Vista - File name too long for deletion

I have a filename that is really long, but vista will not let me delete it.
I have tried several other ways, but they do not work. I also cannot rename
it so that the name is smaller. What should I do?

Try this:

- Open an elevated command prompt (right-click, run as administrator)
- Type the following:

del "\\?\PATH_TO_FILE\filename"

Where PATH_TO_FILE is the full path to the file. For example, if the
file was named:

This is a really huge file

And it was located in:

c:\users\me\documents

You would type:

del "\\?\c:\users\me\documents\This is a really huge file"

--
-JB
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell
Windows Vista Support FAQ - http://www.jimmah.com/vista/

On Sat, 19 May 2007 20:51:01 -0700, Shalalith
<Shalalith@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I have a filename that is really long, but vista will not let me delete it.
>I have tried several other ways, but they do not work. I also cannot rename
>it so that the name is smaller. What should I do?

Thank you for trying Jimmy, but unfortunately that didn't work. Command
Prompt gave me a Filename or Extention too long for deletion.

"Jimmy Brush" wrote:

> Try this:
>
> - Open an elevated command prompt (right-click, run as administrator)
> - Type the following:
>
> del "\\?\PATH_TO_FILE\filename"
>
> Where PATH_TO_FILE is the full path to the file. For example, if the
> file was named:
>
> This is a really huge file
>
> And it was located in:
>
> c:\users\me\documents
>
> You would type:
>
> del "\\?\c:\users\me\documents\This is a really huge file"
>
> --
> -JB
> Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell
> Windows Vista Support FAQ - http://www.jimmah.com/vista/
>
> On Sat, 19 May 2007 20:51:01 -0700, Shalalith
> <Shalalith@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >I have a filename that is really long, but vista will not let me delete it.
> >I have tried several other ways, but they do not work. I also cannot rename
> >it so that the name is smaller. What should I do?
>

Can you post the name of the file? Or, post what folder the file is
in, and how many characters is in the file name?

--
-JB
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell
Windows Vista Support FAQ - http://www.jimmah.com/vista/

On Sun, 20 May 2007 10:56:02 -0700, Shalalith
<Shalalith@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Thank you for trying Jimmy, but unfortunately that didn't work. Command
>Prompt gave me a Filename or Extention too long for deletion.
>
>"Jimmy Brush" wrote:
>
>> Try this:
>>
>> - Open an elevated command prompt (right-click, run as administrator)
>> - Type the following:
>>
>> del "\\?\PATH_TO_FILE\filename"
>>
>> Where PATH_TO_FILE is the full path to the file. For example, if the
>> file was named:
>>
>> This is a really huge file
>>
>> And it was located in:
>>
>> c:\users\me\documents
>>
>> You would type:
>>
>> del "\\?\c:\users\me\documents\This is a really huge file"
>>
>> --
>> -JB
>> Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell
>> Windows Vista Support FAQ - http://www.jimmah.com/vista/
>>
>> On Sat, 19 May 2007 20:51:01 -0700, Shalalith
>> <Shalalith@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>
>> >I have a filename that is really long, but vista will not let me delete it.
>> >I have tried several other ways, but they do not work. I also cannot rename
>> >it so that the name is smaller. What should I do?
>>

Can you temporarily shorten the file's path, by renaming the parent folders?
For example, from
C:\FancyName1\FancyName2\FancyName3\FancyName4\Thisisareallyhugefile.xxx
To
C:\1\2\3\4\Thisisareallyhugefile.xxx

Is the file movable?
Create a temporary new account, move the file under that account, and then
delete the account.

Or, you could try this utility:
http://www.purgeie.com/delinv/index.htm

"Shalalith" <Shalalith@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1B779C2C-A6E6-4660-9518-44ADFB204C5A@microsoft.com...
> Thank you for trying Jimmy, but unfortunately that didn't work. Command
> Prompt gave me a Filename or Extention too long for deletion.
>
> "Jimmy Brush" wrote:
>
>> Try this:
>>
>> - Open an elevated command prompt (right-click, run as administrator)
>> - Type the following:
>>
>> del "\\?\PATH_TO_FILE\filename"
>>
>> Where PATH_TO_FILE is the full path to the file. For example, if the
>> file was named:
>>
>> This is a really huge file
>>
>> And it was located in:
>>
>> c:\users\me\documents
>>
>> You would type:
>>
>> del "\\?\c:\users\me\documents\This is a really huge file"
>>
>> --
>> -JB
>> Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell
>> Windows Vista Support FAQ - http://www.jimmah.com/vista/
>>
>> On Sat, 19 May 2007 20:51:01 -0700, Shalalith
>> <Shalalith@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>
>> >I have a filename that is really long, but vista will not let me delete
>> >it.
>> >I have tried several other ways, but they do not work. I also cannot
>> >rename
>> >it so that the name is smaller. What should I do?
>>

I love you dean-dean.. this utility worked perfectly. <3


> Or, you could try this utility:
> http://www.purgeie.com/delinv/index.htm