I'm running Windows XP Pro - somehow, I created a folder:  What If.. (note: 2 periods) - I have been unable to delete it - when I checked DOS (tree), I learn that it is an empty file (0 bytes) - how do I delete it?? - (it's appearing on the desktop & it's driving me crazy...)

What HAPPENS when you try to delete it?

Also, a side-note: Although parenthetical statements (in parentheses like these) may add more INFORMATION (about what you're trying to say), sometimes it doesn't add much (it becomes redundant) and makes sentences harder to understand (they start looking like source code) and they make the reader lose their train of thought (they get mixed up in what the parenthetical statements say), so the sentence becomes meaningless (and a waste of time to read).

That may be the longest sentence I ever wrote. Seriously, I'm scratching my head on what the 2 periods and tree notes are. Definitely, by all means tell us everything you think we need to know, but PLEASE, organize it a bit. (At least you gave us the OS -- that's more than 80% of new members. )error message appears:  Cannot delete file.  Cannot read from the source file or disk

the reference to DOS/tree is my having gone entered "cmd" in the Run command, which then opened a window - I then entered cd: c:\ and entered the various folder NAMES until I arrived at the folder:  What If..    - per the  info, this is a folder with has 0 bytes in it -     it appears as What If.. 

it's my understanding that a folder cannot have punctuation marks as part of the folder name You can have punctuation marks:



When in CMD, can you navigate to the folder and do a RD on it?

C:\Documents and Settings\Eriz\Desktop>RD "What If.."

The quotes are essential, because the folder contains a space. I'm not 100% sure this'll work, but if Windows won't delete it, maybe the Prompt will. I tried that - didn't work -  error message:  The system cannot find the path specifiedHrm. A slippery problem, this is.

I'm looking on Google for this problem, and some of them suggest trying the delete in Safe Mode. Could you please try that?I would need to shut down, and re-start Windows in "safe mode", correct?  sounds a bit risky (for me, that is...) - That is correct.

As for "Safe Mode" being risky: I assure you that it is not, especially if all you're going to do is try to delete a file. In Safe mode, no DRIVERS are running (for max processor speed), and scripts can't run (for security). Deleting a folder should be fine, assuming it works. The worst you can do, I swear, is run into the same problem as in Normal mode. OK - will try - "wish me luck" - Good luck, Eriz! You should definately be able to delete this from a command promptcan do this from a cmd or command line prompt just put a wild card character for every strange character you see and/or use the short 8.3 character format.

First go to the directory and see if you can remove it using the 8.3 character format. To do this type:

dir /x

in the directory that contains the folder.

This should list a folder with a ~ in it try using the del command with the name of the file with the tilde. For example if it was something such as: P!uc,t~1 you would type:

del P!uc,t~1

If you have character that cannot be typed on the keyboard or are causing problems replace those characters with a ? which is a wild card for unknown character so could be something like.

del P?uc?t~1

If still no luck try deleting it using a wildcard such as:

del P*

Of course doing the above command will delete anything beginning with P so use with caution.

Finally, there are file utilities designed to remove bad files you could also try that or run a scandisk often that will remove strange files such as these.YOU ARE A GENIUS!  IT WORKED!! - THANK YOU!! - I can sleep easy, now...

ErizSure, no problem. Have a good night.

(Dang, I'm on a roll, tonight. I really should get to bed, it's almost tomorrow... but I'm on a ROLL! )There's never any need to stroke Dilbert's ego because nobody does it as well as himself.  Ha.NO... I solved two problems in a row, mostly myself. That's rare; I never do that! There's a fine line between ego and excitement.