Totally Bizarre Problem RE Long Folder Names

Greenlizard0 · 30 Nov 2007 at 20:12

Netbeans failed the other day and for some reason decided to create a folder called "Javaapplication5" in a folder of it's namesake. And then it dide this again and again (for how many times, I don't know, I can't access past eight of them).

The trouble is of course that now when I try to delete the whole lot I get the "File name is too long - choose another" error.

I have tried using Unlocker to get rid of these files but it can't touch them.

Does anybody have any suggestions please?

mattyfez · 30 Nov 2007 at 20:41

Can you re-name them to somthing shorter and then delete?

mattyfez · 30 Nov 2007 at 20:44

just found this...

http://www.anetforums.com/posts.aspx?ThreadIndex=12667

Greenlizard0 · 30 Nov 2007 at 22:10

mattyfez said:
Can you re-name them to somthing shorter and then delete?

The trouble is - I think the folder thing goes on for ever until I can't access it (them) i.e. when it hits the 255 characters limit.

The forums didn't help either mate - because that was on deleted a file - whereas I just have empty folders with nothing in them.

Sp!ke · 30 Nov 2007 at 22:42

I don't wan't to state the obvious but have you tried...

Code:

rmdir /s Javaapplication5

Assuming the folders are empty of course, if not use the following before rmdir.

Code:

del /s Javaapplication5\*

Greenlizard0 · 30 Nov 2007 at 22:54

Sp!ke said:
I don't wan't to state the obvious but have you tried...

Code:

rmdir /s Javaapplication5

Assuming the folders are empty of course, if not use the following before rmdir.

Code:

del /s Javaapplication5\*

Sorry quite confused, could you explain this a bit further please?

this_is_gav · 1 Dec 2007 at 10:16

Ah, these GUI driven youngsters.

Start > Run > cmd > nagivate to the folder in question, using C: to go to the correct drive CD \ to go to the root (bottom) of that drive (CD.. will allow you to go up a level) and then CD Documents and settings (for instance) to navigate into the directory structure. You'd use the commands Sp!ke posted in the directory in which the Javaapplication5 is located, not in the Javaapplication5 directory itself.

It's always sorted the issue when I've had a rogue folder on a server at work.

Sp!ke · 1 Dec 2007 at 15:10

this_is_gav said:
Ah, these GUI driven youngsters.
.

Indeed

Sorry I sometimes wrongly assume everyone is familiar with command line. Follow this_is_gav's instructions and that will get you out of problems.

mr.bond · 1 Dec 2007 at 16:46

Map a network drive to the folder above the one you want to delete (from the PC which the folder is on) and then delete, you have hit the NTFS limit of 255 (from memory) characters.