Removing files with no extensions

**palden** · December 30th, 2004, 06:24 PM

I've got some funky files that won't go away. I can't delete them, I can't align them to any extensions: they have no extensions, and an example of a path is this:

C:\documents and settings\x\Local settings\temp\temporary internet files\content IE5\XY86GT\_DVD-Players-Recorders_W0QQa14ZQ2d24QQa15962ZQ2d24QQalistZa6Q2c a14Q2ca15962Q2ca3801QQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQ QcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfromZR2Q[1]

where x equals an admin account I thought I'd removed.

There's 6 folders in the content IE5 file, and each folder has about 5-10 weird files like this with no extensions. When I right-click on a file, I only get a choice to open it, and then i get the "open it from a web " or "open from a list." Neither choice takes. I used TrID to help and got a message window saying the files don't exist. I couldn't even delete them from Safe Mode.

When I originally installed XP, I assigned myself as the admin with the x name. After a catastrophe, I had to reinstall XP and by some process or other, needed to create a new admin account. When I look for x account in the control panel to delete it, it's not there, but it IS there when I look in the C: drive. As it is, since the files are in a temporary internet folder (and for a downlevel version of IE at that), they must be some sort of graphics files. However, I can't get into the properties of the file, I can't access, much less delete the funky files without extensions, so I can't delete the old admin folder.

How do I get rid of this crap?

**vass0922** · December 30th, 2004, 06:36 PM

maybe delete the entire content ie5 folder

it will probably give you an error though
sometimes it helps to try to delete the folder from DOS.

**Xtreeme** · December 30th, 2004, 06:56 PM

hmmm. Do you have under file properties-view all extensions? I had that and enables extensions now they all show. If it doesnt have a extension-how is it a file type? Or any kind? Could always delete it at the dos prompt in XP. {command} del (space) filename

**palden** · December 31st, 2004, 12:45 AM

Do you have under file properties-view all extensions?

There are no properties to check when I right-click any of these files by themselves. I only have the option to open, which is a no go as there's no extension that works.

I went into the command prompt and typed in:

dir C:\Documents and Settings\X

just to see if I'd get a listing, but the response I got was that the system couldn't find the file specified.

When I selected all the files in a given folder, I did get properties, strangely enough, and that box says:

0 Files, 0 Folders
Type: all of type
Location: all in
Size: 0 bytes
Size on disk: 0 bytes
Attributes: Read-only
Hidden

And those two Attributes boxes are darkened. When I un-darken them, nothing happens.

Are these "ghost" HTML or XML files? I suspect so, since right-clicking them gives me no options to deal with them, and they're in an IE temp folder. I want them completely out of my system, and I am at a complete loss now on how to remove them. And those insanely long names, what's up with that? Dammit. You can bet I remember my admin password now, and wrote it down. I forgot the password to X account and had to create a new admin account when I re-installed.

**cryptoguy** · December 31st, 2004, 09:15 AM

Try using EasyCleaner. It cleans up your registry and weird files that noone uses.

**palden** · January 1st, 2005, 12:31 PM

It's a great program, but it didn't delete these files.

GRR.

**Xtreeme** · January 1st, 2005, 04:05 PM

palden-thats not what I ment. This is-check the attached pic.

**palden** · January 1st, 2005, 11:19 PM

I see where you mean now, Xtreeme, thank you. The highlighted line has always been unchecked. I see all file extension in all my folders. Under "Type" in the details view of the folders, these weirdo files are just "File."

Plain old "File."

**jmichna** · January 1st, 2005, 11:46 PM

palden,
Try this suggestion by TIMO member Fr4gm4n to regain access permissions to these files:

1. Open up My Computer (or any folder)
2. Navigate the menus: Tools -> Folder Options -> [View] tab
3. Scroll to the very bottom of the list, and uncheck [ ] Use Simple File Sharing
4. Now right-click the User's folder that you are getting 'access denied' on, and select Properties
5. (Be careful in here!) Now, click the [Security] tab, which now appears on all files/folders.
6. Click the [Advanced] button
7. On the [Owner] tab, change the owner to YOU. Select [x] Replace Oner on subcontainers and objcets, and click [OK]

This should set the 'owner' to yourself, and let you access the files inside.

Steve.

Doing this should give you access permission to delete these files. If, after doing these steps, it still won't permit you to delete, boot into Safe mode, open a CMD window, and delete using DOS commands.

**Xtreeme** · January 2nd, 2005, 03:04 PM

Ah I get it now. And now I come to realise Ive seen this before. He doesnt have ownership of the file so no access rights. I hope Fr4gm4n's tip helps ya out.

**palden** · January 2nd, 2005, 03:50 PM

Thanks, everyone.

What I ended up doing is going into Control Panel->Performance and Maintenance->System->Advanced Tab->User Profiles->Settings. There was a list of profiles, one that was called "Unknown". I deleted the damn nuisance from there. All gone! I now have only one user profile and no weirdness.

And BTW, that Easy Cleaner? Hell of a program. I like it! Someone buy that guy a Kids in the Hall DVD box set!

Thanks again to all.