panel|Administrative Tools|Local Security Policy

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]

Ghostaccount28 said:
Well, I finally had a chance to take the system down & try what was
suggested. I booted into Recovery Console and only had access to
%systemroot% and %windir%. I tried SET allowallpaths = TRUE, but it appears
I do not have rights to do this. In any event, I ran chkdsk /r. It stated
that it corrected errors, and I booted back into Windows. I tried deleting
the files without success. Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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