Ridiculously long folder paths

miniyazz · 9 May 2009 at 11:48

OK guys, I was using Robocopy on Win7 beta to copy all files on C:\ to a folder on my external HDD before installing the RC on my laptop, just so I have a copy in case I need access to some program files/temp files etc. Anyway it seems to have got into a loop; apparently there was a shortcut in my AppData or something similar, so for the past 5ish hours (I got suspicious when it was taking too long) it's been looping and looping and somehow digging itself deeper and deeper folder paths. Anyway NTFS, or the OS, doesn't support such long file paths and now, even though I've stopped it, I have a folder I can't delete, move to the Recycle Bin, or reach the end of, because the file path is too long.
This annoys me.
Does anyone have any bright ideas about how to delete this mess without resorting to a format of the external?

Edit: Currently attempting to use the PURGE function of robocopy..

Undesirable · 9 May 2009 at 16:32

Something here that can help you?:

http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-283739.php

miniyazz · 9 May 2009 at 16:48

Good suggestion, thanks. I'll try it out if the purge doesn't work - shouldn't take much longer now.

miniyazz · 9 May 2009 at 17:19

OK apparently telling robocopy to delete all files in the destination that don't exist in a blank folder (purge) worked, if anyone ever comes across this problem!

Thanks for your suggestion, Undesirable!