Unable to delete file - access denied

chris98

Member
Messages
73
Location
England, United Kingdom
As the title states, I'm unable to delete two files on my computer (inside the folder 'logs' in the screenshot below), as I receive access denied errors. I've tried take ownership, through command prompt (as an administrator), Malware Bytes' File Assassin, and all of them say that I can't even open the file. This is well and truly corrupt, there is absolutely nothing I can do to get rid of it.

When I try to open it via Notepad, I just get a "file.txt does not exist. Attempt to create it?" If I click no, nothing happens and it exits, if I click yes, it says it can't create it.

I've tried through virtually every single option I can think of, from advanced folder permissions to take ownership, and even when I go into the advanced folder settings, and change the read only attribute, it still brings up an access denied error and just ends.

And for some reason, I've just noticed two parent folders with exactly the same name. See the attached screenshot. But whatever I try, on both or either of them, it simply will not delete. I've restarted and rebooted my computer - multiple times - and over multiple days - but it's just well and truly corrupt and nothing I can do will get rid of it.

Before I was typing this post, I was getting a "you require permission from the computer's administrator to make changes ..." error when I was trying to delete it. Now however, I appear to be getting a "this item is no longer located in ..." error, yet the file still shows!!!

There's just literally nothing else I can think of to try to get rid of this file.
 

Attachments

  • error.png
    error.png
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    CPU
    2.90 Ghz
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3
    Internet Speed
    Really bad
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes Pro/Microsoft Defender
I don't understand how you have 2 folders in the same parent folder named "logs." Did you try pressing F2 to see if maybe one of them has a trailing space? If they really are identically named that would indicate file system corruption.

A quick test that would not lock you into a long fdisk would be to right click the drive in Explorer, then Properties, then Tools and Scan the drive. This one will tell you if there are errors without locking you into an fdisk at next boot.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
Hi all,

Thanks for replying, and sorry for my slow reply back in return. I haven't yet been able to remove the folder(s) and files inside them (they hold identical content). I've initiated a scan (just what MilesAhead recommended, see: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/6221-chkdsk-check-drive-errors-windows-8-a.html) and it didn't find anything. I'm going to have to do the long one via CMD now.

In regards to pressing F2, I actually hadn't done that. But I have tried just now and they are named exactly the same, no trailing slash. Such a pain ...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    CPU
    2.90 Ghz
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3
    Internet Speed
    Really bad
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes Pro/Microsoft Defender
Ok, a fair response from that. I ran the chkdsk command on reboot and it allowed me to delete one of the logs folder (which I believe was the duplicated one) and all the content inside.

When I deleted the folder, all the content was deleted from the original folder though the folder itself remained. Oddly, when I looked in the original folder, there was a folder named 's' inside containing no content. I could delete this 's' folder, but I receive the same "you require permission ..." error when trying to delete the original folder. For some clarity, one folder now exists but is empty.

I'm going to attempt the scan again and hopefully this could fix it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    CPU
    2.90 Ghz
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3
    Internet Speed
    Really bad
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes Pro/Microsoft Defender
Just finished an sfc /scannow command too. It says it found corrupt files but couldn't repair some of them. I've attached the CBS log it produced, but I can't find any mention of the issue I'm having in the log file.

I've tried the chkdsk a few more times and tried deleting the folder a few times both before and after running the scans, but I'm now getting an error that the logs folder is "no longer located at x. Check and try again ...."
 

Attachments

  • CBS.log
    739.7 KB · Views: 88

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    CPU
    2.90 Ghz
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3
    Internet Speed
    Really bad
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes Pro/Microsoft Defender
Try making a live Linux USB flash drive or DVD, boot from the flash drive or DVD and delete the files or folders with that. In case your not fimilar with live Linux, the operating system runs off the flash drive or DVD. nothing gets written to the hard drive. When you shutdown, nothing of it remains.

I like Linux Mint because it's very similar to Windows 7, you will have no trouble using it. Just one thing to remember when you delete a file or folder with live Linux, you have to empty the Trash (Recycle Bin) before you shutdown, if not it places the deleted folder or file on the root of your hard drive. Linux calls their recycle bin Trash or Trash Can. I can't remember for sure. If you right click on the folder or file you want to delete, a menu will come up, if you click on Permanently Delete, I don't think you have to empty the trash but I would do it anyway.

I used this progrom to make my flash drive. It will do everything for you.

YUMI - Multiboot USB Creator | USB Pen Drive Linux

This is the download for Linux Mint. I used the Mate desktop because I read somewhere that it was best for the live version, don't really know if that's true.

https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
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