mtchs
asked on
Unable to delete a recursive folder
I have 3 folders on our network created that are recursive folders (never ending folder loop)
I have used the "robocopy dummy_file badfile /purge" command but it runs for a couple of minutes and then stops.
This is on a Windows server 2008R2 that is the file server for our students. I know I could reformat the raid but would prefer not too if there is a solution that would allow me to get rid of these files. They are wreaking havoc on our backups and causing the server to lock up.
I have used the "robocopy dummy_file badfile /purge" command but it runs for a couple of minutes and then stops.
This is on a Windows server 2008R2 that is the file server for our students. I know I could reformat the raid but would prefer not too if there is a solution that would allow me to get rid of these files. They are wreaking havoc on our backups and causing the server to lock up.
KevinSchmaltz
Hey mtchs did you restart the server and go directly to delete those folders it sounds like something is holding them open either an application or a users session.
Is it truly recursive, or is it simply incredibly deep, exceeding the maximum length?
If the top-level directories are F:\Dir1, F:\Dir2, and F:\Dir3, and they go quite deep, do the following
1. Open an administrative-level CMD.EXE
2. CD down to as far down as you can get in the directory structure before the OS throws an error.
3. At the command prompt, type "SUBST M: ." where M is an available drive letter - SUBST M[colon][space][period] without the quotes.
4. Type M: and press [ENTER]
5. CD down to as far down as you can get in the directory structure before the OS throws an error.
6. Type "SUBST N: ." where N is an available drive letter - SUBST N[colon][space][period] without the quotes.
7. Type N: and press [ENTER]
8. Attempt to do an RD /S /Q DirectoryName at this point.
If not, repeat steps 6 through 8 until you have traversed far enough down in the tree structure to actually begin deleting folders.
If this does not work, let us know.
WT
If the top-level directories are F:\Dir1, F:\Dir2, and F:\Dir3, and they go quite deep, do the following
1. Open an administrative-level CMD.EXE
2. CD down to as far down as you can get in the directory structure before the OS throws an error.
3. At the command prompt, type "SUBST M: ." where M is an available drive letter - SUBST M[colon][space][period] without the quotes.
4. Type M: and press [ENTER]
5. CD down to as far down as you can get in the directory structure before the OS throws an error.
6. Type "SUBST N: ." where N is an available drive letter - SUBST N[colon][space][period] without the quotes.
7. Type N: and press [ENTER]
8. Attempt to do an RD /S /Q DirectoryName at this point.
If not, repeat steps 6 through 8 until you have traversed far enough down in the tree structure to actually begin deleting folders.
If this does not work, let us know.
WT
If it is a locked file, you can use MoveFile.exe from SystemInternals
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897556.aspx
It will remove the file upon boot.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897556.aspx
It will remove the file upon boot.
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