Weird folder won't delete.

[Giraffes? Giraffes!]

So I've had this weird folder for quite a while now. I haven't a clue where it came from, or how it even got on my PC. I've tried 2-3 programs specifically for deleting undeleteable folders/files and they haven't worked. This is an external hard drive so "reinstalling" isn't going to solve anything, and I have no where to put 400 gigs of data. It's not THAT big of a deal, but I really want to get rid of it.. As you can see it has a character which isn't allowed on windows, So I really don't know how it possibly got onto my computer? (for anyone wondering, the blanked out folder is an inappropriate band name)

[twocows]

Originally Posted by Giraffes? Giraffes!

So I've had this weird folder for quite a while now. I haven't a clue where it came from, or how it even got on my PC. I've tried 2-3 programs specifically for deleting undeleteable folders/files and they haven't worked. This is an external hard drive so "reinstalling" isn't going to solve anything, and I have no where to put 400 gigs of data. It's not THAT big of a deal, but I really want to get rid of it.. As you can see it has a character which isn't allowed on windows, So I really don't know how it possibly got onto my computer? (for anyone wondering, the blanked out folder is an inappropriate band name)

I can try and write a batch script that force deletes the file, but I need to know the path to the folder (e.g., G:\stuff\x|k or whatever).

[Giraffes? Giraffes!]

Originally Posted by twocows

I can try and write a batch script that force deletes the file, but I need to know the path to the folder (e.g., G:\stuff\x|k or whatever).

F:\music\x|k. Is the location. Thanks for the response.

[HackMew]

Originally Posted by Giraffes? Giraffes!

F:\music\x|k. Is the location. I can't directly open the folder so I can't give you the direct location of that. Thanks for the response. I'm assuming it would be

The fact you got a folder which has an invalid character in its name means some program made it (malware, eventually). Anyway, here's the fix:

1. Start > All Programs > Accessories.
2. Locate the Command Prompt, right click it, and run as administrator.
3. Type del /f /q "\\?\F:\music\x|k\*.*"
4. Press Enter.
5. Type rd /s /q "\\?\F:\music\x|k"
6. Press Enter.

Hope it helps.

[Giraffes? Giraffes!]

Originally Posted by HackMew

The fact you got a folder which has an invalid character in its name means some program made it (malware, eventually). Anyway, here's the fix:

1. Start > All Programs > Accessories.
2. Locate the Command Prompt, right click it, and run as administrator.
3. Type del /f /q "\\?\F:\music\x|k\*.*", and press Enter.
4. Type rd /s/q "\\?\F:\music\x|k", and press Enter.

Hope it helps.

Weird that I would have malware when I ragularly use spybot: search & destroy and have MSE. But anyway, it didn't work :(

[HackMew]

Originally Posted by Giraffes? Giraffes!

Weird that I would have malware when I ragularly use spybot: search & destroy and have MSE. But anyway, it didn't work :(

Err... You got a few extra commas at the end of the lines. I've reworded the previous post a little, just in case.
Oh, and about malware... it was just a supposition, since usually you cannot put some invalid characters in a file/folder name.

[donavannj]

You don't type the commas. That's just twocows using proper grammar. And, it's not weird with both of those. Those are okay programs, but not great. MalwareBytes is better for spyware, in my opinion, and Avira is better than MSE.

[Giraffes? Giraffes!]

Originally Posted by HackMew

Err... You got a few extra commas at the end of the lines. I've reworded the previous post a little, just in case.
Oh, and about malware... it was just a supposition, since normally you cannot ever put some invalid characters in a file/folder name.

I had tried without the extra characters as well, just incase. It doesn't work, exact same error. This folder really want's to stick to my HDD for some reason. Anyway, thanks for helping.

[donavannj]

Did you try installing MalwareBytes, and running a scan to remove it?

[Giraffes? Giraffes!]

Originally Posted by donavannj

Did you try installing MalwareBytes, and running a scan to remove it?

I'll give it a scan now with malwarebytes and edit this post. Just give me a couple minutes...

[HackMew]

Forgot to ask... what's the external drive file system?

[Giraffes? Giraffes!]

Originally Posted by HackMew

Forgot to ask... what's the external drive file system?

You mean like NTFS or Fat32 right? If so it's NTFS. And this malwarebytes scan is still going. At 117,000 files now and nothing found...

EDIT: I just finished the malwarebytes scan and it appears that X|K is a band, cause I saw mp3s in the folder... So it's not spyware... 160,000+ files and nothing detected.

http://www.last.fm/music/x|k

Apparently a chiptune artist. Maybe I got him off 8bitpeoples. None the less, I want to get rid of it.

[twocows]

Batch script won't work. I have a few suggestions.

1. Try making a new folder and moving the x|k folder into it, then deleting the folder you moved it into.
2. Try booting into a Linux live CD and deleting it from a terminal instance.
3. Use DelInvFile to delete it. Google it to find it.

[Giraffes? Giraffes!]

Originally Posted by twocows

Batch script won't work. I have a few suggestions.

1. Try making a new folder and moving the x|k folder into it, then deleting the folder you moved it into.
2. Try booting into a Linux live CD and deleting it from a terminal instance.
3. Use DelInvFile to delete it. Google it to find it.

Delinvfile is actually one of the programs I tried....Also whenever I cut/paste/move it it just stays in the same place. And I have a ubuntu and sabayon CD. Which one of these would be the best to try deleting it from a terminal instance and how would I go about that?

[Zet]

Have you tried renaming the folder and then deleting it?

[AdvancedK47]

Insert the Ubuntu Live CD. Find your external hard disk through the file explorer and remember the file path to that folder. type:

sudo rm -r <path to folder>

or

sudo rmdir <path to folder>

Although, I am worried about the character. If it doesn't work through terminal or manually you have no choice but to back up all your important data and format the damn thing.

[Giraffes? Giraffes!]

Originally Posted by Zet

Have you tried renaming the folder and then deleting it?

I've tried everything imaginable. I don't quite understand how the guy was able to label the band such a way in the first place?

Originally Posted by AdvancedK47

Insert the Ubuntu Live CD. Find your external hard disk through the file explorer and remember the file path to that folder. type:

sudo rm -r <path to folder>

or

sudo rmdir <path to folder>

Although, I am worried about the character. If it doesn't work through terminal or manually you have no choice but to back up all your important data and format the damn thing.

Do you mean actually going into the live desktop and doing it from the terminal? If I do it would be the actual location of the folder, like F:\music\x|k. Right? If so I'll try it tomorrow. It's a bit late so I'll be trying it tomorrow if I understand correctly.

[twocows]

Originally Posted by Giraffes? Giraffes!

I've tried everything imaginable. I don't quite understand how the guy was able to label the band such a way in the first place?



Do you mean actually going into the live desktop and doing it from the terminal? If I do it would be the actual location of the folder, like F:\music\x|k. Right? If so I'll try it tomorrow. It's a bit late so I'll be trying it tomorrow if I understand correctly.

Yes. Go into the live distro, open up a terminal, and rm -r it. Or even just mv it to a different name.

[Giraffes? Giraffes!]

Alright guys, Thanks it worked. Specifically Twocows and Advanced.. Thanks to everyone else for helping too though.