URGENT HELP NEEDED! Long-named file won't delete

[mjolnir1134]

Hello Techimo, I seem to have run into a little predicament:

OS: WINDOWS XP

I am honestly going to say I was on a P2P program, and I guess I clicked the wrong file in the download list. I downloaded it, and it is giving me hell.

Now first things first, this file:

-Is NOT A VIRUS

-Has an outrageously long file name. (I will not type the name, because it is very obscene, plus very long. Its not what I wanted to download... )
Lets just call it "annoyingfilelongname.mpg"

-This is what I get when I right click it:

(I cannot use the keyboard to delete it, rename it, cut, copy, whatever. When I press "DELETE" on the keyboard, the computer lags for a second and nothing happens.) (BTW, "Send To..." cannot send it anywhere.)

-Cannot be moved out of the Desktop folder.

------------------------------------

As you can see I'm in quite a pickle, does anyone here know of a way to delete a file with a long name? (When I say "Long name", I mean that the file name goes BEYOND what you can possibly type when renaming a file)

I really need to get rid of this stupid file, it just won't go away when I press delete! (Even in explorer!)

[GroundZero3]

have you tried deleting it in safe mode?

[mjolnir1134]

yes, but no cigar. (i forgot to mention safe mode)

How about any special programs out there that was made for deleting pesky files like this? Anyone know of any?

[GroundZero3]

http://www.softwarepatch.com/tips/howto-delete-xp.html

http://ask-leo.com/why_cant_i_delete_this_file.html

[JPMiller]

I've had alot of success using these...
http://www.filehippo.com/download_unlocker/

http://www.2brightsparks.com/assets/...lick_Setup.exe

[vass0922]

what usually works for me is deleting from command prompt

del annoyingfile*

[FatalException]

I know that you have said that you cannot rename the file, but that is your best option for getting rid of it. I frequently store concert music on my computer (usually recorded live) which can make the file names very long - composer, date, soloists, etc. Windows is fine with the name as long as the COMPLETE PATH is not longer than 256 characters.

This means a file located on the C drive, such as:

C:\concert.mp3

is considered 14 characters long. Now, Windows - being typical, not too bright Windows - thinks it's ok to move a long named file into a long-named directory. So, we take our file with a 200 character long name, and put it into a folder with a really long name - say, 100 characters long. Now the total path is 300 characters. Windows will let you PUT the file there, but then it gets confused when trying to access it! I don't know why.

USUALLY, though, as someone mentioned above, you can rename the DIRECTORY the file is in, thereby allowing you to access the FILE within the directory. So, my suggestion - rename the directory it is in to make it 1 character long (ie. change the folder "My Limewire downloads" to "p". THEN Windows will let you access the file within it.

If renaming just the one directory doesn't help, then MOVE that directory to the C:\ level - then the path will be shorter than if it is in My Documents\My Stuff\My downloads\More directory names\etc.

So in summary, if you can't access the file directory - rename its CONTAINER (the folder it's in) and move it to a ROOT level. Then you should be able to access the file, rename it to something shorter, and then delete the file itself.

Hope this helps.

[mjolnir1134]

Problem solved! Thanks guys! As always, Techimo never failed me for a computer problem.

Originally Posted by GroundZero3

http://ask-leo.com/why_cant_i_delete_this_file.html

Downloaded the program the article mentioned, "delinvfile" and it deleted the pesky file like a charm! Thanx GroundZero!

Nevertheless, you all chipped in to help out, and thats what pwnsz0rz. I learn something new about my computer evarydays. ;D

LOLHAXBBQ
-Mjolnir1134 <3

[GroundZero3]

Now stop downloading bad stuff on p2p and you will be straight

[fletchz]

Oh man I think I had the same problem that you did and that program helped me out so much. Thank god there was a topic for this.